Мертві душі

           Foradayandahalfthesorokaconveyedthemontheirway;duringwhichtimetheyspentthenightataroadsideinn,crossedariver,dinedoffcoldpieandroastmutton,andeventuallyarrivedatthecountytown.Totheladthestreetspresentedaspectacleofunwontedbrilliancy,andhegapedwithamazement.Turningintoasidealleywhereinthemirenecessitatedboththemoststrenuousexertionsonthesoroka’spartandthemostvigorouscastigationonthepartofthedriverandthebarin,theconveyanceeventuallyreachedthegatesofacourtyardwhich,combinedwithasmallfruitgardencontainingvariousbushes,acoupleofapple-treesinblossom,andamean,dirtylittleshed,constitutedthepremisesattachedtoanantiquated-lookingvilla.HeretherelivedarelativeoftheChichikovs,awizenedoldladywhowenttomarketinpersonanddriedherstockingsatthesamovar.Onseeingtheboy,shepattedhischeekandexpressedsatisfactionathisphysique;whereuponthefactbecamedisclosedthatherehewastoabideforawhile,forthepurposeofattendingalocalschool.Afteranight’sresthisfatherpreparedtobetakehimselfhomewardagain;butnotearsmarkedthepartingbetweenhimandhisson,hemerelygavetheladacopperortwoand(afarmoreimportantthing)thefollowinginjunctions.“Seehere,myboy.Doyourlessonswell,donotidleorplaythefool,andaboveallthings,seethatyoupleaseyourteachers.Solongasyouobservetheserulesyouwillmakeprogress,andsurpassyourfellows,evenifGodshallhavedeniedyoubrains,andyoushouldfailinyourstudies.