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He imagined, probably mistakenly, that this low-necked bodice had

been made on his account, and felt that he had no right to look

at it, and tried not to look at it; but he felt that he was to

blame for the very fact of the low-necked bodice having been

made. It seemed to Levin that he had deceived someone, that he

ought to explain something, but that to explain it was

impossible, and for that reason he was continually blushing, was

ill at ease and awkward. His awkwardness infected the pretty

sister-in-law too. But their hostess appeared not to observe

this, and kept purposely drawing her into the conversation.

"You say," she said, pursuing the subject that had been started,

"that my husband cannot be interested in what's Russian. It's

quite the contrary; he is always in cheerful spirits abroad, but

not as he is here. Here, he feels in his proper place. He has so

much to do, and he has the faculty of interesting himself in

everything. Oh, you've not been to see our school, have you?"