Мертві душі
Chapter 8
Uponthatonewouldhavethoughtthathispurposewastocarrythepositionbystorm;for,whethermovedbytheinfluenceofspring,orwhethermovedbyapushfrombehind,hepressedforwardwithsuchdesperateresolutionthathiselbowcausedtheCommissionerofTaxestostaggeronhisfeet,andwouldhavecausedhimtolosehisbalancealtogetherbutforthesupportingrowofguestsintherear.LikewisethePostmasterwasmadetogiveground;whereuponheturnedandeyedChichikovwithmingledastonishmentandsubtleirony.ButChichikovneverevennoticedhim;hesawinthedistanceonlythegolden-hairedbeauty.Atthatmomentshewasdrawingonalonggloveand,doubtless,piningtobeflyingoverthedancing-floor,where,withclickingheels,fourcoupleshadnowbeguntothreadthemazesofthemazurka.Inparticularwasamilitarystaff-captainworkingbodyandsoulandarmsandlegstocompasssuchaseriesofstepsaswereneverbeforeperformed,eveninadream.However,Chichikovslippedpastthemazurkadancers,and,almosttreadingontheirheels,madehiswaytowardsthespotwhereMadameandherdaughterwereseated.Yetheapproachedthemwithgreatdiffidenceandnoneofhislatemincingandprancing.Nay,heevenfalteredashewalked;hiseverymovementhadaboutitanairofawkwardness.
Itisdifficulttosaywhetherornotthefeelingwhichhadawakenedinourhero’sbreastwasthefeelingoflove;foritisproblematicalwhetherornotmenwhoareneitherstoutnorthinarecapableofanysuchsentiment.
