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 9

At four o’clock (the time-keeping machine), conscious (aware) of his throbbing (a strong beat of the heart) heart, Levin (a landowner who farms his own estate in the country) stepped out of a hired (to engage for pay) sledge (a sled drawn over snow) at the Zoological Gardens (grounds laid out with plants), and turned along the path to the frozen (turned to ice) mounds (a raised heap of earth) and the skating (gliding over ice on blades) ground, knowing that he would certainly find her there, as he had seen the Shtcherbatskys (the Shtcherbatsky family)’ carriage (a wheeled passenger vehicle; bearing) at the entrance (the way in).

It was a bright, frosty (cold with frost) day. Rows of carriages (a wheeled passenger vehicle; bearing), sledges (a sled drawn over snow), drivers, and policemen (an officer of the law) were standing in the approach. Crowds of well-dressed (dressed well) people, with hats bright in the sun, swarmed (a moving crowd of bees or men) about the entrance (the way in) and along the well-swept (swept clean) little paths between the little houses adorned (to decorate) with carving (to cut into shape) in the Russian style. The old curly (full of curls) birches (a tree with white bark) of the gardens (grounds laid out with plants), all their twigs (a small thin branch) laden (loaded) with snow, looked as though freshly (newly) decked (a ship's floor) in sacred (holy) vestments (a priest's robe).

He walked along the path towards the skating-ground (a place kept for gliding on ice), and kept saying to himself—“You mustn (must — mustn't: must not)’t be excited, you must be calm. What’s the matter with you? What do you want? Be quiet, stupid,” he conjured (to beg solemnly) his heart. And the more he tried to compose (to put together; to calm) himself, the more breathless (out of breath) he found himself. An acquaintance (a person one knows slightly) met him and called him by his name, but Levin did not even recognize him. He went towards the mounds (a raised heap of earth), whence (from where) came the clank (a dull metallic ring) of the chains of sledges (a sled drawn over snow) as they slipped (to slide by accident; a small error) down or were dragged (to pull heavily along) up, the rumble (a deep rolling noise) of the sliding (to move smoothly along) sledges (a sled drawn over snow), and the sounds of merry (full of cheer) voices. He walked on a few steps, and the skating-ground (a place kept for gliding on ice) lay open before his eyes, and at once, amidst (in the middle of) all the skaters (one who glides on ice), he knew her.

He knew she was there by the rapture (carried-away joy) and the terror (overwhelming fear) that seized (to grab; take hold) on his heart. She was standing talking to a lady at the opposite end of the ground. There was apparently nothing striking either in her dress or her attitude. But for Levin she was as easy to find in that crowd as a rose among nettles (a stinging plant). Everything was made bright by her. She was the smile that shed (a rough shelter; to let fall) light on all round her. “Is it possible I can go over there on the ice, go up to her?” he thought. The place where she stood seemed to him a holy shrine (a holy place), unapproachable (impossible to come near), and there was one moment when he was almost retreating (a falling back), so overwhelmed (buried under; overcome) was he with terror (overwhelming fear). He had to make an effort to master himself, and to remind (to bring back to mind) himself that people of all sorts were moving about her, and that he too might come there to skate (to glide over ice on blades). He walked down, for a long while avoiding looking at her as at the sun, but seeing her, as one does the sun, without looking.

On that day of the week and at that time of day people of one set, all acquainted (to make known to) with one another, used (use: habit; custom — the old sense here) to meet on the ice. There were crack (a sharp break or noise) skaters (one who glides on ice) there, showing off their skill (practiced ability), and learners (one who is learning) clinging (to hold fast to) to chairs with timid (shy and fearful), awkward (clumsy; uneasy) movements, boys, and elderly (getting old) people skating (gliding over ice on blades) with hygienic (good for keeping the body clean and well) motives (a repeated theme). They seemed to Levin an elect (the chosen few) band of blissful (full of bliss) beings because they were here, near her. All the skaters (one who glides on ice), it seemed, with perfect self-possession (calm command of oneself), skated (to glide over ice on blades) towards her, skated (to glide over ice on blades) by her, even spoke to her, and were happy, quite apart from her, enjoying the capital ice and the fine weather.

Nikolay (a Russian man's name; also Levin's elder brother) Shtcherbatsky (the family name of Kitty and Dolly), Kitty (the youngest of the Shtcherbatsky sisters)’s cousin (an uncle's or aunt's child), in a short jacket (a short coat) and tight trousers (trousers), was sitting on a garden seat with his skates (to glide over ice on blades) on. Seeing Levin, he shouted (a loud cry) to him:

“Ah, the first skater (one who glides on ice) in Russia! Been here long? First-rate (of the best kind) ice—do put your skates (to glide over ice on blades) on.”

