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Levin arrived in Moscow always excited and in a hurry, rather ill

at ease and irritated by his own want of ease, and for the most

part with a perfectly new, unexpected view of things. Stepan

Arkadyevitch laughed at this, and liked it. In the same way Levin

in his heart despised the town mode of life of his friend, and

his official duties, which he laughed at, and regarded as

trifling. But the difference was that Oblonsky, as he was doing

the same as everyone did, laughed complacently and

good-humoredly, while Levin laughed without complacency and

sometimes angrily.

"We have long been expecting you," said Stepan Arkadyevitch,

going into his room and letting Levin's hand go as though to show

that here all danger was over. "I am very, very glad to see you,"

he went on. "Well, how are you? Eh? When did you come?"