dead souls(死魂灵)-第6部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


oment　she　happened　to　be　holding　it　in　her　hands）　and　husband　and　wife　would　imprint　upon　one　another's　cheeks　such　a　prolonged　and　languishing　kiss　that　during　its　continuance　you　could　have　smoked　a　small　cigar。　In　short；　they　were　what　is　known　as　〃a　very　happy　couple。〃　Yet　it　may　be　remarked　that　a　household　requires　other　pursuits　to　be　engaged　in　than　lengthy　embracings　and　the　preparing　of　cunning　〃surprises。〃　Yes；　many　a　function　calls　for　fulfilment。　For　instance；　why　should　it　be　thought　foolish　or　low　to　superintend　the　kitchen？　Why　should　care　not　be　taken　that　the　storeroom　never　lacks　supplies？　Why　should　a　housekeeper　be　allowed　to　thieve？　Why　should　slovenly　and　drunken　servants　exist？　Why　should　a　domestic　staff　be　suffered　in　indulge　in　bouts　of　unconscionable　debauchery　during　its　leisure　time？　Yet　none　of　these　things　were　thought　worthy　of　consideration　by　Manilov's　wife；　for　she　had　been　gently　brought　up；　and　gentle　nurture；　as　we　all　know；　is　to　be　acquired　only　in　boarding　schools；　and　boarding　schools；　as　we　know；　hold　the　three　principal　subjects　which　constitute　the　basis　of　human　virtue　to　be　the　French　language　（a　thing　indispensable　to　the　happiness　of　married　life）；　piano…playing　（a　thing　wherewith　to　beguile　a　husband's　leisure　moments）；　and　that　particular　department　of　housewifery　which　is　comprised　in　the　knitting　of　purses　and　other　〃surprises。〃　Nevertheless　changes　and　improvements　have　begun　to　take　place；　since　things　now　are　governed　more　by　the　personal　inclinations　and　idiosyncracies　of　the　keepers　of　such　establishments。　For　instance；　in　some　seminaries　the　regimen　places　piano…playing　first；　and　the　French　language　second；　and　then　the　above　department　of　housewifery；　while　in　other　seminaries　the　knitting　of　〃surprises〃　heads　the　list；　and　then　the　French　language；　and　then　the　playing　of　pianosso　diverse　are　the　systems　in　force！　None　the　less；　I　may　remark　that　Madame　Manilov

＇2＇　An　annual　tax　upon　peasants；　payment　of　which　secured　to　the　payer　　　　　the　right　of　removal。

But　let　me　confess　that　I　always　shrink　from　saying　too　much　about　ladies。　Moreover；　it　is　time　that　we　returned　to　our　heroes；　who；　during　the　past　few　minutes；　have　been　standing　in　front　of　the　drawing…room　door；　and　engaged　in　urging　one　another　to　enter　first。

〃Pray　be　so　good　as　not　to　inconvenience　yourself　on　my　account；〃　said　Chichikov。　〃_I_　will　follow　YOU。〃

〃No；　Paul　Ivanovitchno！　You　are　my　guest。〃　And　Manilov　pointed　towards　the　doorway。

〃Make　no　difficulty　about　it；　I　pray；〃　urged　Chichikov。　〃I　beg　of　you　to　make　no　difficulty　about　it；　but　to　pass　into　the　room。〃

〃Pardon　me；　I　will　not。　Never　could　I　allow　so　distinguished　and　so　welcome　a　guest　as　yourself　to　take　second　place。〃

〃Why　call　me　'distinguished；'　my　dear　sir？　I　beg　of　you　to　proceed。〃

〃Nay；　be　YOU　pleased　to　do　so。〃

〃And　why？〃

〃For　the　reason　which　I　have　stated。〃　And　Manilov　smiled　his　very　pleasantest　smile。

Finally　the　pair　entered　simultaneously　and　sideways；　with　the　result　that　they　jostled　one　another　not　a　little　in　the　process。

〃Allow　me　to　present　to　you　my　wife；〃　continued　Manilov。　〃My　dearPaul　Ivanovitch。〃

