He stood in the hall, jerking his long thin neck, and pulling the scarf off it, and smiled a strange and pitiful smile.

When he saw that smile, submissive and humble, Levin felt something clutching at his throat.

"You see, I've come to you," said Nikolay in a thick voice, never for one second taking his eyes off his brother's face.

" I've been meaning to a long while, but I've been unwell all the time.

Now I'm ever so much better," he said, rubbing his beard with his big thin hands.