Anna Karenina - Part 5

"It cannot be that that fearful body was my brother Nikolay?"

thought Levin. But he went closer, saw the face, and doubt

became impossible. In spite of the terrible change in the face,

Levin had only to glance at those eager eyes raised at his

approach, only to catch the faint movement of the mouth under the

sticky mustache, to realize the terrible truth that this

death-like body was his living brother.

The glittering eyes looked sternly and reproachfully at his

brother as he drew near. And immediately this glance established

a living relationship between living men. Levin immediately felt

the reproach in the eyes fixed on him, and felt remorse at his

own happiness.

When Konstantin took him by the hand, Nikolay smiled. The smile

was faint, scarcely perceptible, and in spite of the smile the

stern expression of the eyes was unchanged.

"You did not expect to find me like this," he articulated with

effort.

"Yes...no," said Levin, hesitating over his words. "How was

it you didn't let me know before, that is, at the time of my

wedding? I made inquiries in all directions."

He had to talk so as not to be silent, and he did not know what

to say, especially as his brother made no reply, and simply

stared without dropping his eyes, and evidently penetrated to the

inner meaning of each word. Levin told his brother that his wife

had come with him. Nikolay expressed pleasure, but said he was

afraid of frightening her by his condition. A silence followed.

Suddenly Nikolay stirred, and began to say something. Levin

expected something of peculiar gravity and importance from the

expression of his face, but Nikolay began speaking of his health.

He found fault with the doctor, regretting he had not a

celebrated Moscow doctor. Levin saw that he still hoped.

Seizing the first moment of silence, Levin got up, anxious to

escape, if only for an instant, from his agonizing emotion, and

said that he would go and fetch his wife.

"Very well, and I'll tell her to tidy up here. It's dirty and

stinking here, I expect. Marya! clear up the room," the sick

man said with effort. "Oh, and when you've cleared up, go away

yourself," he added, looking inquiringly at his brother.

Levin made no answer. Going out into the corridor, he stopped

short. He had said he would fetch his wife, but now, taking

stock of the emotion he was feeling, he decided that he would try

on the contrary to persuade her not to go in to the sick man.

"Why should she suffer as I am suffering?" he thought.