Theroomwasabigone，withatilestove，andapartitiondividingitintotwo。Undertheiconsstoodatablepaintedinpatterns，abenchandtwochairs。Neartheentrancewasadresserfullofcrockery。Theshutterswereclosed，therewerefewflies，anditwassocleanthatLevinwasanxiousthatLaska，whohadbeenrunningalongtheroadandbathinginpuddles，shouldnotmuddythefloor，andorderedhertoaplaceinthecornerbythedoor。Afterlookingroundtheroom，Levinwentoutinthebackyard。
Thecomelyyounghousewifeinclogs，swingingtheemptypailsontheyoke，ranonbeforehimtothewellforwater。
`Looksharp，mygirl！’theoldmanshoutedafterher，good-humoredly，andhewalkeduptoLevin。`Well，sir，areyougoingtoNikolaiIvanovichSviiazhsky？Hecomestoustoo，’hebeganchatting，leaninghiselbowsontherailingofthesteps。Inthemiddleoftheoldman’saccountofhisacquaintancewithSviiazhsky，thegatescreakedagain，andlaborerscameintotheyardfromthefields，withwoodenplowsandharrows。Thehorsesharnessedtotheplowsandharrowsweresleekandfat。Thelaborerswereobviouslyofthehousehold:twowereyoungmenincotton-printshirtsandcaps，thetwootherswerehiredlaborersinhomespunshirts，oneanoldman，theotherayoungfellow。
Movingofffromthesteps，theoldmanwentuptothehorsesandbeganunharnessingthem。
`Whathavetheybeenplowing？’askedLevin。
`Plowingupthepotatoes。Werentabitoflandtoo。Fedot，don’tletoutthegelding，buttakeittothetrough，andwe’llputanotherinharness。’
`Oh，father，abouttheplowsharesIordered-hashebroughtthemalong？’askedthebig，robustfellow，obviouslytheoldman’sson。
`There……inthesledge，’answeredtheoldman，rollingupthereinshehadtakenoff，andflingingthemontheground。`Youcanputthemright，whiletheyhavedinner。’
Thecomelyyounghousewifecameintotheouterroomwiththefullpailsdraggingathershoulders。Morewomencameonthescenefromsomewhere，youngandhandsome，middle-aged，oldandugly，withchildrenandwithoutchildren。
Thesamovarwasbeginningtosing；thelaborersandthefamily，havingdisposedofthehorses，cameintodinner。Levin，gettinghisprovisionsoutofhiscarriage，invitedtheoldmantotaketeawithhim。
`Well，Ihavehadsometodayalready，’saidtheoldman，obviouslyacceptingtheinvitationwithpleasure。`Well，beitso，forcompany。’
OvertheirteaLevinheardallabouttheoldman’sfarming。Tenyearsbeforetheoldmanhadrentedahundredandtwentydessiatinasfromtheladywhoownedthem，andayearagohehadboughtthemandrentedanotherthreehundredfromaneighboringlandowner。Asmallpartoftheland-
theworstpart-heletoutforrent，whilesomefortydessiatinasofarablelandhecultivatedhimself，withhisfamilyandtwohiredlaborers。Theoldmancomplainedthatthingsweregoingbadly。ButLevinsawthathesimplydidsofromafeelingofpropriety，andthathisfarmwasinaflourishingcondition。Ifithadbeenunsuccessfulhewouldnothaveboughtlandatahundredandfiveroublesthedessiatina，hewouldnothavemarriedoffhisthreesonsandanephew，hewouldnothaverebuilttwiceafterfires，andeachtimeonalargerscale。Inspiteoftheoldman’scomplaints，itwasevidentthathewasproud，andjustlyproud，ofhisprosperity，proudofhissons，hisnephew，hissons’wives，hishorses，andhiscows，andespeciallyofthefactthathewaskeepingallthisfarminggoing。
Fromhisconversationwiththeoldman，Levinrealizedhewasnotaversetonewmethodseither。Hehadplantedagreatmanypotatoes，andhispotatoes，asLevinhadseendrivingpast，werealreadypastfloweringandbeginningtoripen，whereasLevin’swereonlyjustcomingintoflower。Heplowedthegroundforhispotatoeswithamodernplowborrowedfromaneighboringlandowner。Hesowedwheat。Thetriflingfactthat，thinningouthisrye，theoldmanusedtheryehethinnedoutforhishorses，struckLevinespecially。
HowmanytimeshadLevinseenthissplendidfodderwasted，andtriedtogetitsaved；butalwaysithadturnedouttobeimpossible。Thispeasanthaddoneso，andhecouldnotsayenoughinpraiseofitasfoodforthebeasts。
`Whathavethewenchestodo？Theycarryitoutinbundlestotheroadside，andthecartbringsitaway。’
`Well，welandownerscan’tmanagewellwithourlaborers，’saidLevin，handinghimaglassoftea。
`Thanks，’saidtheoldman，andhetooktheglass，butrefusedsugar，pointingtoabithehadleft。`There’snogettingalongwiththem，’
saidhe。`They’resimplewaste。LookatSviiazhsky，forinstance。Weknowwhattheland’slike-first-rate；yetthere’snotmuchofacroptoboastof。It’snotlookedafterenough-that’sallitis！’
`Butyouworkyourlandwithhiredlaborers？’
`We’reallpeasantstogether。Wegointoeverythingourselves。
Ifaman’snouse，hecango，andwecanmanagebyourselves。’
`FatherFinogenwantssometar，’saidtheyoungwomanintheclogs，comingin。
`Yes，yes，that’showitis，sir！’saidtheoldman，gettingup，and，crossinghimselflingeringly，hethankedLevinandwentout。
WhenLevinwentinthekitchentocallhiscoachmanhesawthewholefamilyofmenatdinner。Thewomenwerestandingupwaitingonthem。
Theyoung，robustsonwastellingsomethingfunny，withhismouthfullofbuckwheatporridge，andtheywerealllaughing-thewomanintheclogs，whowaspouringcabbagesoupintoabowl，laughingmostmerrilyofall。
Veryprobablythecomelyfaceoftheyoungwomanintheclogshadagooddealtodowiththeimpressionofwell-beingthispeasanthouseholdmadeuponLevin，buttheimpressionwassostrongthatLevincouldnevergetridofit。Andallthewayfromtheoldpeasant’stoSviiazhsky’shekeptrecallingthispeasantfarmasthoughthereweresomethinginthisimpressiondemandinghisspecialattention。
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TOLSTOY:AnnaKareninaPart3，Chapter26[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter26Sviiazhskywasthemarshalofhisdistrict。HewasfiveyearsolderthanLevin，andhadlongbeenmarried。Hissister-in-law，ayounggirlLevinlikedverymuch，livedinhishouse；andLevinknewthatSviiazhskyandhiswifewouldhavegreatlylikedtomarrythegirltohim。Heknewthiswithcertainty，asso-calledeligibleyoungmenalwaysknowit，thoughhecouldneverhavebroughthimselftospeakofittoanyone；andhealsoknewthat，althoughhewantedtogetmarried，andalthoughbyeverytokenthisveryattractivegirlwouldmakeanexcellentwife，hecouldnomorehavemarriedher，evenifhehadnotbeeninlovewithKittyShcherbatskaia，thanhecouldhaveflownuptothesky。AndthisknowledgepoisonedthepleasurehehadhopedtofindinthevisittoSviiazhsky。
OngettingSviiazhsky’sletterwiththeinvitationforshooting，Levinhadimmediatelythoughtofthis；but，inspiteofit，hehadmadeuphismindthatSviiazhsky’shavingsuchviewsforhimwassimplyhisowngroundlesssupposition，andsohewouldgo，notwithstanding。Besides，atthebottomofhisheart，hehadadesiretotryhimself，toputhimselftothetestinregardtothisgirl。TheSviiazhskys’homelifewasexceedinglypleasant，andSviiazhskyhimself，thebesttypeofZemstvomanthatLevinknew，wasveryinterestingtohim。