“I haven (a safe shelter)’t got my skates (to glide over ice on blades),” Levin answered, marveling (a wonder) at this boldness (daring courage) and ease (comfort; freedom from effort) in her presence, and not for one second losing sight of her, though he did not look at her. He felt as though the sun were coming near him. She was in a corner, and turning out her slender (gracefully thin) feet in their high boots (a high shoe) with obvious timidity (shy fearfulness), she skated (to glide over ice on blades) towards him. A boy in Russian dress, desperately (with reckless despair) waving his arms and bowed (to bend in respect; a ribbon knot) down to the ground, overtook (to catch up with) her. She skated (to glide over ice on blades) a little uncertainly (unsurely); taking her hands out of the little muff (a clumsy useless fellow) that hung on a cord (the English trainer of Vronsky's horses), she held them ready for emergency, and looking towards Levin, whom she had recognized, she smiled at him, and at her own fears. When she had got round the turn, she gave herself a push off with one foot, and skated (to glide over ice on blades) straight up to Shtcherbatsky. Clutching (to grip hard) at his arm, she nodded (to bow the head slightly) smiling to Levin. She was more splendid (grand and fine) than he had imagined her.

When he thought of her, he could call up a vivid (bright and living) picture of her to himself, especially the charm (winning attractiveness; a magic token) of that little fair head, so freely (without restraint) set on the shapely (well shaped) girlish (like a young girl) shoulders, and so full of childish (like a child) brightness (shining light) and good humor (the sense of the laughable; a mood). The childishness (childish ways) of her expression, together with the delicate (finely tender) beauty of her figure, made up her special charm (winning attractiveness; a magic token), and that he fully realized. But what always struck him in her as something unlooked (unlooked-for: unexpected) for, was the expression of her eyes, soft, serene (calmly clear), and truthful (telling the truth), and above all, her smile, which always transported Levin to an enchanted (under a spell; delighted) world, where he felt himself softened (to make soft) and tender (soft with love), as he remembered himself in some days of his early childhood.

“Have you been here long?” she said, giving him her hand. “Thank you,” she added, as he picked up the handkerchief (a cloth for the nose or eyes) that had fallen out of her muff (a clumsy useless fellow).

“I? I’ve not long ... yesterday ... I mean today ... I arrived (to come to a place),” answered Levin, in his emotion (strong feeling) not at once understanding her question. “I was meaning to come and see you,” he said; and then, recollecting (to call back to mind) with what intention (what one means to do) he was trying to see her, he was promptly (without delay) overcome (to conquer; overpowered) with confusion (mixed-up disorder) and blushed (to redden with shame).

“I didn (did — didn't: did not)’t know you could skate (to glide over ice on blades), and skate (to glide over ice on blades) so well.”

She looked at him earnestly (with deep seriousness), as though wishing to make out the cause of his confusion (mixed-up disorder).

“Your praise (words of approval) is worth having. The tradition is kept up here that you are the best of skaters (one who glides on ice),” she said, with her little black-gloved (wearing black gloves) hand brushing (to touch or sweep lightly) a grain (the seed of wheat and rye) of hoarfrost (white frost coating) off her muff (a clumsy useless fellow).

“Yes, I used (use: habit; custom — the old sense here) once to skate (to glide over ice on blades) with passion (burning feeling); I wanted to reach perfection (perfect completeness).”

“You do everything with passion (burning feeling), I think,” she said smiling. “I should so like to see how you skate (to glide over ice on blades). Put on skates (to glide over ice on blades), and let us skate (to glide over ice on blades) together.”

“Skate (to glide over ice on blades) together! Can that be possible?” thought Levin, gazing (a long steady look) at her.

“I’ll put them on directly,” he said.

And he went off to get skates (to glide over ice on blades).

“It’s a long while since we’ve seen you here, sir,” said the attendant (a serving companion), supporting his foot, and screwing (the twisted fastening pin) on the heel (the foot's back) of the skate (to glide over ice on blades). “Except you, there’s none of the gentlemen (a man of good birth and manners) first-rate (of the best kind) skaters (one who glides on ice). Will that be all right?” said he, tightening (to make tight) the strap (a binding band of leather).

“Oh, yes, yes; make haste (hurry), please,” answered Levin, with difficulty (hardness; trouble) restraining (to hold back) the smile of rapture (carried-away joy) which would overspread (spread over) his face. “Yes,” he thought, “this now is life, this is happiness (the state of joy)! Together, she said; let us skate (to glide over ice on blades) together! Speak to her now? But that’s just why I’m afraid to speak—because I’m happy now, happy in hope, anyway.... And then?... But I must! I must! I must! Away with weakness (want of strength)!”

