Page 707 of 2288

The sop was so good that Levin gave up the idea of going home. He

dined with the old man, and talked to him about his family

affairs, taking the keenest interest in them, and told him about

his own affairs and all the circumstances that could be of

interest to the old man. He felt much nearer to him than to his

brother, and could not help smiling at the affection he felt for

this man. When the old man got up again, said his prayer, and lay

down under a bush, putting some grass under his head for a

pillow, Levin did the same, and in spite of the clinging flies

that were so persistent in the sunshine, and the midges that

tickled his hot face and body, he fell asleep at once and only

waked when the sun had passed to the other side of the bush and

reached him. The old man had been awake a long while, and was

sitting up whetting the scythes of the younger lads.