Part 4 section 9: Oblonsky returns home after some of the guests have already arrived. Levin is happy to see that Kitty is there, as he has not seen her since she refused him. He sees that she is quite different, and she is happy to see him. Oblonsky seats them together.
Part 4 section 10: Pestov, one of Moscow's intellectuals, Koznyshev and Karenin discuss the differences between classical and modern education as well as the education of women.
Part 4 section 11: Levin and Kitty normally would have been interested in these discussions, but they are having their own separate conversation. Levin tells Kitty that he saw her in the carriage in the summer, and they are getting along great. Kitty sees that Levin thinks badly of another guest, and she convinces him that he is a good man. He tells her that he will never think badly of anyone again.
Part 4 section 12: Dolly takes Karenin aside to talk to him about Anna. She is convinced of Anna's innocence, but he tells her that Anna told him of her guilt herself. He says that this is not the kind of situation one can just bear, but that one must act. She thinks of her own situation with her husband and how she can do nothing but bear it. She tells Karenin that he cannot divorce Anna because she would be nobody's wife and would be ruined. He tells her that he cannot forgive Anna, and he leaves the house.
Part 4 section 13: Kitty and Levin sit down in the drawing room at the card table, and Kitty plays with the chalk on the green cloth on the table. They have been getting along so well, and Levin's hopes are raised again. He takes the chalk from Kitty and writes W, y, a: i, c, n, b; d, y, m, t, o, n? Kitty understands it to mean: When you answered: it cannot be; did you mean then or never? She rubs out his letters and replies: T, I, c, n, a, o. Levin understands this to mean: Then I could not answer otherwise. She tells him that she wants him to forgive her and forget what happened. He replies that he has nothing to forgive. They continue on with the letter game and it is revealed that she loves him, and they decide that he will call on her parents in the morning.
Part 4 section 14: Everyone is leaving the Oblonsky's, but Levin does not want to be alone, so asks his brother if he can accompany him to the Town Council meeting he is going to. His brother understands what has happened between Levin and Kitty and is happy for him. At the meeting Levin listens to the debates and feels like he can see what all of the men are really like and that they are all kind. Sviyazhsky asks him to come home for tea, and Levin is happy to go. He then goes back to his hotel, talks to the attendant until he is called away, and spends the rest of the night by the window. At dawn he goes out, having not slept at all.
Part 4 section 15: Levin goes to the Shcherbatskys' house twice before people are ready to receive him. He feels exceptionally happy. He later goes again to the house and sees Kitty, who has also not slept all either. Her father and mother have given their consent and she runs to Levin. Her mother comes and kisses Levin and is quite happy. Kitty's father also comes and says he has always wished it.
Part 4 section 16: Levin wants to have the wedding as soon as possible, but Kitty's mother knows there are many things to do. Relatives arrive and Levin realizes that he is expected to go and buy flowers and gifts. It seems to him that everyone knows about his happiness and shares it. He wants to talk to Kitty about his shameful past and about how he is agnostic, so he gives her his diaries to read. She says nothing about his agnosticism, but he can see that his impure past has made her suffer. She forgives him.
Part 4 section 17: When Karenin returns to the hotel from dinner at the Oblonsky's he has two telegrams. The first says that his opponent, Stremov, has been given a position he was hoping for, and Karenin is mad that he was passed over. The second is from Anna and she writes that she is ill and needs his forgiveness. He thinks that it may just be a cunning trick, but realizes he must go home and see. On his way back to Petersburg he thinks about how Anna's death would solve the situation, and it is not until he arrives home that he realizes he has been desiring her death. He learns that Anna has given birth to a baby girl, and he goes to Anna's room. There he sees Vronsky who asks him to allow him to stay, and hears Anna babbling about many things. Anna tells her husband that she has not long to live and needs his forgiveness. She asks him to forgive Vronsky as well.
Part 4 section 18: The next day Karenin tells Vronsky that he had started divorce proceedings, but that now he knows that he must stay with his wife. He tells Vronsky that he forgives both of them and will call him if she asks for him. Vronsky has not slept for days and he does not know what to do as he leaves. When he arrives home he can only see Anna's face and think about what a good man Karenin is and how humiliated he is. He thinks that perhaps he is going mad and thinks of the same things over and over. He goes to his table, takes his revolver and shoots himself in the chest. The servant goes for help, and soon Varya, Vronsky's sister-in-law, comes with doctors.
Part 4 section 19: At his wife's bedside, Karenin gives over to the feelings of sympathy that other people's suffering bring to him and he forgives and loves his wife. He also forgives Vronsky and pities him when reports of his desperate action reach him. He also grows fond of the newborn girl and spends much time with her. He realizes that his presence is distasteful to his wife and that she fears him. One day he returns home and sees that Princess Betsy is with Anna. He goes in and Anna tells him that Vronsky is leaving town and that Betsy is asking Anna to let him come and say goodbye. She wants Karenin to know that she has said that she cannot receive him. Karenin replies that it is up to her.
Part 4 section 20: Karenin returns to Anna after seeing Betsy out and sees that she is crying. He feels helpless in the whole situation, as he does not want to place Anna in a shameful position, but it was clear she couldn't break off relations with Vronsky.
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