Мертві душі
Chapter 11
Yet,beingamanoftheutmostnicetyoffeeling,thefactthathefoundhimselfrubbingshoulderswithanythingbutnicecompanionsdidnotpreventhimfrompreservingintacthisinnateloveofwhatwasdecentandseemly,orfromcherishingtheinstinctwhichledhimtohankerafterofficefittingsoflacqueredwood,withneatnessandorderlinesseverywhere.Nordidheatanytimepermitafoulwordtocreepintohisspeech,andwouldfeelhurtevenifinthespeechofothersthereoccurredascornfulreferencetoanythingwhichpertainedtorankanddignity.Also,thereaderwillbepleasedtoknowthatourherochangedhislineneveryotherday,andinsummer,whentheweatherwasveryhot,EVERYday,seeingthattheveryfaintestsuspicionofanunpleasantodouroffendedhisfastidiousness.Forthesamereasonitwashiscustom,beforebeingvaletedbyPetrushka,alwaystoplughisnostrilswithacoupleofcloves.Inshort,thereweremanyoccasionswhenhisnervessufferedrackingsascruelasayounggirl’s,andsohelpedtoincreasehisdisgustathavingoncemoretoassociatewithmenwhosetnostorebythedecenciesoflife.Yet,thoughhebracedhimselftothetask,thisperiodofadversitytolduponhishealth,andheevengrewatrifleshabby.Morethanonce,onhappeningtocatchsightofhimselfinthemirror,hecouldnotforbearexclaiming:“HolyMotherofGod,butwhatanasty-lookingbruteIhavebecome!”andforalongwhileafterwardscouldnotwithanythinglikesang-froidcontemplatehisreflection.
