a peculiar, a remarkable man. He lives only a spiritual life. He is too pure and high-minded a man ...."
"What do you mean? How could this bring him to a lower level?"
"I don't say it would, but he is so accustomed to live a spiritual life only that he cannot reconcile himself to what is matter of fact. .... And Varenka is quite matter of fact."
Levin had by this time become accustomed to speak his thoughts with all freedom, not taking pains to couch it in explicit words; he knew that his wife in such moments of intimate communion as now would understand what he expressed by a hint, and she did understand him.
"Yes, but she has none of that practicality such as I have. I can understand that he would never fall in love with me. She is all soul."
"That is not so, he is so fond of you. And I am always so glad that my friends like you."....
"Yes, he is kind to me; but ...."
"But not as it was with our lamented Nikolenka.... you loved each other," said Levin, in conclusion. "But why not speak it out?" he added. "I often reproach myself that one so quickly forgets. Oh, what a terrible, what a fascinating man he was!.... But what were we talking about?" said Levin, after a silence.
"You mean that he is incapable of falling in love," said she, expressing her husband's thought in her own way.
"I do not say that, but he has none of that weakness which is requisite .... and I always have envied him, and envy him still, in spite of my happiness."
"You envy him because he is incapable of falling in love?"
"I envy him because he is better than I am," said Levin, smiling. "He does not live for himself; it is duty which guides him, and so he has a right to be serene and well satisfied."
"And you?" asked Kitty, with a mischievous smile.
He could never follow the course of her thoughts
