Мертві душі
Chapter 3
”
Theweatherwasfine,butthegroundsoexcessivelysoddenthatthewheelsofthebritchkacollectedmireuntiltheyhadbecomecakedaswithalayeroffelt,acircumstancewhichgreatlyincreasedtheweightofthevehicle,andpreventeditfromclearingtheneighbouringparishesbeforetheafternoonwasarrived.Also,withoutthegirl’shelpthefindingofthewaywouldhavebeenimpossible,sinceroadswiggledawayineverydirection,likecrabsreleasedfromanet,and,butfortheassistancementioned,Selifanwouldhavefoundhimselflefttohisowndevices.Presentlyshepointedtoabuildingahead,withthewords,“THEREisthemainroad.”
“Andwhatisthebuilding?”askedSelifan.
“Atavern,”shesaid.
“Thenwecangetalongbyourselves,”heobserved.“Doyougetdown,andbeoffhome.”
Withthathestopped,andhelpedhertoalight—mutteringashedidso:“Ah,youblackfootedcreature!”
Chichikovaddedacoppergroat,andshedepartedwellpleasedwithherrideinthegentleman’scarriage.
