Мертвые души
Chapter 2
Indeed,heseemedintherightmoodforoutpouringsoftheheart,forhecontinued—notwithoutaringofemotioninhistone:“Ifyoubutknewtheservicewhichyouhaverenderedtoanapparentlyinsignificantindividualwhoisdevoidbothoffamilyandkindred!ForwhathaveInotsufferedinmytime—I,adriftingbarqueamidthetempestuousbillowsoflife?Whatharryings,whatpersecutions,haveInotknown?OfwhatgriefhaveInottasted?Andwhy?SimplybecauseIhaveeverkeptthetruthinview,becauseeverIhavepreservedinviolateanunsulliedconscience,becauseeverIhavestretchedoutahelpinghandtothedefencelesswidowandthehaplessorphan!”AfterwhichoutpouringChichikovpulledouthishandkerchief,andwipedawayabrimmingtear.
Manilov’sheartwasmovedtothecore.Againandagaindidthetwofriendspressoneanother’shandsinsilenceastheygazedintooneanother’stear-filledeyes.Indeed,ManilovCOULDnotletgoourhero’shand,butclaspeditwithsuchwarmththattheheroinquestionbegantofeelhimselfatalosshowbesttowrenchitfree:until,quietlywithdrawingit,heobservedthattohavethepurchasecompletedasspeedilyaspossiblewouldnotbeabadthing;whereforehehimselfwouldatoncereturntothetowntoarrangematters.Takinguphishat,therefore,herosetomakehisadieus.
“What?Areyoudepartingalready?”saidManilov,suddenlyrecoveringhimself,andexperiencingasenseofmisgiving.Atthatmomenthiswifesailedintotheroom.
“IsPaulIvanovitchleavingussosoon,dearestLizanka?”shesaidwithanairofregret.
“Yes.
