Мертвые души

           “Ishoutedtoyouloudenough!Drawout,youoldraven,andkeeptotheright!Areyoudrunk?”Selifanhimselffeltconsciousthathehadbeencareless,butsinceaRussiandoesnotcaretoadmitafaultinthepresenceofstrangers,heretortedwithdignity:“WhyhaveyourunintoUS?Didyouleaveyoureyesbehindyouatthelasttavernthatyoustoppedat?”Withthathestartedtobackthebritchka,inthehopethatitmightgetclearoftheother’sharness;butthiswouldnotdo,forthepairweretoohopelesslyintertwined.Meanwhiletheskewbaldsnuffedcuriouslyathisnewacquaintancesastheystoodplantedoneithersideofhim;whiletheladiesinthevehicleregardedthescenewithanexpressionofterror.Oneofthemwasanoldwoman,andtheotheradamselofaboutsixteen.Amassofgoldenhairfelldaintilyfromasmallhead,andtheovalofhercomelyfacewasasshapelyasanegg,andwhitewiththetransparentwhitenessseenwhenthehandsofahousewifeholdanew-laideggtothelighttoletthesun’sraysfilterthroughitsshell.Thesametintmarkedthemaiden’searswheretheyglowedinthesunshine,and,inshort,whatwiththetearsinherwide-open,arrestingeyes,shepresentedsoattractiveapicturethatourherobestoweduponitmorethanapassingglancebeforeheturnedhisattentiontothehubbubwhichwasbeingraisedamongthehorsesandthecoachmen.

           “Backout,yourookofNizhniNovgorod!”thestrangers’coachmanshouted.Selifantightenedhisreins,andtheotherdriverdidthesame.