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Lily, too, began begging to go to him, and her mother handed her

to him; he sat her on his shoulder and ran along with her.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, Darya Alexandrovna!" he said,

smiling good-humoredly to the mother; "there's no chance of my

hurting or dropping her."

And, looking at his strong, agile, assiduously careful and

needlessly wary movements, the mother felt her mind at rest, and

smiled gaily and approvingly as she watched him.

Here, in the country, with children, and with Darya Alexandrovna,

with whom he was in sympathy, Levin was in a mood not infrequent

with him, of childlike light-heartedness that she particularly

liked in him. As he ran with the children, he taught them

gymnastic feats, set Miss Hoole laughing with his queer English

accent, and talked to Darya Alexandrovna of his pursuits in the

country.

After dinner, Darya Alexandrovna, sitting alone with him on the

balcony, began to speak of Kitty.