Мертвые души
Chapter 3
Thoughscattered,insteadofbeingarrangedinregularrows,theseappearedtoChichikov’seyetocomprisewell-to-doinhabitants,sinceallrottenplanksintheirroofinghadbeenreplacedwithnewones,andnoneoftheirdoorswereaskew,andsuchoftheirtiltshedsasfacedhimevincedevidenceofapresenceofasparewaggon—insomecasesalmostanewone.
“Thisladyownsbynomeansapoorvillage,”saidChichikovtohimself;whereforehedecidedthenandtheretohaveatalkwithhishostess,andtocultivatehercloseracquaintance.Accordinglyhepeepedthroughthechinkofthedoorwhenceherheadhadrecentlyprotruded,and,onseeingherseatedatateatable,enteredandgreetedherwithacheerful,kindlysmile.
“Goodmorning,dearsir,”sherespondedassherose.“Howhaveyouslept?”Shewasdressedinbetterstylethanshehadbeenonthepreviousevening.Thatistosay,shewasnowwearingagownofsomedarkcolour,andlackedhernightcap,andhadswathedherneckinsomethingstiff.
“Ihavesleptexceedinglywell,”repliedChichikov,seatinghimselfuponachair.“AndhowareYOU,goodmadam?”
“Butpoorly,mydearsir.”
“Andwhyso?”
“BecauseIcannotsleep.Apainhastakenmeinmymiddle,andmylegs,fromtheanklesupwards,areachingasthoughtheywerebroken.”
“Thatwillpass,thatwillpass,goodmother.Youmustpaynoattentiontoit.”
“GodgrantthatitMAYpass.However,Ihavebeenrubbingmyselfwithlardandturpentine.Whatsortofteawillyoutake?InthisjarIhavesomeofthescentedkind.