Sviiazhskywasoneofthosepeople，alwaysasourceofwondertoLevin，whoseconvictions，verylogicalthoughneveroriginal，goonewaybythemselves，whiletheirlife，exceedinglydefiniteandfirminitscourse，goesitswayquiteapartandalmostalwaysindirectcontradictiontotheirconvictions。Sviiazhskywasanextremelyadvancedman。Hedespisedthenobility，andbelievedthemassofthenobilitytobesecretlyinfavorofserfdom，andonlyconcealingtheirviewsoutofcowardice。HeregardedRussiaasaruinedcountry，ratherafterthestyleofTurkey，andthegovernmentofRussiaassobadthatheneverpermittedhimselftocriticizeitsdoingsseriously，andyethewasafunctionaryofthatgovernment，andamodelmarshalofnobility，andwhenhedroveabouthealwaysworehiscapwiththecockadeandredband。Heconsideredhumanlifeonlytolerableabroad，andwentabroadtostayateveryopportunity，andatthesametimehecarriedonacomplexandimprovedsystemofagricultureinRussia，andwithextremeinterestfollowedeverythingandkneweverythingthatwasbeingdoneinRussia。HeconsideredtheRussianpeasantasoccupyingastageofdevelopmentintermediatebetweentheapeandtheman，andatthesametimeinthedaysofZemstvoelectionnoonewasreadiertoshakehandswiththepeasantsandlistentotheiropinion。HebelievedneitherinGodnorthedevil，butwasmuchconcernedaboutthequestionoftheimprovementoftheclergyandthemaintenanceoftheirrevenues，andtookspecialtroubletokeepupthechurchinhisvillage。
Onthewomanquestionhewasonthesideoftheextremeadvocatesofcompletelibertyforwomen，andespeciallytheirrighttolabor。Buthelivedwithhiswifeonsuchtermsthattheiraffectionate，childlesshomelifewastheadmirationofeveryone，andarrangedhiswife’slifesothatshedidnothingandcoulddonothingbutshareherhusband’spreoccupationsinspendingtheirtimeashappilyandasagreeablyaspossible。
IfithadnotbeenacharacteristicofLevintoputthemostfavorableinterpretationonpeople，Sviiazhsky’scharacterwouldhavepresentednodoubtordifficultytohim:hewouldhavesaidtohimself，`afooloraknave，’andeverythingwouldhaveseemedclear。Buthecouldnotsayafool，becauseSviiazhskywasunmistakablyclever，and，moreover，ahighlycultivatedman，whowasexceptionallymodestoverhisculture。Therewasnotasubjectheknewnothingof。Buthedidnotdisplayhisknowledgeexceptwhenhewascompelledtodoso。StilllesscouldLevinsaythathewasaknave，asSviiazhskywasunmistakablyanhonest，goodhearted，sensibleman，whoworkedgood-humoredly，keenly，andperseveringlyathiswork，whichwasheldinhighhonorbyeveryoneabouthim，andcertainlyhehadneverconsciouslydone，andwasindeedincapableofdoing，anythingbase。
Levintriedtounderstandhim，andcouldnotunderstandhim，andlookedathimandhislifeasatalivingenigma。
Levinandhewereveryfriendly，andsoLevinusedtoventuretosoundSviiazhsky，totrytogetattheveryfoundationofhisviewoflife；butitwasalwaysinvain。EverytimeLevintriedtopenetratebeyondtheouterchambersofSviiazhsky’smind，whichwerehospitablyopentoall，henoticedthatSviiazhskywasslightlydisconcerted；faintsignsofalarmwerevisibleinhiseyes，asthoughhewereafraidLevinwouldunderstandhim，andhewouldgivehimakindly，good-humoredrebuff。
Justnow，sincehisdisenchantmentwithfarming，LevinwasparticularlygladtostaywithSviiazhsky。Apartfromthefactthatthesightofthishappyandaffectionatecouple，sopleasedwiththemselvesandeveryoneelse，andtheirwell-orderedhome，hadalwaysacheeringeffectonLevin，hefeltalonging，nowthathewassodissatisfiedwithhisownlife，togetatthatsecretinSviiazhskywhichgavehimsuchclarity，definiteness，andgoodcourageinlife。Moreover，LevinknewthatatSviiazhsky’shewouldmeetthelandownersoftheneighborhood，anditwasparticularlyinterestingforhimjustnowtohearandtakepartinthoseruralconversationsconcerningcrops，laborers’wages，andsoon，which，Levinwasaware，areconventionallyregardedassomethingverylow，butwhichseemedtohimjustnowtoconstitutetheonesubjectofimportance。`Itwasnot，perhaps，ofimportanceinthedaysofserfdom，anditmaynotbeofimportanceinEngland。Inbothcasestheconditionsofagriculturearefirmlyestablished；
butamongusnow，wheneverythinghasbeenturnedtopsy-turvy，andisonlyjusttakingshape，thequestionwhatformtheseconditionswilltakeistheonequestionofimportanceinRussia，’thoughtLevin。
TheshootingturnedouttobepoorerthanLevinexpected。Themarshwasdryandtherewerenosnipeatall。Hewalkedaboutthewholedayandonlybroughtbackthreebirds，buttomakeupforthathebroughtback，ashealwaysdidfromshooting，anexcellentappetite，excellentspirits，andthatkeen，intellectualmoodwhichwithhimalwaysaccompaniedviolentphysicalexertion。Andwhileoutshooting，whenheseemedtobethinkingofnothingatall，theoldmanandhisfamilywouldtimeandagaincometomind，andtheimpressionofthemseemedtoclaimnotmerelyhisattention，butthesolutionofsomequestionconnectedwiththem。
Intheevening，attea，twolandownerswhohadcomeaboutsomebusinessconnectedwithawardshipwereoftheparty，andtheinterestingconversationLevinhadbeenlookingforwardtosprangup。
Levinwassittingbesidehishostessattheteatable，andwasobligedtokeepupaconversationwithherandhersister，whowassittingoppositehim。MadameSviiazhskywasaround-faced，fair-haired，rathershortwoman，allsmilesanddimples。Levintriedthroughhertogetatasolutionoftheweightyenigmaherhusbandpresentedtohismind；buthehadnotcompletefreedomofideas，becausehewasinanagonyofembarrassment。
Thisagonyofembarrassmentwasduetothefactthatthesister-in-lawwassittingoppositetohim，inadress，speciallyputon，ashefancied，forhisbenefit，cutparticularlyopen，intheshapeofatrapeze，atherwhitebosom。Thisquadrangularopening，inspiteofthebosom’sbeingverywhite，orjustbecauseitwasverywhite，deprivedLevinofthefulluseofhisfaculties。Heimagined，probablymistakenly，thatthislow-neckedbodicehadbeenmadeonhisaccount，andfeltthathehadnorighttolookatit，andtriednottolookatit；buthefeltthathewastoblamefortheveryfactofthelow-neckedbodicehavingbeenmade。ItseemedtoLevinthathehadimposeduponsomeone，thatheoughttoexplainsomething，butthattoexplainitwasimpossible，andforthatreasonhewascontinuallyblushing，wasillateaseandawkward。Hisawkwardnessinfectedtheprettysister-in-lawtoo。Buttheirhostessappearednottoobservethis，andkeptpurposelydrawingherintotheconversation。
