Мертві душі

           And,indeed,morethanonemanwasconverted,andjoinedthefemininecamp,inspiteofthefactthattherebysuchsecedersincurredstrongnamesfromtheirlatecomrades—namessuchas“oldwomen,”“petticoats,”andothersofanaturepeculiarlyoffensivetothemalesex.

           Also,howevermuchtheymightarmthemselvesandtakethefield,themencouldnotcompasssuchorderlinesswithintheirranksascouldthewomen.Withtheformereverythingwasoftheantiquatedandrough-hewnandill-fittingandunsuitableandbadly-adaptedandinferiorkind;theirheadswerefullofnothingbutdiscordandtrivialityandconfusionandslovenlinessofthought.Inbrief,theydisplayedeverywherethemalebent,therude,ponderousnaturewhichisincapableeitherofmanagingahouseholdorofjumpingtoaconclusion,aswellasremainsalwaysdistrustfulandlazyandfullofconstantdoubtandeverlastingtimidity.Forinstance,themen’spartydeclaredthatthewholestorywasrubbish—thattheallegedabductionoftheGovernor’sdaughterwastheworkratherofamilitarythanofacivilianculprit;thattheladieswerelyingwhentheyaccusedChichikovofthedeed;thatawomanwaslikeamoney-bag—whatsoeveryouputintohershethenceforthretained;thatthesubjectwhichreallydemandedattentionwasthedeadsouls,ofwhichthedevilonlyknewthemeaning,butinwhichtherecertainlylurkedsomethingthatwascontrarytogoodorderanddiscipline.