Trust the Expert — Anna Karenina

At earliest dawn Levin cannot wake Veslovsky, Oblonsky, or even eager Laska without reluctance. He takes his gun, slips out in gray light, and the old hostess guides him past threshing floor and hemp to the marsh where cattle were driven yesterday. Dew soaks him, bees hum toward misty reeds, and sleeping peasants lie beside hobbled horses as he releases Laska.

She scents grouse, makes her circle, and Levin wrongly redirects her with Laska! here? to wet ground where nothing can be. When he stops hindering, she points rigid, tail tense, and he sees the bird before shouting Fetch it, fetch it! Two grouse fall to his shots; he thinks Come, this is going to be some good! Sunrise turns sedge gold and pools amber; he kills three snipe straight for a watching boy's praise.

The sportsman's saying that if the first beast or first bird is not missed the day will be lucky already feels true though the narrator will state it fully when he returns with nineteen head tomorrow. After yesterday's flung gun, this solitary cool morning restores competence and joy. Levin has kept his vow to go early and shoot calmly; Kitty's note waits at the hut.