Anna Karenina - Part 1 - Page 20/119

"Oh, that's all very well. You wait a bit, and you'll come to

this yourself. It's very nice for you to have over six thousand

acres in the Karazinsky district, and such muscles, and the

freshness of a girl of twelve; still you'll be one of us one day.

Yes, as to your question, there is no change, but it's a pity

you've been away so long."

"Oh, why so?" Levin queried, panic-stricken.

"Oh, nothing," responded Oblonsky. "We'll talk it over. But

what's brought you up to town?"

"Oh, we'll talk about that, too, later on," said Levin, reddening

again up to his ears.

"All right. I see," said Stepan Arkadyevitch. "I should ask you

to come to us, you know, but my wife's not quite the thing. But

I tell you what; if you want to see them, they're sure now to be

at the Zoological Gardens from four to five. Kitty skates. You

drive along there, and I'll come and fetch you, and we'll go and

dine somewhere together."

"Capital. So good-bye till then."

"Now mind, you'll forget, I know you, or rush off home to the

country!" Stepan Arkadyevitch called out laughing.

"No, truly!"

And Levin went out of the room, only when he was in the doorway

remembering that he had forgotten to take leave of Oblonsky's

colleagues.

"That gentleman must be a man of great energy," said Grinevitch,

when Levin had gone away.

"Yes, my dear boy," said Stepan Arkadyevitch, nodding his head,

"he's a lucky fellow! Over six thousand acres in the Karazinsky

district; everything before him; and what youth and vigor! Not

like some of us."

"You have a great deal to complain of, haven't you, Stepan

Arkadyevitch?"

"Ah, yes, I'm in a poor way, a bad way," said Stepan Arkadyevitch

with a heavy sigh.