Anna Karenina - Part 1 - Page 98/119

He took up his book again. "Very good, electricity and heat are

the same thing; but is it possible to substitute the one quantity

for the other in the equation for the solution of any problem?

No. Well, then what of it? The connection between all the

forces of nature is felt instinctively.... It's particulary nice

if Pava's daughter should be a red-spotted cow, and all the herd

will take after her, and the other three, too! Splendid! To go

out with my wife and visitors to meet the herd.... My wife says,

Kostya and I looked after that calf like a child.' 'How can it

interest you so much?' says a visitor. 'Everything that

interests him, interests me.' But who will she be?" And he

remembered what had happened at Moscow.... "Well, there's

nothing to be done.... It's not my fault. But now everything

shall go on in a new way. It's nonsense to pretend that life

won't let one, that the past won't let one. One must struggle to

live better, much better."... He raised his head, and fell to

dreaming. Old Laska, who had not yet fully digested her delight

at his return, and had run out into the yard to bark, came back

wagging her tail, and crept up to him, bringing in the scent of

fresh air, put her head under his hand, and whined plaintively,

asking to be stroked.

"There, who'd have thought it?" said Agafea Mihalovna. "The dog

now...why, she understands that her master's come home, and that

he's low-spirited."

"Why low-spirited?"

"Do you suppose I don't see it, sir? It's high time I should know

the gentry. Why, I've grown up from a little thing with them.

It's nothing, sir, so long as there's health and a clear

conscience."

Levin looked intently at her, surprised at how well she knew his

thought.

"Shall I fetch you another cup?" said she, and taking his cup she

went out.

Laska kept poking her head under his hand. He stroked her, and

she promptly curled up at his feet, laying her head on a hindpaw.

And in token of all now being well and satisfactory, she opened

her mouth a little, smacked her lips, and settling her sticky

lips more comfortably about her old teeth, she sank into blissful

repose. Levin watched all her movements attentively.

"That's what I'll do," he said to himself; "that's what I'll do!

Nothing's amiss.... All's well."