the Jew's reception-room, or because he, for the first time in his life, was not following the example of his ancestors in serving the government, but had got into a new field, at all events it was awkward.
During these two hours of waiting at Bolgarinof's, Stepan Arkadyevitch, briskly walking up and down through the reception-room, smoothing his side whiskers, occasionally entering into conversation with the other petitioners, and trying to work out a pun on his long waiting at the Jew's, diligently concealed from the others, and also from himself, the trying feeling. But all that time he felt awkward and annoyed, he did not know why; it was either because he had not succeeded very well with his pun on the word Jew—how he had to chew[1] on the cud of expectation—or for some other reason.
When at last Bolgarinof, with excessive humility, received him, evidently triumphing in his humiliation, and almost refused his request, Stepan Arkadyevitch made haste to forget it all. But now, remembering it again, he reddened with shame.
CHAPTER XVIII
"Now, I have yet one more thing to talk over with you; and you know what it is about,—Anna," said Stepan Arkadyevitch, after a moment's silence, and shaking off these disagreeable memories.
When Oblonsky spoke Anna's name, Karenin's face entirely changed; in place of its former vivacity it took on an expression of corpse-like rigidity and weariness.
"What more do you want of me?" said he, turning about on his arm-chair, and shutting his pince-nez.
"A decision .... some sort of a decision, Alekseï Aleksandrovitch. I address you, not as...." he was going to say "a deceived husband," but fearing it might hurt his cause he stopped, and substituted with little appropriateness, "not as a statesman, but simply as a man, and a good man and a Christian. You ought to have pity on her."
- ↑ "Builo dyelo do-Zhida I ya dozhida-Isa."
