The gloomy moment had come that usually precedes the dawn, the full triumph of light over darkness.

Shrinking from the cold, Levin walked rapidly, looking at the ground.

" What's that? Someone coming," he thought, catching the tinkle of bells, and lifting his head.

Forty paces from him a carriage with four horses harnessed abreast was driving towards him along the grassy road on which he was walking.