Maximum-assistance view: every word above everyday vocabulary is explained at every appearance; each name is introduced at its first appearance in the chapter.

Chapter 3

When he was dressed, Stepan Arkadyevitch (Oblonsky, Anna's brother, by his first name and patronymic) sprinkled (to scatter in drops) some scent (a smell; the trail of game) on himself, pulled down his shirt-cuffs (the bands at the wrists of a shirt), distributed (to give out among) into his pockets (the sewn-in pouch) his cigarettes (a small paper roll of tobacco), pocketbook (a small carrying book), matches, and watch with its double chain and seals (a stamped closing mark; to close fast), and shaking (to move quickly to and fro) out his handkerchief (a cloth for the nose or eyes), feeling himself clean, fragrant (sweet-smelling), healthy, and physically (in the body) at ease (comfort; freedom from effort), in spite (ill will) of his unhappiness (the state of not being happy), he walked with a slight (small; to treat as of no account) swing (to sway to and fro) on each leg into the dining-room (the dining room), where coffee was already waiting for him, and beside (at the side of) the coffee, letters and papers from the office.

He read the letters. One was very unpleasant (not pleasing), from a merchant (a trader) who was buying a forest on his wife’s property. To sell this forest was absolutely essential; but at present, until he was reconciled (to bring back to friendship) with his wife, the subject could not be discussed. The most unpleasant (not pleasing) thing of all was that his pecuniary (of money) interests (interest: the spectacle that draws a crowd — the old sense here) should in this way enter into the question of his reconciliation (return to friendship) with his wife. And the idea that he might be led on by his interests (interest: the spectacle that draws a crowd — the old sense here), that he might seek a reconciliation (return to friendship) with his wife on account of the sale of the forest—that idea hurt him.

When he had finished his letters, Stepan Arkadyevitch moved the office-papers (the papers of an office) close to him, rapidly (fast) looked through two pieces of business, made a few notes with a big pencil (the marking stick), and pushing away the papers, turned to his coffee. As he sipped (a small drink) his coffee, he opened a still damp (slightly wet) morning paper, and began reading it.

Stepan Arkadyevitch took in and read a liberal paper, not an extreme one, but one advocating (one who pleads for) the views held by the majority. And in spite (ill will) of the fact that science, art, and politics had no special interest (interest: the spectacle that draws a crowd — the old sense here) for him, he firmly (with a firm, steady hold) held those views on all these subjects which were held by the majority and by his paper, and he only changed them when the majority changed them—or, more strictly (with exact severity) speaking, he did not change them, but they imperceptibly (too gradually to notice) changed of themselves within him.

