Anna Karenina - LimpidSoft

PART FIVE CHAPTER 17
“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.
“Well, how is he?” Kitty asked with a frightened face.
“Oh, it’s awful, it’s awful! What did you come for?” said Levin.
Kitty was silent for a few seconds, looking timidly and ruefully at her husband;
then she went up and took him by the elbow with both hands.
“Kostya! take me to him; it will be easier for us to bear it together. You only take
me, take me to him, please, and go away,” she said. “You must understand that for
me to see you, and not to see him, is far more painful. There I might be a help to you
and to him. Please, let me!” she besought her husband, as though the happiness of
her life depended on it.
Levin was obliged to agree, and regaining his composure, and completely forgetting
about Marya Nikolaevna by now, he went again in to his brother with Kitty.
Stepping lightly, and continually glancing at her husband, showing him a valorous
and sympathetic face, Kitty went into the sick-room, and, turning without haste,
noiselessly closed the door. With inaudible steps she went quickly to the sick man’s
bedside, and going up so that he had not to turn his head, she immediately clasped in
her fresh young hand the skeleton of his huge hand, pressed it, and began speaking
with that soft eagerness, sympathetic and not jarring, which is peculiar to women.
“We have met, though we were not acquainted, at Soden,” she said. “You never
thought I was to be your sister?”
“You would not have recognized me?” he said, with a radiant smile at her entrance.
“Yes, I should. What a good thing you let us know! Not a day has passed that
Kostya has not mentioned you, and been anxious.”
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