He looked at Kitty, and noticed that the idea of the trousseau did not offend her at all. "It must be very necessary," he said to himself. "I admit that I know nothing about it. I have merely expressed my desire," said he, excusing himself.
"We will consider the matter; now we will have the betrothal, and announce the marriage. That is what we will do."
The princess stepped up to her husband, kissed him, and was about to move away again; but he held her, and kissed her again and again, like a young lover. The two old people seemed agitated, and ready to believe that it was not their daughter who was to be married, but themselves.
When the prince and princess had gone out. Levin approached his fiancée, and took her hand; he had regained his self-possession, and could speak; he had many other things on his mind to tell her, but he did not say at all what he intended to say.
"I knew that it would be like this; at the bottom of my heart I was sure of it, without ever daring to hope. I believe that it was predestined."
"And I," replied Kitty, "even when,"—she hesitated, then continued, looking at him resolutely out of her sincere eyes,—"even when I rejected my happiness. I never loved anybody but you; I was led away. I ought to tell you .... I must ask you, can you forget it?"
"Perhaps it was best that it should be so. You, too, will have to pardon me, for I must confess to you." ....
This was one of the things he had on his mind to tell her. He had decided to confess everything to her, from his earliest life,—first, that he was not so pure as she, and then that he was not a believer. This was cruel, but he thought it his duty to make these confessions to her.
"No, not now; later," said he.
"Very well, later, but be sure to tell me. I am not afraid of anything. I want to know all, everything, now it is decided!"
