She tried to seize a moment to speak to him alone, but he made haste to get away from her, saying he was wanted at the counting-house.

It was long since his own work on the estate had seemed to him so important as at that moment.

" It's all holiday for them," he thought; "but these are no holiday matters, they won't wait, and there's no living without them.

" Levin came back to the house only when they sent to summon him to supper.

On the stairs were standing Kitty and Agafea Mihalovna, consulting about wines for supper.