Upon　that　Chichikov　caught　sight　of　a　lady　whom　hitherto　he　had　overlooked；　but　who；　with　Manilov；　was　now　bowing　to　him　in　the　doorway。　Not　wholly　of　unpleasing　exterior；　she　was　dressed　in　a　well…fitting；　high…necked　morning　dress　of　pale…coloured　silk；　and　as　the　visitor　entered　the　room　her　small　white　hands　threw　something　upon　the　table　and　clutched　her　embroidered　skirt　before　rising　from　the　sofa　where　she　had　been　seated。　Not　without　a　sense　of　pleasure　did　Chichikov　take　her　hand　as；　lisping　a　little；　she　declared　that　she　and　her　husband　were　equally　gratified　by　his　coming；　and　that；　of　late；　not　a　day　had　passed　without　her　husband　recalling　him　to　mind。

〃Yes；〃　affirmed　Manilov；　〃and　every　day　SHE　has　said　to　ME：　'Why　does　not　your　friend　put　in　an　appearance？'　'Wait　a　little　dearest；'　I　have　always　replied。　''Twill　not　be　long　now　before　he　comes。'　And　you　HAVE　come；　you　HAVE　honoured　us　with　a　visit；　you　HAVE　bestowed　upon　us　a　treata　treat　destined　to　convert　this　day　into　a　gala　day；　a　true　birthday　of　the　heart。〃

The　intimation　that　matters　had　reached　the　point　of　the　occasion　being　destined　to　constitute　a　〃true　birthday　of　the　heart〃　caused　Chichikov　to　become　a　little　confused；　wherefore　he　made　modest　reply　that；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　he　was　neither　of　distinguished　origin　nor　distinguished　rank。

〃Ah；　you　ARE　so；〃　interrupted　Manilov　with　his　fixed　and　engaging　smile。　〃You　are　all　that；　and　more。〃

〃How　like　you　our　town？〃　queried　Madame。　〃Have　you　spent　an　agreeable　time　in　it？〃

〃Very；〃　replied　Chichikov。　〃The　town　is　an　exceedingly　nice　one；　and　I　have　greatly　enjoyed　its　hospitable　society。〃

〃And　what　do　you　think　of　our　Governor？〃

〃Yes；　IS　he　not　a　most　engaging　and　dignified　personage？〃　added　Manilov。

〃He　is　all　that；〃　assented　Chichikov。　〃Indeed；　he　is　a　man　worthy　of　the　greatest　respect。　And　how　thoroughly　he　performs　his　duty　according　to　his　lights！　Would　that　we　had　more　like　him！〃

〃And　the　tactfulness　with　which　he　greets　every　one！〃　added　Manilov；　smiling；　and　half…closing　his　eyes；　like　a　cat　which　is　being　tickled　behind　the　ears。

〃Quite　so；〃　assented　Chichikov。　〃He　is　a　man　of　the　most　eminent　civility　and　approachableness。　And　what　an　artist！　Never　should　I　have　thought　he　could　have　worked　the　marvellous　household　samplers　which　he　has　done！　Some　specimens　of　his　needlework　which　he　showed　me　could　not　well　have　been　surpassed　by　any　lady　in　the　land！〃

〃And　the　Vice…Governor；　toohe　is　a　nice　man；　is　he　not？〃　inquired　Manilov　with　renewed　blinkings　of　the　eyes。

〃Who？　The　Vice…Governor？　Yes；　a　most　worthy　fellow！〃　replied　Chichikov。

〃And　what　of　the　Chief　of　Police？　Is　it　not　a　fact　that　he　too　is　in　the　highest　degree　agreeable？〃

〃Very　agreeable　indeed。　And　what　a　clever；　well…read　individual！　With　him　and　the　Public　Prosecutor　and　the　President　of　the　Local　Council　I　played　whist　until　the　cocks　uttered　their　last　morning　crow。　He　is　a　most　excellent　fellow。〃

〃And　what　of　his　wife？〃　queried　Madame　Manilov。　〃Is　she　not　a　most　gracious　personality？〃

〃One　of　the　best　among　my　limited　acquaintance；〃　agreed　Chichikov。

Nor　were　the　President　of　the　Local　Council　and　the　Postmaster　overlooked；　until　the　company　had　run　through　the　whole　list　of　urban　officials。　And　in　every　case　those　officials　appeared　to　be　persons　of　the　highest　possible　merit。

〃Do　you　devote　your　time　entirely　to　your　estate？〃　asked　Chichikov；　in　his　turn。

〃Well；　most　of　it；〃　replied　Manilov；　〃though　also　we　pay　occasional　visits　to　the　town；　in　order　that　we　may　mingle　with　a　little　well…bred　society。　One　grows　a　trifle　rusty　if　one　lives　for　ever　in　retirement。〃

