Chapter 14
The princess walks in on Levin and Kitty's wrecked faces and thinks...
But at that very moment the princess came in. There was a look of horror on her face when she saw them alone, and their disturbed faces. Levin bowed to her, and said nothing. Kitty did not speak nor lift her eyes. “Thank God, she has refused him,” thought the mother, and her face lighted up with the habitual smile with which she greeted her guests on Thursdays. She sat down and began questioning Levin about his life in the country. He sat down again, waiting for other visitors to arrive, in order to retreat unnoticed. Five minutes later there…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Name Your Exit Point
Recall a time you kept watching a situation after you already knew the outcome. Write the moment you first knew, the moment you finally left, and what extra pain staying cost you.
Consider:
- •Identify the first clear signal versus the last image you carried away
- •Notice whether you stayed to hope, to punish yourself, or to perform composure
- •Decide what you would do with one sentence of permission to leave early
Journaling Prompt
Write about a public moment when someone showed you their choice without words. What did you see, and when should you have gone?
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