`He's a capital fellow,' pursued Oblonsky. `Isn't he?'

`I don't know why it is,' responded Vronsky, `in all Moscow people - present company of course excepted,' he put in jestingly, `there's something uncompromising. They are all on the defensive, lose their tempers, as though they all want to make one feel something....'

`Yes, that's true, it's so,' said Stepan Arkadyevich, laughing cheerfully.

`Will the train be in soon?' Vronsky asked a railway official.

`The train's signaled,' answered the man.

The approach of the train was more and more evident by the preparatory bustle in the station, the rush of porters, the movement of gendarmes and attendants, and crowding people meeting the train. Through the frosty vapor could be seen workmen in short sheepskins and soft felt boots crossing the rails of the curving line. The hiss of the boiler could be heard on the distant rails, and the rumble of something heavy.

`No,' said Stepan Arkadyevich, who felt a great inclination to tell Vronsky of Levin's intentions in regard to Kitty. `No, you haven't got a true impression of Levin. He's a very nervous man, and is sometimes out of humor, it's true, but then he is often very charming. He has such a true, honest nature, and a heart of gold. But yesterday there were special reasons,' pursued Stepan Arkadyevich, with a meaning smile, totally oblivious of the genuine sympathy he had felt the day before for his friend, and feeling the same sympathy now, only for Vronsky. `Yes, there were reasons why he could not help being either particularly happy or particularly unhappy.'

Vronsky stood still and asked directly: `How so? Do you mean he proposed to your belle-soeur yesterday?'

`Maybe,' said Stepan Arkadyevich. `I fancied something of the sort yesterday. Yes, if he went away early, and was out of humor too, such must be the case.... He's been so long in love, and I'm very sorry for him.'

`So that's it!... I should imagine, though, she might reckon on a better match,' said Vronsky, setting his chest straight and walking about again, `though I don't know him, of course,' he added. `Yes, that is a hateful position! That's why most fellows prefer to have to do with the Claras. If you don't succeed with them it only proves that you've not enough cash, but in this case one's dignity is in the balance. But here's the train.'

The engine had already whistled in the distance. A few instants later the platform began to shake, and, with puffs of steam hanging low in the air from the frost, the engine rolled up, with the rod of the middle wheel rhythmically moving up and down, and the bowed, muffled figure of the engine driver covered with hoarfrost. Behind the tender, setting the platform more and more slowly and more powerfully shaking, came the luggage van with a dog whining in it. At last the passenger carriages rolled in, quivering before coming to a standstill.

A smart guard jumped out, giving a whistle, and after him one by one the impatient passengers began to get down: an officer of the guards, holding himself erect, and looking severely about him; a nimble young merchant with a bag, smiling gaily; a peasant with a sack over his shoulder.

Vronsky, standing beside Oblonsky, watched the carriages and the passengers, totally oblivious of his mother. What he had just heard about Kitty excited and delighted him. Unconsciously he straightened his chest, and his eyes flashed. He felt himself a conqueror.

`Countess Vronskaia is in that compartment,' said the smart guard, going up to Vronsky.