Pagina 253 di 2288

"Yes, tell me what's going on at Pokrovskoe. Is the house

standing still, and the birch trees, and our schoolroom? And

Philip the gardener, is he living? How I remember the arbor and

the seat! Now mind and don't alter anything in the house, but

make haste and get married, and make everything as it used to be

again. Then I'll come and see you, if your wife is nice."

"But come to me now," said Levin. "How nicely we would arrange

it!"

"I'd come and see you if I were sure I should not find Sergey

Ivanovitch."

"You wouldn't find him there. I live quite independently of him."

"Yes, but say what you like, you will have to choose between me

and him," he said, looking timidly into his brother's face.

This timidity touched Konstantin.

"If you want to hear my confession of faith on the subject, I

tell you that in your quarrel with Sergey Ivanovitch I take

neither side. You're both wrong. You're more wrong externally,

and he inwardly."

"Ah, ah! You see that, you see that!" Nikolay shouted joyfully.