"No, that's unfair," said Veslovsky; "how could envy come in?

There is something not nice about that sort of business."

"You say," Levin went on, "that it's unjust for me to receive

five thousand, while the peasant has fifty; that's true. It is

unfair, and I feel it, but..."

"It really is. Why is it we spend our time riding, drinking,

shooting, doing nothing, while they are forever at work?" said

Vassenka Veslovsky, obviously for the first time in his life

reflecting on the question, and consequently considering it with

perfect sincerity.

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"Yes, you feel it, but you don't give him your property," said

Stepan Arkadyevitch, intentionally, as it seemed, provoking

Levin.

There had arisen of late something like a secret antagonism

between the two brothers-in-law; as though, since they had

married sisters, a kind of rivalry had sprung up between them as

to which was ordering his life best, and now this hostility

showed itself in the conversation, as it began to take a personal

note.

"I don't give it away, because no one demands that from me, and

if I wanted to, I could not give it away," answered Levin, "and

have no one to give it to."

"Give it to this peasant, he would not refuse it."

"Yes, but how am I to give it up? Am I to go to him and make a

deed of conveyance?"

"I don't know; but if you are convinced that you have no

right..."

"I'm not at all convinced. On the contrary, I feel I have no

right to give it up, that I have duties both to the land and to

my family."

"No, excuse me, but if you consider this inequality is unjust,

why is it you don't act accordingly?..."

"Well, I do act negatively on that idea, so far as not trying to

increase the difference of position existing between him and me."

"No, excuse me, that's a paradox."

"Yes, there's something of a sophistry about that," Veslovsky

agreed. "Ah! our host; so you're not asleep yet?" he said to the

peasant who came into the barn, opening the creaking door. "How

is it you're not asleep?"

"No, how's one to sleep! I thought our gentlemen would be

asleep, but I heard them chattering. I want to get a hook from

here. She won't bite?" he added, stepping cautiously with his

bare feet.

"And where are you going to sleep?"




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