Anna Karenina - Part 7

"It is allowed, but not in the sense..."

"Alexey Alexandrovitch, you are not like yourself," said

Oblonsky, after a brief pause. "Wasn't it you (and didn't we all

appreciate it in you?) who forgave everything, and moved simply

by Christian feeling was ready to make any sacrifice? You said

yourself: if a man take thy coat, give him thy cloak also, and

now..."

"I beg," said Alexey Alexandrovitch shrilly, getting suddenly

onto his feet, his face white and his jaws twitching, "I beg you

to drop this...to drop...this subject!"

"Oh, no! Oh, forgive me, forgive me if I have wounded you," said

Stepan Arkadyevitch, holding out his hand with a smile of

embarrassment; "but like a messenger I have simply performed the

commission given me."

Alexey Alexandrovitch gave him his hand, pondered a little, and

said: "I must think it over and seek for guidance. The day after

tomorrow I will give you a final answer," he said, after

considering a moment.