`Yousay，’shesaid，pursuingthesubjectthathadbeenstarted，`thatmyhusbandcannotbeinterestedinwhat’sRussian。It’squitethecontrary；heisincheerfulspiritsabroad，butneverinsuchasheishere。Herehefeelsinhisproperplace。Hehassomuchtodo，andhehasthefacultyofinterestinghimselfineverything。Oh，you’venotbeentoseeourschool，haveyou？’
`I’veseenit……Thelittlehousecoveredwithivy，isn’tit？’
`Yes；that’sNastia’swork，’shesaid，indicatinghersister。
`Youteachinityourself？’askedLevin，tryingtolookabovetheopenneck，butfeelingthatnomatterwherehelookedinthatdirectionheshouldseeit。
`Yes；Iusedtoteachinitmyself，anddoteachstill，butwehaveafirst-rateschoolmistressnow。Andwe’vestartedgymnasticexercises。’
`No，thankyou，Iwon’thaveanymoretea，’saidLevin，andconsciousofdoingarudething，butincapableofcontinuingtheconversation，hegotup，blushing。`Ihearaveryinterestingconversation，’headded，andwalkedtotheotherendofthetable，whereSviiazhskywassittingwiththetwogentlemenoftheneighborhood。Sviiazhskywassittingsideways，withoneelbowonthetable，andacupinonehand，whilewiththeotherhandhegathereduphisbeard，heldittohisnoseandletitdropagain，asthoughheweresmellingit。Hisbrilliantblackeyeswerelookingdirectlyattheexcitedcountrygentlemanwithgraymustaches，andapparentlyhederivedamusementfromhisremarks。Thegentlemanwascomplainingofthepeasants。ItwasevidenttoLevinthatSviiazhskyknewtheanswertothisgentleman’scomplaints，whichwouldatoncedemolishhiswholecontention，butthatinhispositionhecouldnotgiveutterancetothisanswer，andlistened，notwithoutpleasure，tothelandowner’scomictalk。
Thegentlemanwiththegraymustacheswasobviouslyaninveterateadherentofserfdomandadevotedagriculturist，whohadlivedallhislifeinthecountry。Levinsawproofsofthisinhisdress，inhisold-fashionedthreadbarecoat，obviouslynothiseverydayattire，inhisshrewd，deep-seteyes，inhiscoherentRussian，intheimperioustonethathadbecomehabitualfromlonguse，andintheresolutegesturesofhislarge，beautifulsunburnedhands，withasingleoldweddingringonhisfourthfinger。
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TOLSTOY:AnnaKareninaPart3，Chapter27[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter27`IfI’donlythehearttothrowupwhat’sbeensetgoing……suchalotoftroublewasted……I’dturnmybackonthewholebusiness，sellout，goofflikeNikolaiIvanovich……tohearLaBelleHé；lè；ne，’
saidthelandowner，apleasantsmilelightinguphisshrewdoldface。
`But，yousee，youdon’tthrowitup，’saidNikolaiIvanovichSviiazhsky，`sotheremustbesomethinggained。’
`TheonlygainisthatIliveinmyownhouse，neitherboughtnorhired。Besides，onekeepshopingthepeoplewilllearnsense。Though，insteadofthat，believeitornot，thereissuchdrunkenness，suchimmorality！……
Theykeepmakingpartitionoftheirbitsofland；thereisn’tahorseoracow。Thepeasant’sdyingofhunger，butjustgoandtakehimonasalaborer-he’lldohisbesttodoyouamischief，andthenbringyouupbeforethejusticeofthepeace。’
`Butthen，youmakecomplaintstothejusticetoo，’saidSviiazhsky。
`Ilodgecomplaints？NotforanythingintheworldThere’ssomuchtalkspringsupthatoneissorryevertohavecomplained。Attheworks，forinstance，theypocketedtheadvancemoneyandmadeoff。Whatdidthejusticedo？Why，acquittedthem。Nothingkeepstheminorderbuttheirowncommunalcourtandtheirvillageelder。He’llflogtheminthegoodoldstyle！Butforthatthere’dbenothingforitbuttogiveitallupandrunaway。’
ObviouslythelandownerwaschaffingSviiazhsky，who，farfromresentingit，wasapparentlyamusedbyit。
`But，yousee，wemanageourlandwithoutsuchextrememeasures，’
saidhe，smiling:`Levin，andI，andthisgentleman。’
Heindicatedtheotherlandowner。
`Yes，thething’sdoneatMikhailPetrovich’s，butaskhimhowit’sdone。Doyoucallthatarationalsystem？’saidthelandowner，obviouslyratherproudoftheword`rational’。
`Mysystem’sverysimple，’saidMikhailPetrovich，`thankGod。
Allmymanagementrestsongettingthemoneyreadyfortheautumntaxes……
Thepeasantscometome，``Father，master，helpus！’Well，thepeasantsareallone’sneighbors；onefeelsforthem。Sooneadvancesthemathird，butonesays:``Remember，lads，Ihavehelpedyou，andyoumusthelpmewhenIneedit-whetherit’sthesowingoftheoats，orthehaycutting，ortheharvest’；andwell，oneagrees，somuchforeachtaxpayer-thoughtherearedishonestonesamongthemtoo，it’strue。’
Levin，whohadlongbeenfamiliarwiththesepatriarchalmethods，exchangedglanceswithSviiazhskyandinterruptedMikhailPetrovich，turningagaintothegentlemanwiththegraymustaches。
`Well，whatdoyouthink？’heasked。`Whatsystemisonetoadoptnowadays？’
`Why，managelikeMikhailPetrovich，orletthelandforhalfthecroporforrenttothepeasants；onecandothat-onlythat’sjusthowthegeneralprosperityofthecountryisbeingruined。Wherethelandwithserflaborandgoodmanagementgaveayieldofninetoone，onthemetayagesystemityieldsthreetoone。Russiahasbeenruinedbytheemancipation！’
SviiazhskylookedwithsmilingeyesatLevin，andevenmadeafaintgestureofironytohim；butLevindidnotthinkthelandowner’swordsabsurd；heunderstoodthembetterthanhedidSviiazhsky。AgreatdealmoreofwhatthelandownersaidtoshowinwhatwayRussiawasruinedbytheemancipationstruckhimindeedasverytrue，newtohim，andquiteincontestable。Thelandownerunmistakablyspokehisownindividualthought-athingthatrarelyhappens-andathoughttowhichhehadbeenbroughtnotbyadesireoffindingsomeexerciseforanidlebrain，butathoughtwhichhadgrownupoutoftheconditionsofhislife，whichhehadbroodedoverinthesolitudeofhisvillage，andhadconsideredineveryaspect。
`Thepointis，don’tyousee，thatprogressofeverysortisonlymadebytheuseofauthority，’hesaid，evidentlywishingtoshowhewasnotwithoutculture。`TakethereformsofPeter，ofCatherine，ofAlexander。
TakeEuropeanhistory。Andprogressinagriculturemorethananythingelse-thepotato，forinstance，thatwasintroducedamongusbyforce。Thewoodenplow，too，wasn’talwaysused。Itwasintroducedinthedaysofappanagedprinces，perhaps，butitwasprobablybroughtinbyforce。Now，inourownday，welandownersintheserftimesusedvariousimprovementsinourhusbandry:dryingmachinesandthreshingmachines，andcartingmanure，andallthemodernimplements-allthesewebroughtintousebyourauthority，andthepeasantsopposeditatfirst，andendedbyimitatingus。Now，bytheabolitionofserfdom，wehavebeendeprivedofourauthority；andsoourhusbandry，whereithadbeenraisedtoahighlevel，isboundtosinktothemostsavage，primitivecondition。That’showIseeit。’
`Butwhyso？Ifit’srational，you’llbeabletokeepupthesamesystemwithhiredlabor，’saidSviiazhsky。
`We’venopoweroverthem。WithwhomamIgoingtoworkthesystem，allowmetoask？’
