Chapter 6

           “Perhapsthey’renotathome?”saidLevin,ashewentintothehallofCountessBola’shouse.

           “Athome;pleasewalkin,”saidtheporter,resolutelyremovinghisovercoat.

           “Howannoying!”thoughtLevinwithasigh,takingoffonegloveandstrokinghishat.“WhatdidIcomefor?WhathaveItosaytothem?”

           Ashepassedthroughthefirstdrawing-roomLevinmetinthedoorwayCountessBola,givingsomeordertoaservantwithacare-wornandsevereface.OnseeingLevinshesmiled,andaskedhimtocomeintothelittledrawing-room,whereheheardvoices.Inthisroomthereweresittinginarmchairsthetwodaughtersofthecountess,andaMoscowcolonel,whomLevinknew.Levinwentup,greetedthem,andsatdownbesidethesofawithhishatonhisknees.

           “Howisyourwife?Haveyoubeenattheconcert?Wecouldn’tgo.Mammahadtobeatthefuneralservice.”

           “Yes,Iheard....Whatasuddendeath!”saidLevin.

           Thecountesscamein,satdownonthesofa,andshetooaskedafterhiswifeandinquiredabouttheconcert.

           Levinanswered,andrepeatedaninquiryaboutMadameApraksina’ssuddendeath.

           “Butshewasalwaysinweakhealth.”

           “Wereyouattheoperayesterday?”

           “Yes,Iwas.”

           “Luccawasverygood.”

           “Yes,verygood,”hesaid,andasitwasutterlyofnoconsequencetohimwhattheythoughtofhim,hebeganrepeatingwhattheyhadheardahundredtimesaboutthecharacteristicsofthesinger’stalent.CountessBolapretendedtobelistening.Then,whenhehadsaidenoughandpaused,thecolonel,whohadbeensilenttillthen,begantotalk.