He knew she was there by the rapture and the terror that seized on his heart. She was standing talking to a lady at the opposite end of the ground. There was apparently nothing striking either in her dress or her attitude. But for Levin she was as easy to find in that crowd as a rose among nettles. Everything was made bright by her. She was the smile that shed light all around her.

Summary

This quote illustrates the powerful effect that the presence of a person can have on someone. The speaker describes how, in a crowd, they instantly recognize the woman they are infatuated with due to the intense emotions that overcome them. Despite her ordinary appearance, she stands out and brings brightness and joy to everything around her, symbolized by being "the smile that shed light all around her." The quote speaks to the transformative power of love and the ability of one person to have a profound impact on another's life.

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