`Thereitis-thelaborforce-thechiefelementinagriculture，’
thoughtLevin。
`Withlaborers。’
`Thelaborerswon’tworkwell，andwon’tworkwithgoodimplements。
Ourlaborercandonothingbutgetdrunk，likeaswine，andthenruineverythingyougivehim。Hespoilsthehorsesbywateringunseasonably，hecutsgoodharness，bartersthetiresofthewheelsfordrink，dropsbitsofironintothethreshingmachine，soastobreakit。Heloathesthesightofanythingthat’snotafterhisfashion。Andthat’showthewholelevelofhusbandryhasfallen。Landsgoneoutofcultivation，overgrownwithweeds，ordividedamongthepeasants，andwheremillionsofchetvertswereraisedyougetahundredthousand；thewealthofthecountryhasdecreased。Ifthesamethinghadbeendone，butwithconsiderationfor……’
Andheproceededtounfoldhisownschemeofemancipationbymeansofwhichthesedrawbacksmighthavebeenavoided。
ThisdidnotinterestLevin，but，whenhehadfinished，Levinwentbacktohisfirstposition，and，addressingSviiazhsky，andtryingtodrawhimintoexpressinghisseriousopinion，said:
`It’sperfectlytruethatthestandardofcultureisfalling，andthatwithourpresentrelationstothepeasantsthereisnopossibilityoffarmingonarationalsystemtoyieldaprofit，’saidhe。
`Idon’tbelieveit，’Sviiazhskyrepliedquiteseriously；`allIseeisthatwedon’tknowhowtocultivatetheland，andthatoursystemofagricultureintheserfdayswasbynomeanstoohigh，buttoolow。
Wehavenomachines，nogoodstock，noefficientsupervision；wedon’tevenknowhowtokeepaccounts。Askanylandowner；hewon’tbeabletotellyouwhichcrop’sprofitable，andwhichisn’t。’
`Italianbookkeeping，’saidthelandownerironically。`Youmaykeepyourbooksasyoulike，butiftheyspoileverythingforyou，therewon’tbeanyprofit。’
`Whydotheyspoilthings？Apoorthreshingmachine，oryourRussianpresser，theywillbreak，butmysteampresstheydon’tbreak。AwretchedRussiannagthey’llruin，butkeepgoodpercheronsortheRussianwagonhorses-theywon’truinthem。Andsoitisallround。Wemustraiseourfarmingtoahigherlevel。’
`Oh，ifoneonlyhadthemeanstodoit，NikolaiIvanovich！It’sallverywellforyou；butforme，withasontokeepattheuniversity，ladstobeeducatedatthehighschool-howamIgoingtobuythesepercherons？’
`Well，that’swhatthebanksarefor。’
`TogetwhateverIhaveleftsoldbyauction？No，thankyou。’
`Idon’tagreethatit’snecessaryorpossibletoraisethelevelofagriculturestillhigher，’saidLevin。`Idevotemyselftoit，andI
havemeans，butIcandonothing。Astothebanks，Idon’tknowtowhomthey’reanygood。Formypart，anyway，whateverI’vespentmoneyoninthewayofhusbandryhasbeenaloss:stock-aloss，machinery-aloss。’
`That’strueenough，’thegentlemanwiththegraymustacheschimedin，evenlaughingwithsatisfaction。
`AndI’mnottheonlyone，’pursuedLevin。`Imixwithalltheneighboringlandowners，whoarecultivatingtheirlandonarationalsystem；
theyall，withrareexceptions，aredoingsoataloss。Come，tellushowdoesyourlanddo-doesitpay？’saidLevin，andatonceinSviiazhsky’seyeshedetectedthatfleetingexpressionofalarmwhichhehadnoticedwheneverhehadtriedtopenetratebeyondtheouterchambersofSviiazhsky’smind。
Moreover，thisquestiononLevin’spartwasnotquiteingoodfaith。MadameSviiazhskyhadjusttoldhimatteathattheyhadthatsummerinvitedaGermanexpertaccountantfromMoscow，whoforaconsiderationoffivehundredroubleshadinvestigatedthemanagementoftheirproperty，andfoundthatitwascostingthemalossofthreethousandoddroubles。
Shedidnotremembertheprecisesum，butitappearedthattheGermanhadworkeditouttothefractionofakopeck。
ThelandownersmiledatthementionoftheprofitsofSviiazhsky’sfarming，obviouslyawarehowmuchgainhisneighborandmarshalwaslikelytobemaking。
`Possiblyitdoesnotpay，’answeredSviiazhsky。`ThatmerelyprovesthateitherI’mabadmanager，orthatI’vesunkmycapitalfortheincreaseofmyrents。’
`Oh，rent！’Levincriedwithhorror。`RenttheremaybeinEurope，wherelandhasbeenimprovedbythelaborputintoit；butwithusallthelandisdeterioratingfromthelaborputintoit-inotherwords，they’reworkingitout；sothere’snoquestionofrent。’
`How-norent？It’salaw。’
`Thenwe’reoutsidethelaw；rentexplainsnothingforus，butsimplymuddlesus。No，tellmehowtherecanbeatheoryofrent？……’
`Willyouhavesomecurdedmilk？Masha，passussomecurdedmilkorraspberries。’Heturnedtohiswife。`Theraspberriesarelastingextraordinarilylatethisyear。’
AndinthehappiestframeofmindSviiazhskygotupandwalkedoff，apparentlysupposingtheconversationtohaveendedattheverypointwhentoLevinitseemedthatitwasonlyjustbeginning。
Havinglosthisantagonist，Levincontinuedtheconversationwiththelandowner，tryingtoprovetohimthatallthedifficultyarisesfromthefactthatwedon’tfindoutthepeculiaritiesandhabitsofourlaborer；
butthelandowner，likeallmenwhothinkindependentlyandinisolation，wasslowintakinginanyotherperson’sthought，andparticularlypartialtohisown。HestucktoitthattheRussianpeasantisaswineandlikesswinishness，andthattogethimoutofhisswinishnessonemusthaveauthority，andthereisnone；onemusthavethestick，andwehavebecomesoliberalthatwehaveallofasuddenreplacedthestick，thatservedusforathousandyears，withlawyersandmodelprisons，wheretheworthless，stinkingpeasantisfedongoodsoupandhasafixedallowanceofcubicfeetofair。
`Whatmakesyouthink，’saidLevin，tryingtogetbacktothequestion，`thatit’simpossibletofindsomerelationtothelaborerinwhichthelaborwouldbecomeproductive？’
`ThatnevercouldbesowiththeRussianpeople；we’venoauthority，’
answeredthelandowner。
`Howcannewconditionsbefound？’saidSviiazhsky。Havingeatensomecurdedmilkandlightedacigarette，hecamebacktothediscussion。
`Allpossiblerelationstothelaborforcehavebeendefinedandstudied，’
hesaid。`Therelicofbarbarism，theprimitivecommunewithaguaranteeforall，willdisappearofitself；serfdomhasbeenabolished-thereremainsnothingbutfreelabor，anditsformsarefixedandreadymade，andmustbeadopted。Permanenthands，daylaborers，farmers-youcan’tgetoutofthoseforms。’
`ButEuropeisdissatisfiedwiththeseforms。’
`Dissatisfied，andseekingnewones。Andwillfindthem，inallprobability。’
`That’sjustwhatImeant，’answeredLevin。`Whyshouldn’tweseekthemforourselves？’
`Becauseitwouldbejustlikeinventingafreshthemeansforconstructingrailways。Theyareready，invented。’
`Butiftheydon’tsuitus，ifthey’restupid？’saidLevin。
AndagainhedetectedtheexpressionofalarmintheeyesofSviiazhsky。
`Oh，yes；we’llburytheworldunderourcaps！We’vefoundthesecretEuropewasseekingfor！I’veheardallthat；but，excuseme，doyouknowallthat’sbeendoneinEuropeonthequestionoftheorganizationoflabor？’
