original and outspoken man, and to hate falsehood,—all that I know; but the fact is, what you say has no sense at all, or has a very bad sense. How can you think it unimportant that this people, which you love, as you assert...."
"I never asserted any such thing," said Konstantin Levin to himself.
"That this people should perish without aid? Coarse peasant women act as midwives, and the people remain in ignorance, and are at the mercy of every letter-writer. But the means is given into your hands to remedy all this; and you don't assist them, because, in your eyes, it is not important."
And Sergyeï Ivanovitch offered him the following dilemma:—
"Either you are not developed sufficiently to see all that you might do, or you do not care to give up your own comfort, or your vanity, I don't know which, in order to do this."
Konstantin Levin felt that he must make a defense, or be convicted of indifference for the public weal, and this was vexatious and offensive to him.
"Ah! but there is still another thing," he said resolutely. "I do not see how it is possible ...."
"What! impossible to give medical aid if the funds were watched more closely?"
"Impossible it seems to me. ... In the four thousand square versts of our district, with our floods, snow-storms, and busy seasons, I don't see the possibility of giving public medical aid. Besides, I don't much believe in medicine, anyway." ....
"Well now, what nonsense! you are unjust. .... I could name you a thousand cases .... well, but how about schools?"
"Why schools?"
"What do you say? Can you doubt the advantages of education? If it is good for you, then it is good for every one!"
Konstantin Levin felt that he was morally pushed to the wall; and so he grew irritated, and involuntarily