〃Quite　so；〃　agreed　Chichikov。

〃Yes；　quite　so；〃　capped　Manilov。　〃At　the　same　time；　it　would　be　a　different　matter　if　the　neighbourhood　were　a　GOOD　oneif；　for　example；　one　had　a　friend　with　whom　one　could　discuss　manners　and　polite　deportment；　or　engage　in　some　branch　of　science；　and　so　stimulate　one's　wits。　For　that　sort　of　thing　gives　one's　intellect　an　airing。　It；　it〃　At　a　loss　for　further　words；　he　ended　by　remarking　that　his　feelings　were　apt　to　carry　him　away；　after　which　he　continued　with　a　gesture：　〃What　I　mean　is　that；　were　that　sort　of　thing　possible；　I；　for　one；　could　find　the　country　and　an　isolated　life　possessed　of　great　attractions。　But；　as　matters　stand；　such　a　thing　is　NOT　possible。　All　that　I　can　manage　to　do　is；　occasionally；　to　read　a　little　of　A　Son　of　the　Fatherland。〃

With　these　sentiments　Chichikov　expressed　entire　agreement：　adding　that　nothing　could　be　more　delightful　than　to　lead　a　solitary　life　in　which　there　should　be　comprised　only　the　sweet　contemplation　of　nature　and　the　intermittent　perusal　of　a　book。

〃Nay；　but　even　THAT　were　worth　nothing　had　not　one　a　friend　with　whom　to　share　one's　life；〃　remarked　Manilov。

〃True；　true；〃　agreed　Chichikov。　〃Without　a　friend；　what　are　all　the　treasures　in　the　world？　'Possess　not　money；'　a　wise　man　has　said；　'but　rather　good　friends　to　whom　to　turn　in　case　of　need。'〃

〃Yes；　Paul　Ivanovitch；〃　said　Manilov　with　a　glance　not　merely　sweet；　but　positively　lusciousa　glance　akin　to　the　mixture　which　even　clever　physicians　have　to　render　palatable　before　they　can　induce　a　hesitant　patient　to　take　it。　〃Consequently　you　may　imagine　what　happinesswhat　PERFECT　happiness；　so　to　speakthe　present　occasion　has　brought　me；　seeing　that　I　am　permitted　to　converse　with　you　and　to　enjoy　your　conversation。〃

〃But　WHAT　of　my　conversation？〃　replied　Chichikov。　〃I　am　an　insignificant　individual；　and；　beyond　that；　nothing。〃

〃Oh；　Paul　Ivanovitch！〃　cried　the　other。　〃Permit　me　to　be　frank；　and　to　say　that　I　would　give　half　my　property　to　possess　even　a　PORTION　of　the　talents　which　you　possess。〃

〃On　the　contrary；　I　should　consider　it　the　highest　honour　in　the　world　if〃

The　lengths　to　which　this　mutual　outpouring　of　soul　would　have　proceeded　had　not　a　servant　entered　to　announce　luncheon　must　remain　a　mystery。

〃I　humbly　invite　you　to　join　us　at　table；〃　said　Manilov。　〃Also；　you　will　pardon　us　for　the　fact　that　we　cannot　provide　a　banquet　such　as　is　to　be　obtained　in　our　metropolitan　cities？　We　partake　of　simple　fare；　according　to　Russian　customwe　confine　ourselves　to　shtchi＇3＇；　but　we　do　so　with　a　single　heart。　Come；　I　humbly　beg　of　you。〃

＇3＇　Cabbage　soup。

After　another　contest　for　the　honour　of　yielding　precedence；　Chichikov　succeeded　in　making　his　way　（in　zigzag　fashion）　to　the　dining…room；　where　they　found　awaiting　them　a　couple　of　youngsters。　These　were　Manilov's　sons；　and　boys　of　the　age　which　admits　of　their　presence　at　table；　but　necessitates　the　continued　use　of　high　chairs。　Beside　them　was　their　tutor；　who　bowed　politely　and　smiled；　after　which　the　hostess　took　her　seat　before　her　soup　plate；　and　the　guest　of　honour　found　himself　esconsed　between　her　and　the　master　of　the　house；　while　the　servant　tied　up　the　boys'　necks　in　bibs。

〃What　charming　children！〃　said　Chichikov　as　he　gazed　at　the　pair。　〃And　how　old　are　they？〃

〃The　eldest　is　eight；〃　replied　Manilov；　〃and　the　younger　one　attained　the　age　of　six