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There are people who, on meeting a successful rival, no matter in

what, are at once disposed to turn their backs on everything good

in him, and to see only what is bad. There are people, on the

other hand, who desire above all to find in that lucky rival the

qualities by which he has outstripped them, and seek with a

throbbing ache at heart only what is good. Levin belonged to the

second class. But he had no difficulty in finding what was good

and attractive in Vronsky. It was apparent at the first glance.

Vronsky was a squarely built, dark man, not very tall, with a

good-humored, handsome, and exceedingly calm and resolute face.

Everything about his face and figure, from his short-cropped

black hair and freshly shaven chin down to his loosely fitting,

brand-new uniform, was simple and at the same time elegant.

Making way for the lady who had come in, Vronsky went up to the

princess and then to Kitty.