Мертві душі
Chapter 4
Thepartyturnedtotheright,andenteredthegatesofanancientcourtyardattachedtoanold-fashionedhouseofatypenolongerbuilt—thetypewhichhashugegablessupportingahigh-pitchedroof.Inthecentreofthecourtyardtwogreatlimetreescoveredhalfthesurroundingspacewithshade,whilebeneaththemwererangedanumberofwoodenbenches,andthewholewasencircledwitharingofblossominglilacsandcherrytreeswhich,likeabeadednecklace,reinforcedthewoodenfence,andalmostburieditbeneaththeirclustersofleavesandflowers.Thehouse,too,stoodalmostconcealedbythisgreenery,exceptthatthefrontdoorandthewindowspeeredpleasantlythroughthefoliage,andthathereandtherebetweenthestemsofthetreestherecouldbecaughtglimpsesofthekitchenregions,thestorehouses,andthecellar.Lastly,aroundthewholestoodagrove,fromtherecessesofwhichcametheechoingsongsofnightingales.
Involuntarilytheplacecommunicatedtothesoulasortofquiet,restfulfeeling,soeloquentlydiditspeakofthatcare-freeperiodwheneveryonelivedongoodtermswithhisneighbour,andallwassimpleandunsophisticated.VassiliinvitedChichikovtoseathimself,andthepartyapproached,forthatpurpose,thebenchesunderthelimetrees;afterwhichayouthofaboutseventeen,andcladinaredshirt,broughtdecanterscontainingvariouskindsofkvass(someofthemasthickassyrup,andothershissinglikeaeratedlemonade),depositedthesameuponthetable,and,takingupaspadewhichhehadleftleaningagainstatree,movedawaytowardsthegarden.
