Levin took out a ramrod and began sketching him the staircase in

the dust.

"There, do you see?"

"As your honor likes," said the carpenter, with a sudden gleam in

his eyes, obviously understanding the thing at last. "It seems

it'll be best to make a new one."

"Well, then, do it as you're told," Levin shouted, seating

himself in the wagonette. "Down! Hold the dogs, Philip!"

Levin felt now at leaving behind all his family and household

cares such an eager sense of joy in life and expectation that he

was not disposed to talk. Besides that, he had that feeling of

concentrated excitement that every sportsman experiences as he

approaches the scene of action. If he had anything on his mind

at that moment, it was only the doubt whether they would start

anything in the Kolpensky marsh, whether Laska would show to

advantage in comparison with Krak, and whether he would shoot

well that day himself. Not to disgrace himself before a new

spectator--not to be outdone by Oblonsky--that too was a thought

that crossed his brain.

Oblonsky was feeling the same, and he too was not talkative.

Vassenka Veslovsky kept up alone a ceaseless flow of cheerful

chatter. As he listened to him now, Levin felt ashamed to think

how unfair he had been to him the day before. Vassenka was

really a nice fellow, simple, good-hearted, and very

good-humored. If Levin had met him before he was married, he

would have made friends with him. Levin rather disliked his

holiday attitude to life and a sort of free and easy assumption

of elegance. It was as though he assumed a high degree of

importance in himself that could not be disputed, because he had

long nails and a stylish cap, and everything else to correspond;

but this could be forgiven for the sake of his good nature and

good breeding. Levin liked him for his good education, for

speaking French and English with such an excellent accent, and

for being a man of his world.

Vassenka was extremely delighted with the left horse, a horse of

the Don Steppes. He kept praising him enthusiastically. "How

fine it must be galloping over the steppes on a steppe horse!

Eh? isn't it?" he said. He had imagined riding on a steppe horse

as something wild and romantic, and it turned out nothing of the

sort. But his simplicity, particularly in conjunction with his

good looks, his amiable smile, and the grace of his movements,

was very attractive. Either because his nature was sympathetic

to Levin, or because Levin was trying to atone for his sins of

the previous evening by seeing nothing but what was good in him,

anyway he liked his society.




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