Chapter 2

           Onthedayofthewedding,accordingtotheRussiancustom(theprincessandDaryaAlexandrovnainsistedonstrictlykeepingallthecustoms),Levindidnotseehisbetrothed,anddinedathishotelwiththreebachelorfriends,casuallybroughttogetherathisrooms.ThesewereSergeyIvanovitch,Katavasov,auniversityfriend,nowprofessorofnaturalscience,whomLevinhadmetinthestreetandinsistedontakinghomewithhim,andTchirikov,hisbestman,aMoscowconciliation-boardjudge,Levin’scompanioninhisbear-hunts.Thedinnerwasaverymerryone:SergeyIvanovitchwasinhishappiestmood,andwasmuchamusedbyKatavasov’soriginality.Katavasov,feelinghisoriginalitywasappreciatedandunderstood,madethemostofit.Tchirikovalwaysgavealivelyandgood-humoredsupporttoconversationofanysort.

           “See,now,”saidKatavasov,drawlinghiswordsfromahabitacquiredinthelecture-room,“whatacapablefellowwasourfriendKonstantinDmitrievitch.I’mnotspeakingofpresentcompany,forhe’sabsent.Atthetimehelefttheuniversityhewasfondofscience,tookaninterestinhumanity;nowone-halfofhisabilitiesisdevotedtodeceivinghimself,andtheothertojustifyingthedeceit.”

           “AmoredeterminedenemyofmatrimonythanyouIneversaw,”saidSergeyIvanovitch.

           “Oh,no,I’mnotanenemyofmatrimony.I’minfavorofdivisionoflabor.Peoplewhocandonothingelseoughttorearpeoplewhiletherestworkfortheirhappinessandenlightenment.That’showIlookatit.Tomuddleuptwotradesistheerroroftheamateur;I’mnotoneoftheirnumber.