a great mystery

Sunrise on Saturday, September 19, 2015

Kristin and Tom's wedding day

Levin glanced round at her and was struck by the radiant joy on her face; her feeling infected him involuntarily. He felt bright and joyous as she did.

They took joy in listening to the reading of the Epistle and the roll of the protodeacon's voice in that last verse, awaited with much impatience by the spectators. With light hearts they drank the warm red wine and water from the shallow cup, and they grew even more cheerful when the priest, throwing back his vestments took their hands in his and to the gusts of the bass leading in Rejoice, O Isaiah! led them round the lectern. Shcherbatskky and Chirikov, who had been holding up the crowns and getting in the way of the bride's train, were also smiling, for some reason delighted; they would sometimes lag behind and sometimes jostle the young couple whenever the priest came to a halt. The tingle of joy glowing in Kitty's heart seemed to have infected everyone in the church. It seemed to Levin that both the priest and the deacon, like himself, had a desire to smile.

After taking the crowns from their heads the priest recited the final prayer and congratulated the young couple. Levin looked at Kitty; he had never seen her before as she looked then. She was enchanting with the light of her new happiness radiating from her face. Levin felt like saying something to her, but he didn't know whether it was all over yet. The priest brought him out of the difficulty; with a smile on his kind mouth he said softly: "Kiss your wife, and you, kiss your husband." and took the candlesticks out of their hands.

Levin cautiously kissed her smiling lips, gave her his arm, and with a new sensation of peculiar closeness went out of the church. He did not, could not believe it was true. It was only when their astonished shy glances met each other that he believed it, because he felt they were already one.

That same night, after supper, the newlyweds left for the country.

Anna Karinina

Leo Tolstoy