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He talked on, addressing both Kitty and Levin, turning his

serene, friendly eyes from one to the other, and saying obviously

just what came into his head.

Noticing that Countess Nordston wanted to say something, he

stopped short without finishing what he had begun, and listened

attentively to her.

The conversation did not flag for an instant, so that the

princess, who always kept in reserve, in case a subject should be

lacking, two heavy guns-the relative advantages of classical and

of modern education, and universal military service-had not to

move out either of them, while Countess Nordston had not a chance

of chaffing Levin.

Levin wanted to, and could not, take part in the general

conversation; saying to himself every instant, "Now go," he still

did not go, as though waiting for something.

The conversation fell upon table-turning and spirits, and

Countess Nordston, who believed in spiritualism, began to

describe the marvels she had seen.