Anna Karenina — книга для чтения (C2)

restaurant, in the midst of private rooms where men were dining with ladies, in all this fuss and bustle; the surroundings of bronzes, looking glasses, gas, and waiters—all of it was offensive to him. He was afraid of sullying what his soul was brimful of.

‘I? Yes, I am; but besides, all this bothers me,’ he said.

‘You can’t conceive how queer it all seems to a country person like me, as queer as that gentleman’s nails I saw at your place...’ ‘Yes, I saw how much interested you were in poor Grinevitch’s nails,’ said Stepan Arkadyevitch, laughing.

‘It’s too much for me,’ responded Levin. ‘Do try, now, and put yourself in my place, take the point of view of a country person. We in the country try to bring our hands into such a state as will be most convenient for working with. So we cut our nails; sometimes we turn up our sleeves. And here people purposely let their nails grow as long as they will, and link on small saucers by way of studs, so that they can do nothing with their hands.’ Stepan Arkadyevitch smiled gaily.