Anna Karenina, Part 8, Chapter 18 summary

What happens

1. Rain keeps everyone indoors, where Katavasov entertains the company and Sergey Ivanovitch discusses the Eastern question.
2. Kitty summons Levin to the nursery, interrupting a conversation that interests him.
3. Alone, Levin recovers his inward peace and questions how divine revelation relates to goodness outside Christianity.
4. In the nursery, Mitya frowns at the cook but smiles at Kitty, showing that he recognizes familiar people.
5. Levin explains that his initial feelings disappoint him, but fear during the storm makes his love for Mitya clear.
6. Kitty rejoices in his admission and encourages him to rejoin their guests.

In this chapter

What to notice

Levin names the love that his earlier disappointment obscures. Fear for the baby gives him a clearer understanding of his feelings.

Quick check