Мертві душі
Chapter 2
NorwerethePresidentoftheLocalCouncilandthePostmasteroverlooked;untilthecompanyhadrunthroughthewholelistofurbanofficials.Andineverycasethoseofficialsappearedtobepersonsofthehighestpossiblemerit.
“Doyoudevoteyourtimeentirelytoyourestate?”askedChichikov,inhisturn.
“Well,mostofit,”repliedManilov;“thoughalsowepayoccasionalvisitstothetown,inorderthatwemayminglewithalittlewell-bredsociety.Onegrowsatriflerustyifonelivesforeverinretirement.”
“Quiteso,”agreedChichikov.
“Yes,quiteso,”cappedManilov.“Atthesametime,itwouldbeadifferentmatteriftheneighbourhoodwereaGOODone—if,forexample,onehadafriendwithwhomonecoulddiscussmannersandpolitedeportment,orengageinsomebranchofscience,andsostimulateone’swits.Forthatsortofthinggivesone’sintellectanairing.It,it—”Atalossforfurtherwords,heendedbyremarkingthathisfeelingswereapttocarryhimaway;afterwhichhecontinuedwithagesture:“WhatImeanisthat,werethatsortofthingpossible,I,forone,couldfindthecountryandanisolatedlifepossessedofgreatattractions.But,asmattersstand,suchathingisNOTpossible.AllthatIcanmanagetodois,occasionally,toreadalittleofASonoftheFatherland.”
WiththesesentimentsChichikovexpressedentireagreement:addingthatnothingcouldbemoredelightfulthantoleadasolitarylifeinwhichthereshouldbecomprisedonlythesweetcontemplationofnatureandtheintermittentperusalofabook.
