AttheendofSeptemberthetimberhadbeencartedforbuildingthecattleyardonthelandthathadbeenallottedtotheassociationofpeasants，andthebutterfromthecowswassoldandtheprofitsdivided。InPracticethesystemworkedcapitally，or，atleast，soitseemedtoLevin。Inordertoworkoutthewholesubjecttheoreticallyandtocompletehisbook，which，inLevin’sdaydreams，wasnotmerelytoeffectarevolutioninpoliticaleconomy，buttoannihilatethatscienceentirelyandtolaythefoundationofanewscienceoftherelationofthepeopletothesoil，allthatwaslefttodowastomakeatourabroad，andtostudyonthespotallthathadbeendoneinthesamedirection，andtocollectconclusiveevidencethatallthathadbeendonetherewasnotwhatwaswanted。Levinwasonlywaitingforthedeliveryofhiswheattoreceivethemoneyforitandgoabroad。Buttherainsbeganpreventingtheharvestingofthecornandpotatoesleftinthefields，andputtingastoptoallwork，eventothedeliveryofthewheat。Themudwasimpassablealongtheroads；twomillswerecarriedawaybythespate，andtheweathergotworseandworse。
Onthe30thofSeptemberthesuncameoutinthemorning，and，hopingforfineweather，Levinbeganmakingfinalpreparationsforhisjourney。Hegaveordersforthewheattobedelivered，sentthebailifftothemerchanttogetthemoneyowinghim，andwentouthimselftogivesomefinaldirectionsontheestatebeforesettingoff。
Havingfinishedallhisbusiness，soakedthroughwiththestreamsofwaterwhichkeptrunningintohisleathercoatanddownhisneckandhisboottops，butinthekeenestandmostconfidenttemper，Levinturnedhomewardintheevening。Theweatherhadbecomeworsethanevertowardevening；thehaillashedthedrenchedmaresocruellythatshewentalongsideways，shakingherheadandears；butLevinwasallrightunderhishood，andhelookedcheerfullyabouthimatthemuddystreamsrunningunderthewheels，atthedropshangingoneverybaretwig，atthewhitenessofthepatchofunmeltedhailstonesontheplanksofthebridge，atthethicklayerofstillsucculent，fleshyleavesthatlayheapedupaboutthestrippedelmtree。Inspiteofthegloominessofnaturearoundhim，hefeltpeculiarlyeager。Thetalkshehadbeenhavingwiththepeasantsinthefarthervillagehadshownthattheywerebeginningtogetusedtotheirnewposition。Theinnkeeper，anoldman，towhoseinnhehadgonetogetdryevidentlyapprovedofLevin’splan，andofhisownaccordproposedtoenterthepartnershipforpurchasingofcattle。
`Ihaveonlytogoonstubbornlytowardmyaim，andIshallattainmyend，’thoughtLevin；`andit’ssomethingtoworkandtaketroublefor。Thisisnotamatterofmyselfindividually，thequestionofthepublicwelfarecomesintoit。Thewholesystemofagriculture，thechiefelementintheconditionofthepeople，mustbecompletelytransformed。Insteadofpoverty-generalprosperityandcontent；insteadofhostility-harmonyandunityofinterests。Inshort，abloodlessrevolution，butarevolutionofthegreatestmagnitude，beginninginthelittlecircleofourdistrict，thentheprovince，thenRussia，andthewholeworld。Becauseajustideacannotbutbefruitful。Yes，it’sanaimworthworkingfor。AndthefactthatitisI，KostiaLevin，whowenttoaballinablacktie，andwasrefusedbytheShcherbatskygirl，andwhoisintrinsicallysuchapitiful，worthlesscreaturetohimself-thatprovesnothing；IfeelsureFranklinfeltjustasworthless，andhetoohadnofaithinhimself，thinkingofhimselfasawhole。Thatmeansnothing。Andhetoo，mostlikely，hadanAgathyaMikhailovnatowhomheconfidedhissecrets。’
MusingonsuchthoughtsLevinreachedhomeinthedarkness。