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"Dine together? But I have nothing very particular, only a few

words to say, and a question I want to ask you, and we can have a

talk afterwards."

"Well, say the few words, then, at once, and we'll gossip after

dinner."

"Well, it's this," said Levin; "but it's of no importance,

though."

His face all at once took an expression of anger from the effort

he was making to surmount his shyness.

"What are the Shtcherbatskys doing? Everything as it used to be?"

he said.

Stepan Arkadyevitch, who had long known that Levin was in love

with his sister-in-law, Kitty, gave a hardly perceptible smile,

and his eyes sparkled merrily.

"You said a few words, but I can't answer in a few words,

because.... Excuse me a minute...."