‘Yes, I’d like ... I need to dis ... yes, to discuss something with you,’ said Stepan Arkadyich, surprised at this unaccustomed feeling of timidity.
It was so unexpected and strange a feeling that Stepan Arkadyich did not believe it was the voice of his conscience, telling him that what he intended to do was bad. Stepan Arkadyich made an effort and conquered the timidity that had come over him.
‘I hope you believe in my love for my sister and in my sincere attachment and respect for you,’ he said, blushing.
Alexei Alexandrovich stopped and made no reply, but Stepan Arkadyich was struck by the look of the submissive victim on his face.
‘I intended ... I wanted to talk with you about my sister and your mutual situation,’ said Stepan Arkadyich, still struggling with his unaccustomed shyness.
Alexei Alexandrovich smiled sadly, looked at his brother-in-law and, without replying, went over to the desk, took from it the beginning of a letter and handed it to him.
‘I think continually of the same thing. And this is what I’ve begun to write, supposing that I will say it better in writing and that my presence annoys her,’ he said, handing him the letter.
Stepan Arkadyich took the letter, looked with perplexed astonishment at the dull eyes gazing fixedly at him, and began to read.
I see that my presence is burdensome to you. Painful as it was for me to become convinced of it, I see that it is so and cannot be otherwise. I do not blame you, and God is my witness that, seeing you during your illness, I resolved with all my soul to forget everything that had been between us and start a new life. I do not repent and will never repent of what I have done; but I desired one thing - your good, the good of your soul - and now I see that I have not achieved it. Tell me yourself what will give you true happiness and peace in your soul. I give myself over entirely to your will and your sense of justice.
Stepan Arkadyich handed the letter back and went on looking at his brother-in-law with the same perplexity, not knowing what to say. This silence was so awkward for them both that a painful twitch came to Stepan Arkadyich’s lips as he sat silently, not taking his eyes from Karenin’s face.
‘That is what I wanted to tell her,’ Alexei Alexandrovich said, looking away.
‘Yes, yes,’ said Stepan Arkadyich, unable to answer for the tears that choked him. ‘Yes, yes. I understand you,’ he finally got out.
‘I wish to know what she wants,’ said Alexei Alexandrovich.
‘I’m afraid she doesn’t understand her situation herself. She’s no judge,’ Stepan Arkadyich said, recovering. ‘She’s crushed, precisely crushed by your magnanimity. If she reads this letter, she’ll be unable to say anything, she’ll only hang her head lower.’
‘Yes, but in that case what? How to explain ... how to find out her wish?’
‘If you will allow me to express my opinion, I think it depends on you to point directly to the measures you find necessary in order to end this situation.’
‘So you find that it must be ended?’ Alexei Alexandrovich interrupted. ‘But how?’ he added, making an unaccustomed gesture with his hands in front of his eyes. ‘I don’t see any possible way out.’
‘There’s a way out of every situation,’ Stepan Arkadyich said, standing up and becoming animated. ‘There was a time when you wanted to break off ... If you’re now convinced that you can’t make each other happy...’
‘Happiness can be variously understood. But let’s suppose that I agree to everything, that I want nothing. What is the way out of our situation?’
‘If you want to know my opinion,’ Stepan Arkadyich said, with the same softening, almond-butter smile with which he had spoken to Anna. His kind smile was so convincing that Alexei Alexandrovich, sensing his own weakness and giving in to it, was involuntarily prepared to believe what Stepan Arkadyich would say. ‘She will never say it outright. But there is one possibility, there’s one thing she may wish for,’ Stepan Arkadyich went on, ‘that is - to end your relations and all memories connected with them. I think that in your situation it’s necessary to clarify your new mutual relations. And those relations can be established only with freedom on both sides.’
‘Divorce,’ Alexei Alexandrovich interrupted with repugnance.
‘Yes, I suppose it means divorce. Yes, divorce,’ Stepan Arkadyich repeated, blushing. ‘For a couple in such relations as yours, it’s the most intelligent way out in all respects. What’s to be done if they’ve discovered that life together is impossible for them? That can always happen.’ Alexei Alexandrovich sighed deeply and closed his eyes. ‘There’s only one consideration here: does either of them wish to enter into a new marriage? If not, it’s very simple,’ said Stepan Arkadyich, freeing himself more and more from his embarrassment.
