Anna Karenina - Part 7

Levin tried to explain to him that it couldn't be understood, but

that it had to be taught; but Lvov would not agree with him.

"Oh, you're laughing at it!"

"On the contrary, you can't imagine how, when I look at you, I'm

always learning the task that lies before me, that is the

education of one's children."

"Well, there's nothing for you to learn," said Lvov.

"All I know," said Levin, "is that I have never seen better

brought-up children than yours, and I wouldn't wish for children

better than yours."

Lvov visibly tried to restrain the expression of his delight, but

he was positively radiant with smiles.

"If only they're better than I! That's all I desire. You don't

know yet all the work," he said, "with boys who've been left like

mine to run wild abroad."

"You'll catch all that up. They're such clever children. The

great thing is the education of character. That's what I learn

when I look at your children."

"You talk of the education of character. You can't imagine how

difficult that is! You have hardly succeeded in combating one

tendency when others crop up, and the struggle begins again. If

one had not a support in religion--you remember we talked about

that--no father could bring children up relying on his own

strength alone without that help."

This subject, which always interested Levin, was cut short by the

entrance of the beauty Natalia Alexandrovna, dressed to go out.

"I didn't know you were here," she said, unmistakably feeling no

regret, but a positive pleasure, in interrupting this

conversation on a topic she had heard so much of that she was by

now weary of it. "Well, how is Kitty? I am dining with you

today. I tell you what, Arseny," she turned to her husband, "you

take the carriage."

And the husband and wife began to discuss their arrangements for

the day. As the husband had to drive to meet someone on official

business, while the wife had to go to the concert and some public

meeting of a committee on the Eastern Question, there was a great

deal to consider and settle. Levin had to take part in their

plans as one of themselves. It was settled that Levin should go

with Natalia to the concert and the meeting, and that from there

they should send the carriage to the office for Arseny, and he

should call for her and take her to Kitty's; or that, if he had

not finished his work, he should send the carriage back and Levin

would go with her.