Мертві душі
Chapter 5
Indeed,haditnotbeenthatthepersonconcernedwasChichikov,andnotsomeyouthoftwentysummers—ahussarorastudentor,ingeneral,amanstandingonthethresholdoflife—whatthoughtswouldnothavesprungtobirth,andstirredandspoken,withinhim;forwhatalengthoftimewouldhenothavestoodentrancedashestaredintothedistanceandforgotalikehisjourney,thebusinessstilltobedone,thepossibilityofincurringlossthroughlingering—himself,hisvocation,theworld,andeverythingelsethattheworldcontains!
Butinthepresentcasetheherowasamanofmiddle-age,andofcautiousandfrigidtemperament.True,heponderedovertheincident,butinmoredeliberatefashionthanayoungermanwouldhavedone.Thatistosay,hisreflectionswerenotsoirresponsibleandunsteady.“Shewasacomelydamsel,”hesaidtohimselfasheopenedhissnuff-boxandtookapinch.“Buttheimportantpointis:IsshealsoaNICEDAMSEL?Onethingshehasinherfavour—andthatisthatsheappearsonlyjusttohaveleftschool,andnottohavehadtimetobecomewomanlyintheworsersense.Atpresent,therefore,sheislikeachild.Everythinginherissimple,andshesaysjustwhatshethinks,andlaughsmerelywhenshefeelsinclined.Suchadamselmightbemadeintoanything—orshemightbeturnedintoworthlessrubbish.Thelatter,Isurmise,fortrudgingafterhershewillhaveafondmotherandabevyofaunts,andsoforth—personswho,withinayear,willhavefilledherwithwomanishnesstothepointwhereherownfatherwouldn’tknowher.