`No，verylittle。’
`ThatquestionisnowabsorbingthebestmindsinEurope。TheSchulze-Delitschmovement……Andthen，allthisenormousliteratureofthelaborquestion，themostliberalLassallemovement……TheMulhausenexperiment？That’safactbynow，asyou’reprobablyaware。’
`Ihavesomeideaofit，butveryvague。’
`No，youonlysaythat；nodoubtyouknowallaboutitaswellasIdo。I’mnoprofessorofsociology，ofcourse，butitinterestedme，andreally，ifitinterestsyou，yououghttostudyit。’
`Butwhatconclusionhavetheycometo？’
`Excuseme……’
Thetwoneighborshadrisen，andSviiazhsky，oncemorecheckingLevininhisinconvenienthabitofpeepingintowhatwasbeyondtheouterchambersofhismind，wenttoseehisguestsout。
[NextChapter][TableofContents]
TOLSTOY:AnnaKareninaPart3，Chapter28[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter28Levinwasinsufferablyboredthateveningwiththeladies；hewasstirredashehadneverbeenbeforebytheideathatthedissatisfactionhewasfeelingwithhissystemofmanaginghislandwasnotanexceptionalcase，butthegeneralconditionofthingsinRussia；thattheevolvingofsomerelationofthelaborerstothesoilwhichtheywouldwork，aswiththepeasanthehadmethalfwaytotheSviiazhskys’，wasnotadream，butaproblemwhichmustbesolved。Anditseemedtohimthattheproblemcouldbesolved，andthatheoughttotrytosolveit。
Aftersayinggoodnighttotheladies，andpromisingtostaythewholeofthenextday，soastomakeanexpeditiononhorsebackwiththemtoseeaninterestinggapinthecrownforest，Levinwent，beforegoingtobed，intohishost’sstudytogetthebooksonthelaborquestionthatSviiazhskyhadofferedhim。Sviiazhsky’sstudywasahugeroom，bybookcasesandwithtwotablesinit-oneamassivewritingtable，standinginthemiddleoftheroom，andtheotheraroundtable，coveredwithrecentnumbersofreviewsandjournalsindifferentlanguages，rangedliketheraysofastarroundalamp。Onthewritingtablewasastandofdrawersmarkedwithgoldlabels，andfullofpapersofvarioussorts。
Sviiazhskytookoutthebooks，andsatdowninarockingchair。
`Whatareyoulookingatthere？’hesaidtoLevin，whowasstandingattheroundtablelookingthroughthereviews。`Oh，yes，there’saveryinterestingarticlehere，’saidSviiazhsky，pointingtothereviewLevinwasholdinginhishand。`Itappears，’hewenton，witheagerinterest，`thatFriedrichwasnot，afterall，thepersonchieflyresponsibleforthepartitionofPoland。Itisproved……’
And，withhischaracteristicclearness，hesummedupthosenew，veryimportant，andinterestingrevelations。AlthoughLevinwasengrossedatthemomentbyhisideasabouttheproblemoftheland，hewondered，asheheardSviiazhsky:`Whatisthereinsideofhim？Andwhy，whyisheinterestedinthepartitionofPoland？’WhenSviiazhskyhadfinished，Levincouldnothelpasking:`Well，andwhatthen？’Buttherewasnothingtofollow。Itwassimplyinterestingthatsuchandsuchhadbeen`proved。’
ButSviiazhskydidnotexplain，andsawnoneedofexplaining，whyitwasinterestingtohim。
`Yes，butIwasverymuchinterestedbyyourirritableneighbor，’
saidLevin，sighing。`He’sacleverfellow，andsaidalotthatwastrue。’
`Oh，getalongwithyou！Aninveteratesupporterofserfdomatheart，likeallofthem！’saidSviiazhsky。
`Whosemarshalyouare。’
`Yes，onlyImarshalthemintheotherdirection，’saidSviiazhsky，laughing。
`I’lltellyouwhatinterestsmeverymuch，’saidLevin。`He’srightthatoursystem，thatistosay，ofrationalfarming，doesn’tanswer；
thattheonlythingthatanswersisthemoneylendersystem，likethatmeek-lookinggentleman’s，orelsetheverysimplest。Whosefaultisit？’
`Ourown，ofcourse。Besides，it’snottruethatitdoesn’tanswer。
ItanswerswithVassilchikov。’
`Afactory……’
`ButIreallydon’tknowwhatitisyouaresurprisedat。Thepeopleareatsuchalowstageofmaterialandmoraldevelopment，thatobviouslythey’reboundtoopposeeverythingthat’snecessarytothem。
InEurope，arationalsystemanswersbecausethepeopleareeducated；itfollowsthatwemusteducatethepeople-that’sall。’
`Buthowarewetoeducatethepeople？’
`Toeducatethepeoplethreethingsareneeded:schools，andschools，andschools。’
`Butyousaidyourselfthepeopleareatsuchalowstageofmaterialdevelopment:whathelpareschoolsforthat？’
`Doyouknow，youremindmeofthestoryoftheadvicegiventothesickman-Youshouldtrypurgativemedicine。Takenit:worse。Tryleeches。Triedthem:worse。Well，then，there’snothingleftbuttopraytoGod。Triedit:worse。That’sjusthowitiswithus。Isaypoliticaleconomy；yousay-worse。Isaysocialism-worse。Education-worse。’
`Buthowdoschoolshelpmatters？’
`Theygivethepeasantfreshwants。’
`Well，that’sathingI’veneverunderstood，’Levinrepliedwithheat。`Inwhatwayareschoolsgoingtohelpthepeopletoimprovetheirmaterialposition？Yousayschools，education，willgivethemfreshwants。
Somuchtheworse，sincetheywon’tbecapableofsatisfyingthem。Andinwhatwayaknowledgeofadditionandsubtractionandthecatechismisgoingtoimprovetheirmaterialcondition，Inevercouldmakeout。ThedaybeforeyesterdayImetapeasantwomanintheeveningwithalittlebaby，andaskedherwhereshewasgoing。Shesaidshewasgoingtothewisewoman；herboyhadscreamingfits，soshewastakinghimtobedoctored。
Iasked，``Why，howdoesthewisewomancurescreamingfits？’``Sheputsthechildonthehenroostandrepeatssomecharm……’’
`Well，you’resayingityourself！What’swantedtopreventhertakingherchildtothehenroosttocureitofscreamingfitsisjust……’
Sviiazhskysaid，smilinggood-humoredly。
`Oh，no！’saidLevinwithannoyance；`thatmethodofdoctoringImerelymeantasasimilefordoctoringthepeoplewithschools。Thepeoplearepoorandignorant-thatweseeassurelyasthepeasantwomanseesthebabyhasfitsbecauseitscreams。Butinwhatwaythistroubleofpovertyandignoranceistobecuredbyschoolsisasincomprehensibleashowthehenroostaffectsthescreaming。Whathastobecurediswhatmakeshimpoor。’
`Well，inthat，atleast，you’reinagreementwithSpencer，whomyoudislikesomuch。Hesays，too，thateducationmaybetheconsequenceofgreaterprosperityandcomfort，ofmorefrequentwashing，ashesays，butnotofbeingabletoreadandwrite……’
`Well，then，I’mveryglad-orthecontrary，verysorry-thatI’minagreementwithSpencer；onlyI’veknownitalongwhile。Schoolscandonogood；whatwilldogoodisaneconomicorganizationinwhichthepeoplewillbecomericher，willhavemoreleisure-andthentherewillbeschools。’
`Still，alloverEuropenowschoolsareobligatory。’
`AndhowfardoyouagreewithSpenceryourselfaboutit？’askedLevin。
ButtherewasagleamofalarminSviiazhsky’seyes，andhesaidsmiling:
`No；thatscreamingstoryispositivelycapital！Didyoureallyhearityourself？’
