Pagina 144 di 2288

As he approached her, his beautiful eyes shone with a specially

tender light, and with a faint, happy, and modestly triumphant

smile (so it seemed to Levin), bowing carefully and respectfully

over her, he held out his small broad hand to her.

Greeting and saying a few words to everyone, he sat down without

once glancing at Levin, who had never taken his eyes off him.

"Let me introduce you," said the princess, indicating Levin.

"Konstantin Dmitrievitch Levin, Count Alexey Kirillovitch

Vronsky."

Vronsky got up and, looking cordially at Levin, shook hands with

him.

"I believe I was to have dined with you this winter," he said,

smiling his simple and open smile; "but you had unexpectedly left

for the country."

"Konstantin Dmitrievitch despises and hates town and us

townspeople," said Countess Nordston.

"My words must make a deep impression on you, since you remember

them so well," said Levin, and, suddenly conscious that he had

said just the same thing before, he reddened.