Мертвые души

           Simultaneouslywithhisdoingso,hisoldschoolmasterlost(throughstupidityorotherwise)theestablishmentoverwhichhehadhithertopresided,andinwhichhehadsetsomuchstorebysilenceandgoodbehaviour.Griefdrovehimtodrink,andwhennothingwasleft,evenforthatpurpose,heretired—ill,helpless,andstarving—intoabroken-down,cheerlesshovel.Butcertainofhisformerpupils—thesameclever,wittyladswhomhehadoncebeenwonttoaccuseofimpertinenceandevilconductgenerally—heardofhispitiableplight,andcollectedforhimwhatmoneytheycould,eventothepointofsellingtheirownnecessaries.OnlyChichikov,whenappealedto,pleadedinability,andcompromisedwithacontributionofasinglepiatak38:whichhisoldschoolfellowsstraightwayreturnedhim—fullintheface,andaccompaniedwithashoutof“Oh,youskinflint!”Asforthepoorschoolmaster,whenheheardwhathisformerpupilshaddone,heburiedhisfaceinhishands,andthetearsgushedfromhisfailingeyesasfromthoseofahelplessinfant.“Godhasbroughtyoubuttoweepovermydeath-bed,”hemurmuredfeebly;andaddedwithaprofoundsigh,onhearingofChichikov’sconduct:“Ah,Pavlushka,howahumanbeingmaybecomechanged!Onceyouwereagoodlad,andgavemenotrouble;butnowyouarebecomeproudindeed!”

           Yetletitnotbeinferredfromthisthatourhero’scharacterhadgrownsoblaseandhard,orhisconsciencesoblunted,astoprecludehisexperiencingaparticleofsympathyorcompassion.