Anna Karenina - Part 7

"Oh, no, of course; but..." and Stepan Arkadyevitch paused in

confusion. He understood at last that they were talking of

religion.

"I fancy he will fall asleep immediately," said Alexey

Alexandrovitch in a whisper full of meaning, going up to Lidia

Ivanovna.

Stepan Arkadyevitch looked round. Landau was sitting at the

window, leaning on his elbow and the back of his chair, his head

drooping. Noticing that all eyes were turned on him he raised

his head and smiled a smile of childlike artlessness.

"Don't take any notice," said Lidia Ivanovna, and she lightly

moved a chair up for Alexey Alexandrovitch. "I have observed..."

she was beginning, when a footman came into the room with a

letter. Lidia Ivanovna rapidly ran her eyes over the note, and

excusing herself, wrote an answer with extraordinary rapidity,

handed it to the man, and came back to the table. "I have

observed," she went on, "that Moscow people, especially the men,

are more indifferent to religion than anyone."

"Oh, no, countess, I thought Moscow people had the reputation of

being the firmest in the faith," answered Stepan Arkadyevitch.

"But as far as I can make out, you are unfortunately one of the

indifferent ones," said Alexey Alexandrovitch, turning to him

with a weary smile.

"How anyone can be indifferent!" said Lidia Ivanovna.

"I am not so much indifferent on that subject as I am waiting in

suspense," said Stepan Arkadyevitch, with his most deprecating

smile. "I hardly think that the time for such questions has come

yet for me."

Alexey Alexandrovitch and Lidia Ivanovna looked at each other.

"We can never tell whether the time has come for us or not," said

Alexey Alexandrovitch severely. "We ought not to think whether

we are ready or not ready. God's grace is not guided by human

considerations: sometimes it comes not to those that strive for

it, and comes to those that are unprepared, like Saul."

"No, I believe it won't be just yet," said Lidia Ivanovna, who

had been meanwhile watching the movements of the Frenchman.

Landau got up and came to them.

"Do you allow me to listen?" he asked.

"Oh, yes; I did not want to disturb you," said Lidia Ivanovna,

gazing tenderly at him; "sit here with us."

"One has only not to close one's eyes to shut out the light,"

Alexey Alexandrovitch went on.

"Ah, if you knew the happiness we know, feeling His presence ever

in our hearts!" said Countess Lidia Ivanovna with a rapturous

smile.