Anna Karenina Part 6, Chapter 8 Summary
by Leo Tolstoy

The next day, before the ladies get up, the men prepare to go hunting. The first to appear is Veslovsky, dressed impeccably and greeted by Levin’s dog Laska. The next hunter is Stepan Arkadyevitch with his dog, He is dressed in much more rustic hunting clothes, and Veslovsky is surprised. He had no idea until now that it is the custom of sportsmen to dress in tatters but have the best shooting equipment; now that he knows, he vows he will adopt the custom. Veslovsky asks about their host, and Stepan Arkadyevitch says Levin had come downstairs ready to go but must have run back upstairs to his young wife.

That is what Levin did, wanting to be sure that Kitty has truly forgiven him for his idiocy of the night before. He also wants to remind her to be more careful, especially around the children. Once more he begs her forgiveness, asks her to tell him that she is certain she wants him to be gone for two days, and makes her promise to send him a note tomorrow morning just to let him know she is fine.

Kitty is up and dressed, distressed as she always is when she and Levin are about to be parted for several days. She can see the anticipation in his face and, though she does not understand the excitement of hunting, she accedes to his wishes and says good-bye cheerfully to her husband.

Finally Levin joins the other two men. Before they can leave, however, Levin is detained by men needing his instructions. He talks to a herdsman and meets the carpenter who has ruined the staircase in the new lodge Levin has contracted. Rather than begin again with the proper measurements, the man wants to simply add three stairs to what he has already built. He and Levin talk in circles and the carpenter is obstinate, but Levin finally draws what he wants and the carpenter grudgingly agrees to do as his employer wishes.

Now that he is leaving behind his family and his household cares, Levin feels a rush of joy and anticipation and is not inclined...