Stepan Arkadyevitch had not chosen his political opinions or his views; these political opinions and views had come to him of themselves, just as he did not choose the shapes of his hat and coat (an outer garment), but simply took those that were being worn. And for him, living in a certain society—owing (to be in debt for) to the need, ordinarily (usually) developed at years of discretion (careful judgment), for some degree of mental activity—to have views was just as indispensable (impossible to do without) as to have a hat. If there was a reason for his preferring liberal to conservative views, which were held also by many of his circle, it arose (to come up) not from his considering liberalism (belief in freedom and reform) more rational (guided by reason), but from its being in closer accordance (agreement) with his manner of life. The liberal party said that in Russia everything is wrong, and certainly Stepan Arkadyevitch had many debts and was decidedly (without doubt) short of money. The liberal party said that marriage is an institution (an established body) quite out of date, and that it needs reconstruction (building up again); and family life certainly afforded Stepan Arkadyevitch little gratification (pleasure given), and forced him into lying and hypocrisy (pretending to be good), which was so repulsive (disgusting) to his nature. The liberal party said, or rather allowed it to be understood, that religion is only a curb (curbed: held in) to keep in check the barbarous (savage; brutal) classes of the people; and Stepan Arkadyevitch could not get through even a short service without his legs aching (a dull steady pain) from standing up, and could never make out what was the object of all the terrible and high-flown (grand and overblown) language about another world when life might be so very amusing (entertaining) in this world. And with all this, Stepan Arkadyevitch, who liked a joke, was fond (loving) of puzzling (a baffling question) a plain (simple; clear; a flat land) man by saying that if he prided (high self-regard) himself on his origin, he ought (should) not to stop at Rurik (the Norseman said to have founded the Russian line of princes) and disown (disowned: cast off) the first founder (one who founds) of his family—the monkey (the climbing man-like animal). And so Liberalism (belief in freedom and reform) had become a habit (a settled way of acting) of Stepan Arkadyevitch’s, and he liked his newspaper, as he did his cigar (a roll of tobacco leaves for smoking) after dinner, for the slight (small; to treat as of no account) fog (thick mist) it diffused (to spread widely) in his brain. He read the leading article, in which it was maintained that it was quite senseless (without sense; unconscious) in our day to raise an outcry (a loud cry of protest) that radicalism (the holding that great change is needed) was threatening (to hold out harm) to swallow (to take down the throat; the swift bird) up all conservative elements, and that the government ought (should) to take measures to crush (to press to pieces) the revolutionary (of the overturning of a government) hydra (the many-headed serpent of fable); that, on the contrary (opposite), “in our opinion the danger lies not in that fantastic revolutionary (of the overturning of a government) hydra (the many-headed serpent of fable), but in the obstinacy (stubbornness) of traditionalism (the holding to what has been handed down) clogging (to dance a clog dance) progress,” etc., etc. He read another article, too, a financial one, which alluded (to hint at) to Bentham (an English thinker on law and happiness) and Mill, and dropped some innuendoes (a sly hint) reflecting (to throw back; to think over) on the ministry. With his characteristic (a marking trait; true to character) quickwittedness (quickness of understanding) he caught the drift (to be carried along; a snow heap) of each innuendo (a sly hint), divined (of God) whence (from where) it came, at whom and on what ground it was aimed, and that afforded him, as it always did, a certain satisfaction (content; amends given). But today that satisfaction (content; amends given) was embittered (made bitter) by Matrona (a Russian woman's name) Philimonovna (a Russian patronymic, meaning daughter of Filimon)’s advice and the unsatisfactory (not good enough) state (state: ceremony; pomp — the old sense here) of the household (the people living together in one house). He read, too, that Count Beist (part of a German phrase) was rumored (an unproved passing report) to have left for Wiesbaden (a German spa town), and that one need have no more gray (the color between black and white) hair, and of the sale of a light carriage (a wheeled passenger vehicle; bearing), and of a young person seeking a situation; but these items of information did not give him, as usual, a quiet, ironical (mocking by saying the opposite) gratification (pleasure given). Having finished the paper, a second cup of coffee and a roll and butter (the yellow fat made from cream), he got up, shaking (to move quickly to and fro) the crumbs (a tiny piece of bread or cheese) of the roll off his waistcoat (a vest worn under the coat); and, squaring his broad chest, he smiled joyously (joyfully): not because there was anything particularly agreeable (pleasant) in his mind—the joyous (full of joy) smile was evoked (to call up) by a good digestion (the body's turning of food to use).

But this joyous (full of joy) smile at once recalled (to call back to mind) everything to him, and he grew thoughtful (full of thought; considerate).

Two childish (like a child) voices (Stepan Arkadyevitch recognized the voices of Grisha (a familiar form of a Russian man's name), his youngest boy, and Tanya (a familiar form of the name Tatiana; also Dolly's daughter), his eldest (the eldest) girl) were heard outside the door. They were carrying something, and dropped it.

“I told you not to sit passengers (one carried on a journey) on the roof,” said the little girl in English; “there, pick them up!”

“Everything’s in confusion (mixed-up disorder),” thought Stepan Arkadyevitch; “there are the children running about by themselves.” And going to the door, he called them. They threw down the box, that represented a train, and came in to their father.

The little girl, her father’s favorite, ran up boldly (with bold courage), embraced (to hold in the arms) him, and hung laughingly (with laughter) on his neck, enjoying as she always did the smell (to sense through the nose) of scent (a smell; the trail of game) that came from his whiskers (hair on the cheeks). At last the little girl kissed his face, which was flushed (a rush of blood to the face) from his stooping (to bend down) posture (the carriage of the body) and beaming (a great timber; a ray of light; to smile brightly) with tenderness (loving softness), loosed (not tight; free) her hands, and was about to run away again; but her father held her back.

