He spent that evening with his betrothed at the Oblonskys' and was in particularly high spirits. Explaining to Oblonsky the state of elation he was in, he said he felt as pleased as a dog that was being taught to jump through a hoop, and which, having accomplished what was demanded of it, barks and wags its tail and jumps for joy upon the tables and window-sills.
Levin, trascorrendo quella sera con la fidanzata in casa di Dolly, fu particolarmente allegro e, spiegando a Stepan Arkad’ic quel suo stato di eccitamento, disse che si sentiva allegro come un cane al quale abbiano insegnato a saltare attraverso un cerchio e che, avendo capito alla fine e compiuto quel che si pretende da lui, si mette a guaire e, agitando la coda, salta per l’entusiasmo sui tavoli e sulle finestre.