Levin rose to his feet, took off his overcoat (a heavy outer coat), and scurrying (to run in small quick steps) over the rough (not smooth; rude) ice round the hut (a small rough dwelling), came out on the smooth (even; without roughness) ice and skated (to glide over ice on blades) without effort, as it were, by simple exercise of will, increasing and slackening (to slow down; loosen) speed and turning his course. He approached with timidity (shy fearfulness), but again her smile reassured (to give back confidence) him.

She gave him her hand, and they set off side by side, going faster and faster, and the more rapidly (fast) they moved the more tightly (with a tight hold) she grasped (to seize; to understand) his hand.

“With you I should soon learn; I somehow feel confidence in you,” she said to him.

“And I have confidence in myself when you are leaning (to tilt against; thin) on me,” he said, but was at once panic-stricken (seized by panic) at what he had said, and blushed (to redden with shame). And indeed, no sooner had he uttered (complete; to speak) these words, when all at once, like the sun going behind a cloud (a sky mass of vapor; to darken with sadness), her face lost all its friendliness (friendly warmth), and Levin detected (to find out) the familiar change in her expression that denoted (to be the sign of) the working of thought; a crease (a fold line) showed on her smooth (even; without roughness) brow (the forehead).

“Is there anything troubling (giving trouble) you?—though I’ve no right to ask such a question,” he added hurriedly (in a rush).

“Oh, why so?... No, I have nothing to trouble me,” she responded coldly (without warmth); and she added immediately: “You haven (a safe shelter)’t seen Mlle. Linon (the French governess of the Shtcherbatsky girls), have you?”

“Not yet.”

“Go and speak to her, she likes you so much.”

“What’s wrong? I have offended (to hurt feelings; to sin against) her. Lord help me!” thought Levin, and he flew towards the old Frenchwoman with the gray (the color between black and white) ringlets (a curl of hair), who was sitting on a bench (a long seat). Smiling and showing her false teeth, she greeted (to welcome) him as an old friend.

“Yes, you see we’re growing up,” she said to him, glancing (a quick look) towards Kitty, “and growing old. Tiny bear has grown big now!” pursued (to chase after) the Frenchwoman, laughing, and she reminded (to bring back to mind) him of his joke about the three young ladies whom he had compared to the three bears in the English nursery (the children's room) tale (a story). “Do you remember that’s what you used (use: habit; custom — the old sense here) to call them?”

He remembered absolutely nothing, but she had been laughing at the joke for ten years now, and was fond (loving) of it.

“Now, go and skate (to glide over ice on blades), go and skate (to glide over ice on blades). Our Kitty has learned to skate (to glide over ice on blades) nicely (pleasantly), hasn (has — hasn't: has not)’t she?”

When Levin darted (to shoot swiftly) up to Kitty her face was no longer stern (severe; a ship's rear); her eyes looked at him with the same sincerity (honest truth of heart) and friendliness (friendly warmth), but Levin fancied (the imagination; a liking) that in her friendliness (friendly warmth) there was a certain note of deliberate (carefully weighed; to weigh) composure (calm self-control). And he felt depressed (cast down). After talking a little of her old governess (a woman teacher in a household) and her peculiarities (a special odd feature), she questioned him about his life.

“Surely you must be dull (not sharp; not bright) in the country in the winter, aren (are not)’t you?” she said.

“No, I’m not dull (not sharp; not bright), I am very busy,” he said, feeling that she was holding him in check by her composed (to put together; to calm) tone (a sound's quality; a manner), which he would not have the force to break through, just as it had been at the beginning of the winter.

“Are you going to stay in town long?” Kitty questioned him.

“I don’t know,” he answered, not thinking of what he was saying. The thought that if he were held in check by her tone (a sound's quality; a manner) of quiet friendliness (friendly warmth) he would end by going back again without deciding anything came into his mind, and he resolved (to decide firmly) to make a struggle against it.

“How is it you don’t know?”

“I don’t know. It depends upon you,” he said, and was immediately horror-stricken (struck with horror) at his own words.

Whether it was that she had heard his words, or that she did not want to hear them, she made a sort of stumble (to trip in walking), twice struck out, and hurriedly (in a rush) skated (to glide over ice on blades) away from him. She skated (to glide over ice on blades) up to Mlle. Linon (the French governess of the Shtcherbatsky girls), said something to her, and went towards the pavilion (a light open building) where the ladies took off their skates (to glide over ice on blades).

“My God! what have I done! Merciful (full of mercy) God! help me, guide me,” said Levin, praying (to speak to God) inwardly (within oneself), and at the same time, feeling a need of violent (of raging force) exercise, he skated (to glide over ice on blades) about describing inner and outer (on the outside) circles.

