No one else in his place, having to deal with such despair, would have permitted himself to smile, for a smile would have appeared callous. But in his smile there was so much kindness and almost feminine tenderness that it was not offensive, but soothing and pacifying.
Никто бы на месте Степана Аркадьича, имея дело с таким отчаянием, не позволил себе улыбнуться (улыбка показалась бы грубой), но в его улыбке было так много доброты и почти женской нежности,что улыбка его не оскорбляла, а смягчала и успокоивала.