Anna Karenina - LimpidSoft

PART SEVEN CHAPTER 21
A moment’s silence followed, after which Countess Lidia Ivanovna, as though
approaching the main topic of conversation, said with a fine smile to Oblonsky:
“I’ve known you for a long while, and am very glad to make a closer acquaintance
with you. Les amis de nos amis sont nos amis. But to be a true friend, one must enter
into the spiritual state of one’s friend, and I fear that you are not doing so in the case
of Alexey Alexandrovitch. You understand what I mean?” she said, lifting her fine
pensive eyes.
“In part, countess, I understand the position of Alexey Alexandrovitch...” said
Oblonsky. Having no clear idea what they were talking about, he wanted to confine
himself to generalities.
“The change is not in his external position,” Countess Lidia Ivanovna said sternly,
following with eyes of love the figure of Alexey Alexandrovitch as he got up and
crossed over to Landau; “his heart is changed, a new heart has been vouchsafed
him, and I fear you don’t fully apprehend the change that has taken place in him.”
“Oh, well, in general outlines I can conceive the change. We have always been
friendly, and now...” said Stepan Arkadyevitch, responding with a sympathetic
glance to the expression of the countess, and mentally balancing the question with
which of the two ministers she was most intimate, so as to know about which to ask
her to speak for him.
“The change that has taken place in him cannot lessen his love for his neighbors;
on the contrary, that change can only intensify love in his heart. But I am afraid you
do not understand me. Won’t you have some tea?” she said, with her eyes indicating
the footman, who was handing round tea on a tray.
“Not quite, countess. Of course, his misfortune...”
“Yes, a misfortune which has proved the highest happiness, when his heart was
made new, was filled full of it,” she said, gazing with eyes full of love at Stepan
Arkadyevitch.
“I do believe I might ask her to speak to both of them,” thought Stepan Arkadyevitch.
“Oh, of course, countess,” he said; “but I imagine such changes are a matter so
private that no one, even the most intimate friend, would care to speak of them.”
“On the contrary! We ought to speak freely and help one another.”
“Yes, undoubtedly so, but there is such a difference of convictions, and besides...”
said Oblonsky with a soft smile.
“There can be no difference where it is a question of holy truth.”
“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.
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