Мертві душі

           Probablyitmeant,inthebird’salientongue,“Goodmorningtoyou!”Chichikovretortedbycallingthebirdafool,andthenhimselfapproachedthewindowtolookattheview.Itappearedtocompriseapoulterer’spremises.Atallevents,thenarrowyardinfrontofthewindowwasfullofpoultryandotherdomesticcreatures—ofgamefowlsandbarndoorfowls,with,amongthem,acockwhichstruttedwithmeasuredgait,andkeptshakingitscomb,andtiltingitsheadasthoughitweretryingtolistentosomething.Also,asowandherfamilywerehelpingtogracethescene.First,sherootedamongaheapoflitter;then,inpassing,sheateupayoungpullet;lastly,sheproceededcarelesslytomunchsomepiecesofmelonrind.Tothissmallyardorpoultry-runalengthofplankingservedasafence,whilebeyonditlayakitchengardencontainingcabbages,onions,potatoes,beetroots,andotherhouseholdvegetables.Also,thegardencontainedafewstrayfruittreesthatwerecoveredwithnettingtoprotectthemfromthemagpiesandsparrows;flocksofwhichwereeventhenwheelinganddartingfromonespottoanother.Forthesamereasonanumberofscarecrowswithoutstretchedarmsstoodrearedonlongpoles,with,surmountingoneofthefigures,acast-offcapofthehostess’s.Beyondthegardenagaintherestoodanumberofpeasants’huts.