Page:Anna Karenina.djvu/653

 Then he went on again:—

"Yes! Besides the petty interests of housekeeping .... she looks out for those and enjoys them; besides her toilet and her broderie anglaise, she has no serious interests, no sympathy in my labors, in my schemes, or for the muzhiks, no taste for reading or music; and yet she is a good musician. She does absolutely nothing, and yet she is perfectly content."

Levin in his heart judged her thus, and did not comprehend that his wife was making ready for the time of activity which was ere long to come to her, when she would be at once wife, mistress of the house, mother, nurse, teacher. He did not understand that she knew this by intuition, and in preparing for this terrible task could not blame herself for these indolent moments, and the enjoyment of love, which made her so happy, while she was cheerily building her nest for the future.

CHAPTER XVI

Levin came up-stairs again his wife was sitting in front of the new silver samovar, behind the new teaset, reading a letter from Dolly, with whom she kept up a brisk correspondence. Old Agafya Mikhaïlovna, with a cup of tea, was cozily sitting at a small table beside her.

"You see your lady has asked me to sit here," said the old woman, looking affectionately at Kitty.

These last words showed Levin that the domestic drama which had been going on between Kitty and Agafya Mikhaïlovna was at an end. He saw that, notwithstanding the chagrin which Agafya Mikhaïlovna felt at resigning the reins of government to the new mistress, Kitty was victorious, and had just made peace with her.

"Here I have been looking over your letters," said Kitty, handing her husband an illiterate-looking envelop. "I think it is from that woman .... you know ...