“How is mamma (mother)?” he asked, passing his hand over his daughter’s smooth (even; without roughness), soft little neck. “Good morning,” he said, smiling to the boy, who had come up to greet (to welcome) him. He was conscious (aware) that he loved the boy less, and always tried to be fair; but the boy felt it, and did not respond with a smile to his father’s chilly (rather cold) smile.

“Mamma (mother)? She is up,” answered the girl.

Stepan Arkadyevitch sighed (a long sad breath). “That means that she’s not slept again all night,” he thought.

“Well, is she cheerful (full of cheer)?”

The little girl knew that there was a quarrel (an angry dispute) between her father and mother, and that her mother could not be cheerful (full of cheer), and that her father must be aware of this, and that he was pretending (to make believe) when he asked about it so lightly (with light touch). And she blushed (to redden with shame) for her father. He at once perceived (to see and grasp) it, and blushed (to redden with shame) too.

“I don’t know,” she said. “She did not say we must do our lessons (a taught portion), but she said we were to go for a walk with Miss Hoole (a family name) to grandmamma (grandmother)’s.”

“Well, go, Tanya, my darling (a dearly loved one). Oh, wait a minute, though,” he said, still holding her and stroking (a blow; a sudden attack of illness) her soft little hand.

He took off the mantelpiece (the shelf over a fireplace), where he had put it yesterday, a little box of sweets, and gave her two, picking out her favorites, a chocolate (the sweet drink or sweet made from cocoa) and a fondant (a soft sweet paste of sugar).

“For Grisha?” said the little girl, pointing to the chocolate (the sweet drink or sweet made from cocoa).

“Yes, yes.” And still stroking (a blow; a sudden attack of illness) her little shoulder, he kissed her on the roots (the plant's ground anchor) of her hair and neck, and let her go.

“The carriage (a wheeled passenger vehicle; bearing) is ready,” said Matvey (Oblonsky's valet); “but there’s someone to see you with a petition (a written asking).”

“Been here long?” asked Stepan Arkadyevitch.

“Half an hour.”

“How many times have I told you to tell me at once?”

“One must let you drink your coffee in peace, at least,” said Matvey, in the affectionately (with warm love) gruff (rough and deep of voice) tone (a sound's quality; a manner) with which it was impossible to be angry.

“Well, show the person up at once,” said Oblonsky (Anna's brother, a genial Moscow official), frowning (to draw the brows in displeasure) with vexation (annoyance; distress).

The petitioner (one who comes asking), the widow (a woman whose husband has died) of a staff captain Kalinin (a Russian family name), came with a request impossible and unreasonable (against reason); but Stepan Arkadyevitch, as he generally did, made her sit down, heard her to the end attentively (with close attention) without interrupting (to break in upon) her, and gave her detailed advice as to how and to whom to apply, and even wrote her, in his large, sprawling (spread out loose and wide), good and legible (plain enough to read) hand, a confident (sure of oneself) and fluent (flowing easily) little note to a personage (a person of importance) who might be of use (use: habit; custom — the old sense here) to her. Having got rid of the staff captain’s widow (a woman whose husband has died), Stepan Arkadyevitch took his hat and stopped to recollect (to call back to mind) whether he had forgotten anything. It appeared that he had forgotten nothing except what he wanted to forget—his wife.

“Ah, yes!” He bowed (to bend in respect; a ribbon knot) his head, and his handsome (fine-looking) face assumed a harassed (harassed: worried by repeated attacks) expression. “To go, or not to go!” he said to himself; and an inner voice told him he must not go, that nothing could come of it but falsity (falseness); that to amend (to put right), to set right their relations was impossible, because it was impossible to make her attractive again and able to inspire (to breathe spirit into) love, or to make him an old man, not susceptible (easily affected) to love. Except deceit (a trick; a lie) and lying nothing could come of it now; and deceit (a trick; a lie) and lying were opposed to his nature.

“It must be some time, though: it can’t go on like this,” he said, trying to give himself courage (bravery). He squared his chest, took out a cigarette (a small paper roll of tobacco), took two whiffs (a light breath of smell) at it, flung (to throw with force) it into a mother-of-pearl (the shining lining of some shells) ashtray (a dish for cigarette ash), and with rapid (fast) steps walked through the drawing-room (the sitting room for guests), and opened the other door into his wife’s bedroom (a sleeping room).