`Why so? I don't see that. Allow me to believe that, apart from our connection, you have for me, at least in part, the same friendly feeling I have always had for you... and sincere esteem,' said Stepan Arkadyevich, pressing his hand. `Even if your worst suppositions were correct, I don't - and never would - take on myself to judge either side, and I see no reason why our relations should be affected. But now, do this, come and see my wife.'
`Well, we look at the matter differently,' said Alexei Alexandrovich coldly. `However, we won't discuss it.'
`No; why shouldn't you come today to dine, anyway? My wife's expecting you. Please, do come. And, above all, talk it over with her. She's a wonderful woman. For God's sake, on my knees, I implore you!'
`If you so much wish it, I will come,' said Alexei Alexandrovich, sighing.
And, anxious to change the conversation, he inquired about what interested them both - the new head of Stepan Arkadyevich's board, a man not yet old, who had suddenly been promoted to so high a position.
Alexei Alexandrovich had previously felt no liking for Count Anychkin, and had always differed from him in his opinions. But now, from a feeling readily comprehensible to officials - that hatred felt by one who has suffered a defeat in the service for one who has received a promotion - he could not endure him.
`Well, have you seen him?' said Alexei Alexandrovich with a malignant smile.
`Of course; he was at our sitting yesterday. He seems to know his work capitally, and to be very energetic.'
`Yes, but what is his energy directed to?' said Alexei Alexandrovich.
`Is he aiming at doing anything, or simply doing again what's been done?
It's the great misfortune of our government - this paper administration, of which he's a worthy representative.'
`Really, I don't know what fault one could find with him. His policy I don't know, but one thing is certain - he's a very fine fellow,'
answered Stepan Arkadyevich. `I've just been seeing him, and he's really a fine fellow. We lunched together, and I taught him how to make - you know that drink - wine and oranges. It's so cooling. And it's a wonder he didn't know it. He liked it awfully. No, really, he's a fine fellow.'
Stepan Arkadyevich glanced at his watch.
`Why, good heavens, it's four already, and I've still to go to Dolgovushin's! So please come round to dinner. You can't imagine how you will grieve my wife and me if you don't.'
The way in which Alexei Alexandrovich saw his brother-in-law out was very different from the manner in which he had met him.
`I've promised, and I'll come,' he answered wearily.
`Believe me, I appreciate it, and I hope you won't regret it,'
answered Stepan Arkadyevich, smiling.
And, putting on his coat as he went, he patted the footman on the head with his coat sleeve, chuckled, and went out.
`At five o'clock, and wear your frock coat, please,' he shouted once more, returning at the door.
[Next Chapter] [Table of Contents]TOLSTOY: Anna Karenina Part 4, Chapter 09[Previous Chapter] [Table of Contents] Chapter 9 It was past five, and several guests had already arrived, before the host himself got home. He went in together with Sergei Ivanovich Koznishev and with Pestsov, both of whom had reached the street door at the same moment.
These were the two leading representatives of the Moscow intellectuals, as Oblonsky had called them. Both were men respected for their character and their intelligence. They respected each other, but were in complete and hopeless disagreement upon almost every subject, not because they belonged to opposite parties, but precisely because they were of the same party (their enemies refused to see any distinction between their views); but, in that party, each had his own special shade of opinion. And since no difference is less easily overcome than the difference of opinion about semiabstract questions, they never agreed on any opinion, and, indeed, had long been accustomed to jeer without anger at each other's incorrigible aberrations.
They were just going in at the door, talking of the weather, when Stepan Arkadyevich overtook them. In the drawing room there were already sitting Prince Alexander Dmitrievich Shcherbatsky, young Shcherbatsky, Turovtsin, Kitty, and Karenin.
Stepan Arkadyevich saw immediately that things were not going well in the drawing room without him. Darya Alexandrovna, in her best gray silk gown, obviously worried about the children who were to have their dinner by themselves in the nursery, and by her husband's absence, was not equal to the task of making the party mix without him. All were sitting like so many priests' daughters on a visit (so the old Prince expressed it), obviously wondering why they were there, and pumping up remarks simply to avoid being silent. Turovtsin - goodhearted man - felt unmistakably like a fish out of water, and the smile with which his thick lips greeted Stepan Arkadyevich said, as plainly as words: `Well, old boy, you have popped me down in a learned set! A drinking party, and the Chateau des Fleurs, would be more in my line!' The old Prince sat in silence, his bright little eyes watching Karenin with a sidelong look; and Stepan Arkadyevich saw that he had already formed a sharp remark to sum up that politician of whom guests had been invited to partake, as though he were a sturgeon.
Kitty was looking at the door, calling up all her energies to keep her from blushing at the entrance of Konstantin Levin. Young Shcherbatsky, who had not been introduced to Karenin, was trying to look as though he were not in the least embarrassed by it. Karenin himself had followed the Peterburg. etiquette for a dinner with ladies present and was wearing evening dress and a white tie. Stepan Arkadyevich saw by his face that he had come simply to keep his promise, and was performing a disagreeable duty in being present at this gathering. He was indeed the person chiefly responsible for the chill benumbing all the guests before Stepan Arkadyevich came in.
