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 what you asked me. There is no change, but I am sorry that it has been so long since you were in town."

"Why?" asked Levin in alarm.

"Well, it's nothing," replied Oblonsky; "we will talk things over. What has brought you now especially?"

"Akh! we will speak also of that by and by," said Levin, again reddening to his very ears.

"Very good. I understand you," said Stepan Arkadyevitch. "You see, I should have taken you home with me to dinner, but my wife is not well to-day. If you want to see them, you will find them at the Zoölogical Gardens from four to five. Kitty is skating. You go there; I will join you later, and we will get dinner together somewhere."

"Excellent. Da svidanya!"

"Look here—you see I know you—you will forget all about it, or will suddenly be starting back to your home in the country," cried Stepan Arkadyevitch, with a laugh.

"No, truly I won't."

Levin left the room, and only when he had passed the door realized that he had forgotten to salute Oblonsky's colleagues.

"That must be a gentleman of great energy," said Grinevitch, after Levin had taken his departure.

"Yes, batyushka," said Stepan Arkadyevitch, throwing his head back. "He is a likely fellow. Eight thousand acres in the Karazinsky district! He has a future before him, and how vigorous he is! He is not like the rest of us."

"What have you to complain about, Stepan Arkadyevitch?"

"Well, things are bad, bad," replied Stepan Arkadyevitch, sighing heavily.