Page:Anna Karenina.djvu/132

 Kritsky had hardly left the room, when Nikolaï smiled and winked.

"He is to be pitied; but I see .... "

Just at that instant Kritsky, calling at the door, interrupted him.

"What do you want?" he asked, joining him in the corridor.

Left alone with Marya Nikolayevna, Levin said to her:—

"Have you been long with my brother?"

"This is the second year. His health has become very feeble; he drinks a great deal," she said.

"What do you mean?"

"He drinks vodka, and it is bad for him."

"Does he drink too much?"

"Yes," said she, looking timidly toward the door where Nikolaï Levin was just entering.

"What were you talking about?" he demanded, with a scowl, and looking from one to the other with angry eyes. "Tell me."

"Oh! nothing," replied Konstantin, in confusion.

"You don't want to answer? all right! don't. But you have no business to be talking with her; she is a girl, you a gentleman," he shouted, craning out his neck. "I see that you have understood everything, and judged everything, and that you look with grief on the errors of my ways."

He went on speaking, raising his voice.

"Nikolaï Dmitritch! Nikolaï Dmitritch!" whispered Marya Nikolayevna, coming close to him.

"Well! very good, very good. .... Supper, then? ah! here it is," he said, seeing a servant entering with a platter.

"Here! put it here!" he said crossly; then, taking the vodka, he poured out a glass, and drank it eagerly.

"Will you have a drink?" he asked his brother, immediately growing lively.

"Well! no more about Sergeï Ivanuitch! I am very glad to see you. No matter what people say, we are no longer strangers. Come now! drink! Tell me what