Мертві душі
Chapter 5
Indeed,whentheladiesdeparted,itwasasinadreamthathesawthegirl’scomelypresence,thedelicatefeaturesofherface,andtheslenderoutlineofherformvanishfromhissight;itwasasinadreamthatoncemorehesawonlytheroad,thebritchka,thethreehorses,Selifan,andthebare,emptyfields.Everywhereinlife—yes,evenintheplainest,thedingiestranksofsociety,asmuchasinthosewhichareuniformlybrightandpresentable—amanmayhappenuponsomephenomenonwhichissoentirelydifferentfromthosewhichhavehithertofallentohislot.Everywherethroughthewebofsorrowofwhichourlivesarewoventheremaysuddenlybreakaclear,radiantthreadofjoy;evenassuddenlyalongthestreetofsomepoor,poverty-strickenvillagewhich,ordinarily,seesnoughtbutafarmwaggontheremaycamebowlingagorgeouscoachwithplatedharness,picturesquehorses,andaglitterofglass,sothatthepeasantsstandgaping,anddonotresumetheircapsuntillongafterthestrangeequipagehasbecomelosttosight.Thusthegolden-hairedmaidenmakesasudden,unexpectedappearanceinourstory,andassuddenly,asunexpectedly,disappears.
