Chapter 27

           Thehousewasbigandold-fashioned,andLevin,thoughhelivedalone,hadthewholehouseheatedandused.Heknewthatthiswasstupid,heknewthatitwaspositivelynotright,andcontrarytohispresentnewplans,butthishousewasawholeworldtoLevin.Itwastheworldinwhichhisfatherandmotherhadlivedanddied.TheyhadlivedjustthelifethattoLevinseemedtheidealofperfection,andthathehaddreamedofbeginningwithhiswife,hisfamily.

           Levinscarcelyrememberedhismother.Hisconceptionofherwasforhimasacredmemory,andhisfuturewifewasboundtobeinhisimaginationarepetitionofthatexquisite,holyidealofawomanthathismotherhadbeen.

           Hewassofarfromconceivingofloveforwomanapartfrommarriagethathepositivelypicturedtohimselffirstthefamily,andonlysecondarilythewomanwhowouldgivehimafamily.Hisideasofmarriagewere,consequently,quiteunlikethoseofthegreatmajorityofhisacquaintances,forwhomgettingmarriedwasoneofthenumerousfactsofsociallife.ForLevinitwasthechiefaffairoflife,onwhichitswholehappinessturned.Andnowhehadtogiveupthat.

           Whenhehadgoneintothelittledrawing-room,wherehealwayshadtea,andhadsettledhimselfinhisarmchairwithabook,andAgafeaMihalovnahadbroughthimtea,andwithherusual,“Well,I’llstayawhile,sir,”hadtakenachairinthewindow,hefeltthat,howeverstrangeitmightbe,hehadnotpartedfromhisdaydreams,andthathecouldnotlivewithoutthem.Whetherwithher,orwithanother,stillitwouldbe.