Levinsawthathewasnottodiscovertheconnectionbetweenthisman’slifeandhisthoughts。Obviouslyhedidnotcareintheleastwhathisreasoningledhimto；allhewantedwastheprocessofreasoning。Andhedidnotlikeitwhentheprocessofreasoningbroughthimintoablindalley。Thatwastheonlythinghedisliked，andavoidedbychangingtheconversationtosomethingagreeableandamusing。
Alltheimpressionsoftheday，beginningwiththeimpressionmadebytheoldpeasant，whichserved，asitwere，asthethoroughbassofalltheconceptionsandideasoftheday，threwLevinintoviolentexcitement。
ThisdeargoodSviiazhsky，keepingastockofideassimplyforpublicpurposes，andobviouslyhavingsomeotherprincipleshiddenfromLevin，whilewiththecrowd，whosenameislegion，heguidedpublicopinionbyideashedidnotshare；thatirasciblecountrygentleman，perfectlycorrectintheconclusionsthathehadbeenworriedintobylife，butwronginhisexasperationagainstawholeclass，andthatthebestclassinRussia；hisowndissatisfactionwiththeworkhehadbeendoing，andthevaguehopeoffindingaremedyforallthis-allwasblendedinasenseofinwardturmoil，andtheanticipationofsomesolutionnearathand。
Leftaloneintheroomassignedhim，lyingonaspringmattress，thatyieldedunexpectedlyateverymovementofhisarmorhisleg，Levindidnotfallasleepforalongwhile。NotoneconversationwithSviiazhsky，thoughhehadsaidagreatdealthatwasclever，hadinterestedLevin；
buttheconclusionsoftheirasciblelandownerrequiredconsideration。
Levincouldnothelprecallingeverywordhehadsaid，andinimaginationamendinghisownreplies。
`Yes，Ioughttohavesaidtohim:Yousaythatourhusbandrydoesnotanswerbecausethepeasanthatesimprovements，andthattheymustbeforcedonhimbyauthority。Ifnosystemofhusbandryansweredatallwithouttheseimprovements，youwouldbequiteright。Buttheonlysystemthatdoesansweriswhenthelaborerisworkinginaccordancewithhishabits，justasontheoldpeasant’slandhalfwayhere。Yourandourgeneraldissatisfactionwiththesystemshowsthateitherwearetoblameorthelaborers。Wehavegoneourway-theEuropeanway-alongwhile，withoutaskingourselvesaboutthequalitiesofourlaborforce。LetustrytolookuponthelaborforcenotasanabstractforcebutastheRussianmouzhikwithhisinstincts，andletusarrangeoursystemofagricultureinaccordancewiththat。Imagine，Ioughttohavesaidtohim，thatyouhavethesamesystemastheoldpeasanthas，thatyouhavefoundmeansofmakingyourlaborerstakeaninterestinthesuccessofthework，andhavefoundthehappymeaninthewayofimprovementswhichtheywilladmit，andyouwill，withoutexhaustingthesoil，gettwiceorthreetimestheyieldyougotbefore。Divideitinhalves，givehalfastheshareoflabor，thesurplusleftyouwillbegreater，andlabor’ssharewillbegreatertoo。Andtodothisonemustlowerthestandardofhusbandryandinterestthelaborersinitssuccess。Howtodothis？-that’samatterofdetail；butundoubtedlyitcanbedone。’
ThisideathrewLevinintoagreatexcitement。Hedidnotsleephalfthenight，thinkingoverindetailtheputtingofhisideaintopractice。
Hehadnotintendedtogoawaynextday，buthenowdeterminedtogohomeearlyinthemorning。Besides，thesister-in-lawwithherlow-neckedbodicearousedinhimafeelingakintoshameandremorseforsomeutterlybaseaction。Mostimportantofall-hemustgetbackwithoutdelay:hewouldhavetomakehastetoputhisnewprojecttothepeasantsbeforethesowingofthewinterwheat，sothatthesowingmightbeundertakenonanewbasis。
Hehadmadeuphismindtorevolutionizehiswholesystem。
[NextChapter][TableofContents]TOLSTOY:AnnaKareninaPart3，Chapter29[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter29ThecarryingoutofLevin’splanpresentedmanydifficulties；buthestruggledon，doinghisutmost，andattainedaresultwhich，thoughnotwhathedesired，wasenoughtoenablehim，withoutself-deception，tobelievethattheattemptwasworththetrouble。Oneofthechiefdifficultieswasthattheprocessofcultivatingthelandwasinfullswing，thatitwasimpossibletostopeverythingandbeginitallagainfromthebeginning，andthemachinehadtobemendedwhileinmotion。
Whenontheeveningofhisarrivalhomeheinformedthebailiffofhisplans，thelatterwithvisiblepleasureagreedwithwhathesaid，solongashewaspointingoutthatallthathadbeendoneuptothattimewasstupidanduseless。Thebailiffsaidthathehadsaidsoalongwhileago，butnoheedhadbeenpaidhim。ButasfortheproposalmadebyLevin-totakeapartasshareholderwithhislaborersineachagriculturalundertaking-atthisthebailiffsimplyexpressedaprofounddespondency，andofferednodefiniteopinion，butbeganimmediatelytalkingoftheurgentnecessityofcarryingtheremainingsheavesofryethenextday，andofsendingthemenoutforthesecondplowing，sothatLevinfeltthatthiswasnotthetimefordiscussingit。
Onbeginningtotalktothepeasantsaboutit，andmakingapropositiontocedethemthelandonnewterms，hecameintocollisionwiththesamegreatdifficulty-thattheyweresomuchabsorbedbythecurrentworkofthedaythattheyhadnottimetoconsidertheadvantagesanddisadvantagesoftheproposedscheme。
ThesimpleheartedIvan，thecowherd，seemedtograspLevin’sproposalfully-thatheshouldwithhisfamilytakeashareoftheprofitsofthecattleyard-andhewasincompletesympathywiththeplan。ButwhenLevinhintedatthefutureadvantages，Ivan’sfaceexpressedalarmandregretthathecouldnothearallhehadtosay，andhemadehastetofindhimselfsometaskthatwouldadmitofnodelay:heeithersnatcheduptheforktopitchthehayoutofthepens，orrantogetwaterortoclearoutthemanure。
Anotherdifficultylayintheinvincibledisbeliefofthepeasantsthatalandowner’sobjectcouldbeanythingelsethanadesiretosqueezeallhecouldoutofthem。Theywerefirmlyconvincedthathisrealaimwhateverhemightsaytothemwouldalwaysbeinwhathedidnotsaytothem。Andtheythemselves，ingivingtheiropinion，saidagreatdealbutneversaidwhatwastheirrealobject。MoreoverLevinfeltthattheirasciblelandownerhadbeenrightthepeasantsmadetheirfirstandunalterableconditionofanyagreementwhatsoeverthattheyshouldnotbeforcedtoanynewmethodsoftillageofanykind，nortousenewimplements。Theyagreedthatthemodernplowplowedbetter，thatthescarifierdidtheworkmorequickly，buttheyfoundthousandsofreasonsthatmadeitoutofthequestionforthemtouseeitherofthem；andthoughhehadacceptedtheconvictionthathewouldhavetolowerthestandardofcultivation，hefeltsorrytogiveupimprovedmethods，theadvantagesofwhichweresoobvious。Butinspiteofallthesedifficultieshegothisway，andbyautumnthesystemwasworking，oratleastsoitseemedtohim。
