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Often Levin had admired this life, often he had a sense of envy

of the men who led this life; but today for the first time,

especially under the influence of what he had seen in the

attitude of Ivan Parmenov to his young wife, the idea presented

itself definitely to his mind that it was in his power to

exchange the dreary, artificial, idle, and individualistic life

he was leading for this laborious, pure, and socially delightful

life.

The old man who had been sitting beside him had long ago gone

home; the people had all separated. Those who lived near had gone

home, while those who came from far were gathered into a group

for supper, and to spend the night in the meadow. Levin,

unobserved by the peasants, still lay on the haycock, and still

looked on and listened and mused. The peasants who remained for

the night in the meadow scarcely slept all the short summer

night. At first there was the sound of merry talk and laughing

all together over the supper, then singing again and laughter.