"I saw you were in uncertainty about me," said Levin, smiling good-naturedly, "but I made haste to plunge into intellectual conversation to smooth over the defects of my attire.

" Sergey Ivanovitch, while he kept up a conversation with their hostess, had one ear for his brother, and he glanced askance at him.

" What is the matter with him today? Why such a conquering hero?" he thought.

He did not know that Levin was feeling as though he had grown wings.

Levin knew she was listening to his words and that she was glad to listen to him.