AtfirstLevinhadthoughtofgivingupthewholefarmingofthelandjustasitwastothepeasants，thelaborers，andthebailiff，onnewconditionsofpartnership；buthewasverysoonconvincedthatthiswasimpossible，anddeterminedtodivideitup。Thecattleyard，thegarden，hayfields，andarableland，dividedintoseveralparts，hadtobemadeintoseparatelots。Thesimpleheartedcowherd，Ivan，who，Levinfancied，understoodthematterbetterthananyofthem，collectingtogetheragangofworkerstohelphim，principallyofhisownfamily，becameapartnerinthecattleyard。Adistantpartoftheestate，atractofwastelandthathadlainfallowforeightyears，waswiththehelpoftheclevercarpenter，FiodorRezunov，takenbysixfamiliesofpeasantsonnewconditionsofpartnershipandthepeasantShuraevtookthemanagementofallthevegetablegardensonthesameterms。Theremainderofthelandwasstillworkedontheoldsystem，butthesethreeitemswerethefirststeptoaneworganizationofthewhole，andtheycompletelyengrossedLevin。
Itistruethatinthecattleyardthingswentnobetterthanbefore，andIvanstrenuouslyopposedwarmhousingforthecowsandbuttermadeoffreshcream，affirmingthatcowsrequirelessfoodifkeptcold，andthatbutterismoreprofitablemadefromsourcream，andheaskedforwagesjustasundertheoldsystem，andtooknottheslightestinterestinthefactthatthemoneyhereceivedwasnotwagesbutanadvanceoutofhisfutureshareintheprofits。
ItistruethatFiodorRezunov’scompanydidnotplowoverthegroundtwicebeforesowing，ashadbeenagreed，justifyingthemselvesonthepleathatthetimewastooshort。Itistruethatthepeasantsofthesamecompany，thoughtheyhadagreedtoworkthelandonnewconditions，alwaysspokeoftheland，notasheldinpartnership，butasrentedforhalfthecrop，andmorethanoncethepeasantsandRezunovhimselfsaidtoLevin:`Ifyouwouldtakearentfortheland，itwouldsaveyoutrouble，andweshouldbemorefree。’Moreover，thesamepeasantskeptputtingoff，onvariousexcuses，thebuildingofacattleyardandthreshingbarnonthelandasagreedupon，anddelayeddoingittillthewinter。
ItistruethatShuraevwouldhavelikedtoletoutthekitchengardenshehadundertakeninsmalllotstothepeasants。Heevidentlyquitemisunderstood，andapparentlyintentionallymisunderstood，theconditionsuponwhichthelandhadbeengiventohim。
Often，too，talkingtothepeasantsandexplainingtothemalltheadvantagesoftheplan，Levinfeltthatthepeasantsheardnothingbutthesoundofhisvoice，andwerefirmlyresolved，whateverhemightsay，nottoletthemselvesbetakenin。Hefeltthisespeciallywhenhetalkedtothecleverestofthepeasants，Rezunov，anddetectedthatgleaminRezunov’seyeswhichshowedsoplainlybothironicalamusementatLevin，andthefirmconvictionthat，ifanyoneweretobetakenin，itwouldnotbehe，Rezunov。
ButinspiteofallthisLevinthoughtthesystemworked，andthatbykeepingaccountsstrictly，andinsistingonhisownway，hewouldprovetotheminthefuturetheadvantagesofthearrangement，andthenthesystemwouldgoofitself。
Thesematters，togetherwiththemanagementofthelandstillleftonhishands，andtheindoorworkoverhisbook，soengrossedLevinthewholesummerthathescarcelyeverwentoutshooting。AttheendofAugustheheardthattheOblonskyshadgoneawaytoMoscow-fromtheirservant，whobroughtbackthesidesaddle。HefeltthatinnotansweringDaryaAlexandrovna’sletterhehadbyhisrudeness，ofwhichhecouldnotthinkwithoutaflushofshame，burnedhisships，andthathewouldnevergotoseethemagain。HehadbeenjustasrudewiththeSviiazhskys，leavingthemwithoutsayinggood-by。Buthewouldnevergotoseethemagaineither。
Hedidnotcareaboutthatnow。Thebusinessofreorganizingthefarmingofhislandabsorbedhimascompletelyasthoughtherewouldneverbeanythingelseinhislife。HereadthebookslenthimbySviiazhsky，andorderingfromMoscowwhathehadnothad，hereadboththeeconomicandsocialisticbooksonthesubject，but，ashehadanticipated，foundnothingbearingontheschemehehadundertaken。Inthebooksonpoliticaleconomy-inMill，forinstance-whomhestudiedfirstwithgreatardor，hopingeveryminutetofindananswertothequestionsthatwereengrossinghim，hefoundlawsdeducedfromtheconditionoflandcultureinEurope；buthedidnotseewhytheselaws，whichdidnotapplyinRussia，mustbegeneral。
Hesawjustthesamethinginthesocialisticbooks:eithertheywerethebeautifulbutimpracticablefantasieswhichhadfascinatedhimwhenhewasastudent，ortheywereattemptsatimproving，atrectifyingtheeconomicpositioninwhichEuropewasplaced，withwhichthesystemoflandtenureinRussiahadnothingincommon。PoliticaleconomytoldhimthatthelawsbywhichthewealthofEuropehadbeendeveloped，andwasdeveloping，wereuniversalandunvarying。Socialismtoldhimthatdevelopmentalongtheselinesleadstoruin。Andneitherofthemgaveananswer，orevenahint，inreplytothequestionastowhathe，Levin，andalltheRussianpeasantsandlandowners，weretodowiththeirmillionsofhandsandmillionsofdessiatinas，tomakethemasproductiveaspossibleforthecommonweal。
Havingoncetakenthesubjectup，hereadconscientiouslyeverythingbearingonit，andintendedintheautumntogoabroadtostudylandsystemsonthespot，inorderthathemightnotonthisquestionbeconfrontedwithwhatsooftenmethimonvarioussubjects。Often，justashewasbeginningtounderstandtheideainthemindofanyonehewastalkingto，andwasbeginningtoexplainhisown，hewouldsuddenlybetold:`ButKauffmann，butJones，butDubois，butMichelli？Youhaven’treadthem:doread，they’vethrashedthatquestionoutthoroughly。’
HesawnowdistinctlythatKauffmannandMichellihadnothingtotellhim。Heknewwhathewanted。HesawthatRussiahadsplendidland，splendidlaborers，andthatincertaincases，asatthepeasant’sonthewaytoSviiazhsky’s，theproduceraisedbythelaborersandthelandisgreat-inthemajorityofcaseswhencapitalisappliedintheEuropeanwaytheproduceissmall，andthatthissimplyarisesfromthefactthatthelaborerswanttoworkandworkwellonlyintheirownpeculiarway，andthatthisantagonismisnotincidentalbutinvariable，andhasitsrootsinthenationalspirit。HethoughtthattheRussianpeoplewhosetaskitwastocolonizeandcultivatevasttractsofunoccupiedland，consciouslyadhered，tillalltheirlandwasoccupied，tothemethodssuitabletotheirpurpose，andthattheirmethodswerebynomeanssobadaswasgenerallysupposed。Andhewantedtoprovethistheoreticallyinhisbookandpracticallyonhisland。
[NextChapter][TableofContents]TOLSTOY:AnnaKareninaPart3，Chapter30[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter30AttheendofSeptemberthetimberhadbeencartedforbuildingthecattleyardonthelandthathadbeenallottedtotheassociationofpeasants，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。
Thebailiff，whohadbeentothemerchant，hadcomebackandbroughtpartofthemoneyforthewheat。Anagreementhadbeenmadewiththeoldinnkeeper，andontheroadthebailiffhadlearnedthateverywherethecornwasstillstandinginthefields，sothathisonehundredandsixtyshocksthathadnotbeencarriedwerenothingincomparisonwiththelossesofothers。
