Chapter 8

           Whentheprofessorhadgone,SergeyIvanovitchturnedtohisbrother.

           “Delightedthatyou’vecome.Forsometime,isit?How’syourfarminggettingon?”

           Levinknewthathiselderbrothertooklittleinterestinfarming,andonlyputthequestionindeferencetohim,andsoheonlytoldhimaboutthesaleofhiswheatandmoneymatters.

           Levinhadmeanttotellhisbrotherofhisdeterminationtogetmarried,andtoaskhisadvice;hehadindeedfirmlyresolvedtodoso.Butafterseeinghisbrother,listeningtohisconversationwiththeprofessor,hearingafterwardstheunconsciouslypatronizingtoneinwhichhisbrotherquestionedhimaboutagriculturalmatters(theirmother’spropertyhadnotbeendivided,andLevintookchargeofboththeirshares),Levinfeltthathecouldnotforsomereasonbegintotalktohimofhisintentionofmarrying.Hefeltthathisbrotherwouldnotlookatitashewouldhavewishedhimto.

           “Well,howisyourdistrictcouncildoing?”askedSergeyIvanovitch,whowasgreatlyinterestedintheselocalboardsandattachedgreatimportancetothem.

           “Ireallydon’tknow.”

           “What!Why,surelyyou’reamemberoftheboard?”

           “No,I’mnotamembernow;I’veresigned,”answeredLevin,“andInolongerattendthemeetings.”

           “Whatapity!”commentedSergeyIvanovitch,frowning.

           Levininself-defensebegantodescribewhattookplaceinthemeetingsinhisdistrict.

           “That’showitalwaysis!”SergeyIvanovitchinterruptedhim.“WeRussiansarealwayslikethat.