At that moment one of the young men, the best of the skaters (one who glides on ice) of the day, came out of the coffee-house (a house serving coffee) in his skates (to glide over ice on blades), with a cigarette (a small paper roll of tobacco) in his mouth. Taking a run, he dashed (a swift rush) down the steps in his skates (to glide over ice on blades), crashing and bounding (tied; leaping; a limit) up and down. He flew down, and without even changing the position of his hands, skated (to glide over ice on blades) away over the ice.

“Ah, that’s a new trick (a deceiving act)!” said Levin, and he promptly (without delay) ran up to the top to do this new trick (a deceiving act).

“Don’t break your neck! it needs practice!” Nikolay (a Russian man's name; also Levin's elder brother) Shtcherbatsky shouted (a loud cry) after him.

Levin went to the steps, took a run from above as best he could, and dashed (a swift rush) down, preserving (to keep safe) his balance in this unwonted (unusual for the person) movement with his hands. On the last step he stumbled (to trip in walking), but barely (only just) touching (touching: concerning — the old sense here) the ice with his hand, with a violent (of raging force) effort recovered (to get back; to grow well) himself, and skated (to glide over ice on blades) off, laughing.

“How splendid (grand and fine), how nice he is!” Kitty was thinking at that time, as she came out of the pavilion (a light open building) with Mlle. Linon (the French governess of the Shtcherbatsky girls), and looked towards him with a smile of quiet affection (warm love), as though he were a favorite brother. “And can it be my fault, can I have done anything wrong? They talk of flirtation (playing at love). I know it’s not he that I love; but still I am happy with him, and he’s so jolly (merry). Only, why did he say that?...” she mused (to think quietly).

Catching sight of Kitty going away, and her mother meeting her at the steps, Levin, flushed (a rush of blood to the face) from his rapid (fast) exercise, stood still and pondered (to weigh in the mind) a minute. He took off his skates (to glide over ice on blades), and overtook (to catch up with) the mother and daughter at the entrance (the way in) of the gardens (grounds laid out with plants).

“Delighted (greatly pleased) to see you,” said Princess Shtcherbatskaya (the family name Shtcherbatsky in its female form). “On Thursdays we are home, as always.”

“Today, then?”

“We shall be pleased (made glad) to see you,” the princess said stiffly (without ease).

This stiffness (stiff hardness) hurt Kitty, and she could not resist (to stand against) the desire to smooth (even; without roughness) over her mother’s coldness (cold lack of warmth). She turned her head, and with a smile said:

“Good-bye till this evening.”

At that moment Stepan Arkadyevitch (Oblonsky, Anna's brother, by his first name and patronymic), his hat cocked (the male fowl; to set a gun ready) on one side, with beaming (a great timber; a ray of light; to smile brightly) face and eyes, strode (a long step) into the garden like a conquering (overcoming by force) hero. But as he approached his mother-in-law (a husband's or wife's mother), he responded in a mournful (full of mourning) and crestfallen (with drooping spirits; ashamed) tone (a sound's quality; a manner) to her inquiries (an asking; an investigation) about Dolly (the eldest Shtcherbatsky sister, married to Oblonsky)’s health. After a little subdued (brought low; quieted) and dejected (cast down in spirits) conversation with his mother-in-law (a husband's or wife's mother), he threw out his chest again, and put his arm in Levin’s.

“Well, shall we set off?” he asked. “I’ve been thinking about you all this time, and I’m very, very glad you’ve come,” he said, looking him in the face with a significant air.

“Yes, come along,” answered Levin in ecstasy (rapturous joy), hearing unceasingly (without stopping) the sound of that voice saying, “Good-bye till this evening,” and seeing the smile with which it was said.

“To the England or the Hermitage (the great picture gallery of Petersburg)?”

“I don’t mind which.”

“All right, then, the England,” said Stepan Arkadyevitch, selecting (to pick out) that restaurant because he owed (to be in debt for) more there than at the Hermitage, and consequently (as a result) considered it mean to avoid it. “Have you got a sledge (a sled drawn over snow)? That’s first-rate (of the best kind), for I sent my carriage (a wheeled passenger vehicle; bearing) home.”

The friends hardly spoke all the way. Levin was wondering what that change in Kitty’s expression had meant, and alternately (turn and turn about) assuring (to promise; make sure) himself that there was hope, and falling into despair (loss of all hope), seeing clearly that his hopes were insane (mad), and yet all the while he felt himself quite another man, utterly (completely) unlike what he had been before her smile and those words, “Good-bye till this evening.”

Stepan Arkadyevitch was absorbed (to soak up; take in wholly) during the drive in composing (to put together; to calm) the menu (the list of dishes at a meal) of the dinner.

“You like turbot (a large flat sea fish), don’t you?” he said to Levin as they were arriving (to come to a place).

“Eh?” responded Levin. “Turbot (a large flat sea fish)? Yes, I’m awfully (terribly; very) fond (loving) of turbot (a large flat sea fish).”