"And I have confidence in myself when you are leaning on me," he said, but was at once panic-stricken at what he had said, and blushed.

And indeed, no sooner had he uttered these words, when all at once, like the sun going behind a cloud, her face lost all its friendliness, and Levin detected the familiar change in her expression that denoted the working of thought; a crease showed on her smooth brow.

"Is there anything troubling you?--though I've no right to ask such a question," he added hurriedly.

"Oh, why so?....