Мертві душі

           True,thepreceptorwouldputasternfaceuponthematter,yettheculpritwoulddepartwithheadheldhigher,notlower,thanbefore,sinceinAlexanderPetrovitchtherewassomethingwhichheartened—somethingwhichseemedtosaytoadelinquent:“Forwardyou!Risetoyourfeetagain,eventhoughyouhavefallen!”Notlecturesongoodbehaviourwasit,therefore,thatfellfromhislips,butrathertheinjunction,“Iwanttoseeintelligence,andnothingelse.Theboywhodevoteshisattentiontobecomingcleverwillneverplaythefool,forundersuchcircumstances,follydisappearsofitself.”Andsofollydid,fortheboywhofailedtostriveinthedesireddirectionincurredthecontemptofallhiscomrades,andevenduncesandfoolsofseniorstandingdidnotdaretoraiseafingerwhensalutedbytheirjuniorswithopprobriousepithets.Yet“Thisistoomuch,”certainfolkwouldsaytoAlexander.“Theresultwillbethatyourstudentswillturnoutprigs.”“Butno,”hewouldreply.“Notatall.Yousee,Imakeitmyprincipletokeeptheincapablesforasingletermonly,sincethatisenoughforthem;buttothecleveronesIallotadoublecourseofinstruction.”And,trueenough,anyladofbrainswasretainedforthisfinishingcourse.Yethedidnotrepressallboyishplayfulness,sincehedeclaredittobeasnecessaryasarashtoadoctor,inasmuchasitenabledhimtodiagnosewhatlayhiddenwithin.

           Consequently,howtheboyslovedhim!Neverwastheresuchanattachmentbetweenmasterandpupils.