Мертві душі
Chapter 2
AsChichikovapproachedthecourtyardofthemansionhecaughtsightofhishost(cladinagreenfrockcoat)standingontheverandahandpressingonehandtohiseyestoshieldthemfromthesunandsogetabetterviewoftheapproachingcarriage.Inproportionasthebritchkadrewnearerandnearertotheverandah,thehost’seyesassumedamoreandmoredelightedexpression,andhissmileabroaderandbroadersweep.
“PaulIvanovitch!”heexclaimedwhenatlengthChichikovleaptfromthevehicle.“NevershouldIhavebelievedthatyouwouldhaverememberedus!”
Thetwofriendsexchangedheartyembraces,andManilovthenconductedhisguesttothedrawing-room.Duringthebrieftimethattheyaretraversingthehall,theanteroom,andthedining-room,letmetrytosaysomethingconcerningthemasterofthehouse.Butsuchanundertakingbristleswithdifficulties—itpromisestobeafarlesseasytaskthanthedepictingofsomeoutstandingpersonalitywhichcallsbutforawholesaledashingofcoloursuponthecanvas—thecoloursofapairofdark,burningeyes,apairofdark,beetlingbrows,aforeheadseamedwithwrinkles,ablack,orafiery-red,cloakthrownbackwardsovertheshoulder,andsoforth,andsoforth.Yet,sonumerousareRussianserfownersthat,thoughcarefulscrutinyrevealstoone’ssightaquantityofoutrepeculiarities,theyare,asaclass,exceedinglydifficulttoportray,andoneneedstostrainone’sfacultiestotheutmostbeforeitbecomespossibletopickouttheirvariouslysubtle,theiralmostinvisible,features.
