Мертві душі

           Again,wheneverapeasantapproachedhimand,rubbingthebackofhisneck,said“Barin,mayIhaveleavetogoandworkformyself,inorderthatImayearnmyobrok9?”hewouldsnapout,withpipeinmouthasusual,“Yes,go!”andnevertroublehisheadastowhetherthepeasant’srealobjectmightnotbetogoandgetdrunk.True,atintervalshewouldsay,whilegazingfromtheverandahtothecourtyard,andfromthecourtyardtothepond,thatitwouldbeindeedsplendidifacarriagedrivecouldsuddenlymaterialise,andthepondassuddenlybecomespannedwithastonebridge,andlittleshopsassuddenlyarisewhencepedlarscoulddispensethepettymerchandiseofthekindwhichpeasantrymostneed.Andatsuchmomentshiseyeswouldgrowwinning,andhisfeaturesassumeanexpressionofintensesatisfaction.Yetneverdidtheseprojectspassbeyondthestageofdebate.Likewisetherelayinhisstudyabookwiththefourteenthpagepermanentlyturneddown.Itwasabookwhichhehadbeenreadingforthepasttwoyears!Ingeneral,somethingseemedtobewantingintheestablishment.Forinstance,althoughthedrawing-roomwasfilledwithbeautifulfurniture,andupholsteredinsomefinesilkenmaterialwhichclearlyhadcostnoinconsiderablesum,twoofthechairslackedanycoveringbutbast,andforsomeyearspastthemasterhadbeenaccustomedtowarnhisguestswiththewords,“Donotsituponthesechairs;theyarenotyetreadyforuse.