Мертві душі
Chapter 3
Merelybesogoodastotellyourmaidtodrymyclothes.”
“Doyouhearthat,Fetinia?”saidthehostess,turningtoawomanwhowasengagedindragginginafeatherbedanddelugingtheroomwithfeathers.“Takethiscoatandthisvest,and,afterdryingthembeforethefire—justasweusedtodoforyourlatemaster—givethemagoodrub,andfoldthemupneatly.”
“Verywell,mistress,”saidFetinia,spreadingsomesheetsoverthebed,andarrangingthepillows.
“Nowyourbedisreadyforyou,”saidthehostesstoChichikov.“Good-night,dearsir.Iwishyougood-night.Isthereanythingelsethatyourequire?Perhapsyouwouldliketohaveyourheelstickledbeforeretiringtorest?Nevercouldmylatehusbandgettosleepwithoutthathavingbeendone.”
Buttheguestdeclinedtheprofferedheel-tickling,and,onhishostesstakingherdeparture,hastenedtodivesthimselfofhisclothing,bothupperandunder,andtohandthegarmentstoFetinia.Shewishedhimgood-night,andremovedthewettrappings;afterwhichhefoundhimselfalone.Notwithoutsatisfactiondidheeyehisbed,whichreachedalmosttotheceiling.ClearlyFetiniawasapastmistressintheartofbeatingupsuchacouch,and,astheresult,hehadnosoonermounteditwiththeaidofachairthanitsankwell-nightothefloor,andthefeathers,squeezedoutoftheirproperconfines,flewhitherandthitherintoeverycorneroftheapartment.Neverthelessheextinguishedthecandle,coveredhimselfoverwiththechintzquilt,snuggleddownbeneathit,andinstantlyfellasleep.
