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.