Мертві душі
Chapter 3
Tomeethimthereissuedafemaleyoungerthanthefirst,butverycloselyresemblingher;andonhisbeingconductedtotheparlour,acoupleofglancesshowedhimthattheroomwashungwitholdstripedcurtains,andornamentedwithpicturesofbirdsandsmall,antiquemirrors—thelattersetindarkframeswhichwerecarvedtoresemblescrollsoffoliage.Behindeachmirrorwasstuckeitheraletteroranoldpackofcardsorastocking,whileonthewallhungaclockwithaflowereddial.More,however,Chichikovcouldnotdiscern,forhiseyelidswereasheavyasthoughsmearedwithtreacle.Presentlytheladyofthehouseherselfentered—anelderlywomaninasortofnightcap(hastilyputon)andaflannelneckwrap.Shebelongedtothatclassofladylandownerswhoareforeverlamentingfailuresoftheharvestandtheirlossesthereby;totheclasswho,droopingtheirheadsdespondently,areallthewhilestuffingmoneyintostripedpurses,whichtheykeephoardedinthedrawersofcupboards.Intoonepursetheywillstuffroublepieces,intoanotherhalfroubles,andintoathirdtchetvertachki13,althoughfromtheirmienyouwouldsupposethatthecupboardcontainedonlylinenandnightshirtsandskeinsofwoolandthepieceofshabbymaterialwhichisdestined—shouldtheoldgownbecomescorchedduringthebakingofholidaycakesandotherdainties,orshoulditfallintopiecesofitself—tobecomeconvertedintoanewdress.
