" That ought to form a brief introduction, which I thought unnecessary before.

" He got up to go to his writing table, and Laska, lying at his feet, got up too, stretching and looking at him as though to inquire where to go.

But he had not time to write it down, for the head peasants had come round, and Levin went out into the hall to them.

After his levee, that is to say, giving directions about the labors of the next day, and seeing all the peasants who had business with him, Levin went back to his study and sat down to work.