Мертві душі

           Butyouthisfortunateinthefactthatalwaysbeforeitthereliesafuture;andinproportionasthetimeforhisleavingschooldrewnigh,Tientietnikov’sheartbegantobeathigherandhigher,andhesaidtohimself:“Thisisnotlife,butonlyapreparationforlife.TruelifeistobefoundinthePublicService.Thereatleastwilltherebescopeforactivity.”So,bestowingnotaglanceuponthatbeautifulcorneroftheworldwhichneverfailedtostriketheguestorchancevisitorwithamazement,andreverencingnotawhitthedustofhisancestors,hefollowedtheexampleofmostambitiousmenofhisclassbyrepairingtoSt.Petersburg(whither,asweknow,themorespiritedyouthofRussiafromeveryquartergravitates—theretoenterthePublicService,toshine,toobtainpromotion,and,inaword,toscalethetopmostpeaksofthatpale,cold,deceptiveelevationwhichisknownassociety).Buttherealstarting-pointofTientietnikov’sambitionwasthemomentwhenhisuncle(oneStateCouncillorOnifriIvanovitch)instilledintohimthemaximthattheonlymeanstosuccessintheServicelayingoodhandwriting,andthat,withoutthataccomplishment,noonecouldeverhopetobecomeaMinisterorStatesman.Thus,withgreatdifficulty,andalsowiththehelpofhisuncle’sinfluence,youngTientietnikovatlengthsucceededinbeingpostedtoaDepartment.