Anna Karenina

particularly touching to Levin, because, only the day before, he had been at
his house about his trustee business and had seen him in all his grandeur, a
kind-hearted, fatherly man. The big house with the old family furniture; the
rather dirty, far from stylish, but respectful footmen, unmistakably old
house serfs who had stuck to their master; the stout, good-natured wife in a
cap with lace and a Turkish shawl, petting her pretty grandchild, her
daughter's daughter; the young son, a sixth form high school boy, coming
home from school, and greeting his father, kissing his big hand; the
genuine, cordial words and gestures of the old man--all this had the day
before roused an instinctive feeling of respect and sympathy in Levin. This
old man was a touching and pathetic figure to Levin now, and he longed to
say something pleasant to him.
"So you're sure to be our marshal again," he said.
"It's not likely," said the marshal, looking round with a scared expression.
"I'm worn out, I'm old. If there are men younger and more deserving than I,
let them serve."
And the marshal disappeared through a side door.
The most solemn moment was at hand. They were to proceed immediately
to the election. The leaders of both parties were reckoning white and black
on their fingers.
The discussion upon Flerov had given the new party not only Flerov's vote,
but had also gained time for them, so that they could send to fetch three
noblemen who had been rendered unable to take part in the elections by the
wiles of the other party. Two noble gentlemen, who had a weakness for
strong drink, had been made drunk by the partisans of Snetkov, and a third
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had been robbed of his uniform.
On learning this, the new party had made haste, during the dispute about
Flerov, to send some of their men in a sledge to clothe the stripped
gentleman, and to bring along one of the intoxicated to the meeting.
"I've brought one, drenched him with water," said the landowner, who had
gone on this errand, to Sviazhsky. "He's all right? he'll do."
"Not too drunk, he won't fall down?" said Sviazhsky, shaking his head.
"No, he's first-rate. If only they don't give him any more here.... I've told
the waiter not to give him anything on any account."
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