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 But Sergeï Ivanovitch, who was not nearly so one-sided and zealous a partisan as the professor, and who had sufficient health of mind both to answer the professor and to see the simple and natural point of view from which the question was asked, smiled and said:—

"We have not yet gained the right to answer that question."....

"Our capacities are not sufficient," continued the professor, taking up the thread of his argument. "No, I insist upon this, that if, as Pripasof says plainly, sensations are based upon impressions, we cannot too closely distinguish between the two notions."

Levin did not listen any longer, and waited until the professor took his departure.

CHAPTER VIII

the professor was gone, Sergeï Ivanovitch turned to his brother.

"I am very glad to see you. Shall you stay long? How are things on the estate?"

Levin knew that his elder brother took little interest in the affairs of the estate, and only asked out of courtesy; and so in reply he merely spoke of the sale of wheat, and the money he had received.

It had been his intention to speak with his brother about his marriage project, and to ask his advice; but, after the conversation with the professor, and in consequence of the involuntarily patronizing tone in which his brother had asked about their affairs,—for their real estate had never been divided and Levin managed it as a whole,—he felt that he could not begin to talk about his project of marriage. He had an instinctive feeling that his brother would not look upon it as he should wish him to.

"How is it with the zemstvo?" asked Sergeï Ivanovitch, who took a lively interest in these provincial assemblies, to which he attributed great importance.

"Fact is, I don't know ...."

"What! are n't you a member of the assembly?"