AfterdinnerLevinwassitting，asheusuallydid，inaneasychairwithabook，andashereadhewentonthinkingofthejourneybeforehiminconnectionwithhisbook。Todayallthesignificanceofhisbookrosebeforehimwithspecialdistinctness，andwholeperiodsrangedthemselvesinhismindinillustrationofhistheories。`Imustwritethatdown，’
hethought。`Thatoughttoformabriefintroduction，whichIthoughtunnecessarybefore。’Hegotuptogotohiswritingtable，andLaska，lyingathisfeet，gotuptoo，stretchingandlookingathimasthoughtoinquirewheretogo。Buthehadnottimetowriteitdown，fortheoverseershadcomeforreceivingorders，andLevinwentoutintothehalltomeetthem。
Aftergivingorders，thatistosay，directionsaboutthelaborsofthenextday，andseeingallthepeasantswhohadbusinesswithhim，Levinwentbacktohisstudyandsatdowntowork。Laskalayunderthetable；AgathyaMikhailovnasettledherselfinherplacewithherstocking。
Afterwritingforalittlewhile，LevinsuddenlythoughtwithexceptionalvividnessofKitty，herrefusal，andtheirlastmeeting。Hegotupandbeganwalkingabouttheroom。
`What’stheuseofbeingdownhearted？’saidAgathyaMikhailovna。
`Come，whydoyoustayonathome？Yououghttogotosomewarmsprings，especiallynowthatyou’rereadyforthejourney。’
`Well，Iamgoingawaythedayaftertomorrow，AgathyaMikhailovna；
Imustfinishmywork。’
`There，there，yourwork，yousay！Asifyouhadn’tdoneenoughforthepeasants！Why，as’tis，they’resaying，``YourmasterwillbegettingsomehonorfromtheCzarforit。’Indeed，’tisastrangething:whyneedyouworryaboutthepeasants？’
`I’mnotworryingaboutthem；I’mdoingitformyowngood。’
AgathyaMikhailovnakneweverydetailofLevin’splansforhisland。Levinoftenputhisviewsbeforeherinalltheircomplexity，andnotuncommonlyhearguedwithheranddidnotagreewithhercomments。
Butonthisoccasionsheentirelymisinterpretedwhathehadsaid。
`Ofone’ssoul’ssalvationweallknowandmustthinkbeforeallelse，’shesaidwithasigh。`ParfionDenissichnow，forallhewasnoscholar，diedadeathwhoselikemayGodgranttoeveryoneofus，’shesaid，referringtoaservantwhohaddiedrecently。`Tookthesacramentandall。’
`That’snotwhatImean，’saidhe。`ImeanthatI’mactingformyownadvantage。It’sallthebetterformeifthepeasantsdotheirworkbetter。’
`Well，whateveryoudo，ifhe’salazygood-for-naught，everything’llbeatsixesandsevens。Ifhehasaconscience，he’llwork，andifnot，there’snodoinganything。’
`Oh，come，yousayyourselfIvanhasbegunlookingafterthecattlebetter。’
`AllIsayis，’answeredAgathyaMikhailovna，evidentlynotspeakingatrandom，butinstrictsequenceofideas，`thatyououghttogetmarried-that’swhatIsay。’
AgathyaMikhailovna’sallusiontotheverysubjecthehadonlyjustbeenthinkingabouthurtandstunghim。Levinscowled，andwithoutansweringher，hesatdownagaintohiswork，repeatingtohimselfallthathehadbeenthinkingoftherealsignificanceofthatwork。OnlyatintervalshelistenedinthestillnesstotheclickofAgathyaMikhailovna’sneedles，and，recollectingwhathedidnotwanttoremember，hewouldfrownagain。
Atnineo’clocktheyheardthebellandthefaintvibrationofacarriageoverthemud。
`Well，here’svisitorscometous，andyouwon’tbedull，’saidAgathyaMikhailovna，gettingupandgoingtothedoor。ButLevinovertookher。Hisworkwasnotgoingwellnow，andhewasgladofavisitor，whoeveritmightbe。
[NextChapter][TableofContents]TOLSTOY:AnnaKareninaPart3，Chapter31[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter31Runninghalfwaydownthestaircase，Levincaughtasoundheknew，afamiliarcoughinthehall。Buthehearditindistinctlythroughthesoundofhisownfootsteps，andhopedhewasmistaken。Thenhecaughtsightofalong，bony，familiarfigure，andnowitseemedtherewasnopossibilityofmistake；
andyethestillwentonhopingthatthistallmantakingoffhisfurcloakandcoughingwasnothisbrotherNikolai。
Levinlovedhisbrother，butbeingwithhimwasalwaysatorture。
Justnow，whenLevin，undertheinfluenceofthethoughtsthathadcometohim，andAgathyaMikhailovna’shint，wasinatroubledanduncertainhumor，thismeetingwithhisbrotherwhichhehadtofaceseemedparticularlydifficult。Insteadofalively，healthyvisitor，someoutsiderwhowould，hehoped，cheerhimupinhisuncertainhumor，hehadtoseehisbrother，whoknewhimthroughandthrough，whowouldcallforthallthethoughtsnearesthisheart，wouldforcehimtoshowhimselffully。Andthathewasnotdisposedtodo。
Angrywithhimselfforsobaseafeeling，Levinranintothehall；
assoonashehadseenhisbrotherclose，thisfeelingofselfishdisappointmentvanishedinstantlyandwasreplacedbypity。TerribleashisbrotherNikolaihadbeenbeforeinhisemaciationandsickliness，nowhelookedstillmoreemaciated，stillmorewasted。Hewasaskeletoncoveredbyskin。
Hestoodinthehall，jerkinghislongthinneck，andpullingthescarfoffit，andsmiledastrangeandpitifulsmile。Whenhesawthatsmile，submissiveandhumble，Levinfeltsomethingclutchingathisthroat。
`Yousee，I’vecometoyou，’saidNikolaiinathickvoice，neverforonesecondtakinghiseyesoffhisbrother’sface。`I’vebeenmeaningtoalongwhile，butI’vebeenconstantlyunwell。NowI’meversomuchbetter，’hesaid，rubbinghisbeardwithhisbigthinhands。
`Yes，yes！’answeredLevin。Andhefeltstillmorefrightenedwhen，kissinghim，hefeltwithhislipsthedrynessofhisbrother’sskinandsawclosetohimhisbigeyes，fullofastrangelight。
Afewweeksbefore，KonstantinLevinhadwrittentohisbrotherthatthroughthesaleofthesmallpartofthepropertythathadremainedundivided，therewasasumofabouttwothousandroublestocometohimashisshare。
Nikolaisaidthathehadcomenowtotakehismoneyand，whatwasmoreimportant，tostayawhileintheoldnest，togetintouchwiththeearth，soastorenewhisstrengthliketheheroesofoldfortheworkthatlaybeforehim。Inspiteofhisexaggeratedstoop，andtheemaciationthatwassostrikingfromhisheight，hismovementswereasrapidandabruptasever。Levinledhimintohisstudy。
Hisbrotherdressedwithparticularcare-athingheneverusedtodo-combedhisscanty，lankhair，and，smiling，wentupstairs。
Hewasinthemostaffectionateandgood-humoredmood，justasLevinoftenrememberedhiminchildhood。HeevenreferredtoSergeiIvanovichwithoutrancor。WhenhesawAgathyaMikhailovna，hejokedwithherandaskedaftertheoldservants。ThenewsofthedeathofParfionDenissichmadeapainfulimpressiononhim。Alookoffearcrossedhisface，butheregainedhisserenityimmediately。
`Ofcoursehewasquiteold，’hesaid，andchangedthesubject。
`Well，I’llspendamonthortwowithyou，andthenI’mofftoMoscow。