Мертвые души
Chapter 3
Merelyflourishinghiswhip,Selifanspoketotheteamnowordofinstruction,althoughtheskewbaldwasasreadyasusualtolistentoconversationofadidacticnature,seeingthatatsuchtimesthereinshunglooselyinthehandsoftheloquaciousdriver,andthewhipwanderedmerelyasamatterofformoverthebacksofthetroika.Thistime,however,therecouldbeheardissuingfromSelifan’ssullenlipsonlytheuniformlyunpleasantexclamation,“Nowthen,youbrutes!Getonwithyou,getonwithyou!”ThebayandtheAssessortoofeltputoutatnothearingthemselvescalled“mypets”or“goodlads”;while,inaddition,theskewbaldcameinforsomenastycutsacrosshissleekandamplequarters.“Whathasputmasteroutlikethis?”thoughttheanimalasitshookitshead.“Heavenknowswherehedoesnotkeepbeatingme—acrosstheback,andevenwhereIamtendererstill.Yes,hekeepscatchingthewhipinmyears,andlashingmeunderthebelly.”
“Totheright,eh?”snappedSelifantothegirlbesidehimashepointedtoarain-soakedroadwhichtrendedawaythroughfreshgreenfields.
“No,no,”shereplied.“Iwillshowyoutheroadwhenthetimecomes.”
“Whichway,then?”heaskedagainwhentheyhadproceededalittlefurther.
“Thisway.”Andshepointedtotheroadjustmentioned.
“Getalongwithyou!”retortedthecoachman.“ThatDOESgototheright.Youdon’tknowyourrighthandfromyourleft
