rom his thoughts as completely as though he had not seen it since childhood。 Again； in its turn； the road ceased to interest him； and he began to close his eyes and to loll his head against the cushions。 Of this let the author take advantage； in order to speak at length concerning his hero； since hitherto he （the author） has been prevented from so doing by Nozdrev and balls and ladies and local intriguesby those thousand trifles which seem trifles only when they are introduced into a book； but which； in life； figure as affairs of importance。 Let us lay them aside； and betake ourselves to business。
Whether the character whom I have selected for my hero has pleased my readers is； of course； exceedingly doubtful。 At all events the ladies will have failed to approve him for the fair sex demands in a hero perfection； and； should there be the least mental or physical stain on himwell； woe betide！ Yes； no matter how profoundly the author may probe that hero's soul； no matter how clearly he may portray his figure as in a mirror； he will be given no credit for the achievement。 Indeed； Chichikov's very stoutness and plenitude of years may have militated against him； for never is a hero pardoned for the former； and the majority of ladies will； in such case； turn away； and mutter to themselves： 〃Phew！ What a beast！〃 Yes； the author is well aware of this。 Yet； though he could not； to save his life； take a person of virtue for his principal character； it may be that this story contains themes never before selected； and that in it there projects the whole boundless wealth of Russian psychology； that it portrays； as well as Chichikov； the peasant who is gifted with the virtues which God has sent him； and the marvellous maiden of Russia who has not her like in all the world for her beautiful feminine spirituality； the roots of which lie buried in noble aspirations and boundless self…denial。 In fact； compared with these types； the virtuous of other races seem lifeless； as does an inanimate volume when compared with the living word。 Yes； each time that there arises in Russia a movement of thought； it becomes clear that the movement sinks deep into the Slavonic nature where it would but have skimmed the surface of other nations。But why am I talking like this？ Whither am I tending？ It is indeed shameful that an author who long ago reached man's estate； and was brought up to a course of severe introspection and sober； solitary self…enlightenment； should give way to such jejune wandering from the point。 To everything its proper time and place and turn。 As I was saying； it does not lie in me to take a virtuous character for my hero： and I will tell you why。 It is because it is high time that a rest were given to the 〃poor； but virtuous〃 individual； it is because the phrase 〃a man of worth〃 has grown into a by…word； it is because the 〃man of worth〃 has become converted into a horse； and there is not a writer but rides him and flogs him； in and out of season； it is because the 〃man of worth〃 has been starved until he has not a shred of his virtue left； and all that remains of his body is but the ribs and the hide； it is because the 〃man of worth〃 is for ever being smuggled upon the scene； it is because the 〃man of worth〃 has at length forfeited every one's respect。 For these reasons do I reaffirm that it is high time to yoke a rascal to the shafts。 Let us yoke that rascal。
Our hero's beginnings were both modest and obscure。 True； his parents were dvoriane； but he in no way resembled them。 At all events； a short； squab female relative who was present at his birth exclaimed as she lifted up the baby： 〃He is altogether different from what I had expected him to be。 He ought to have taken after his maternal grandmother； whereas he has been born； as the proverb has it； 'like not father nor mother； but like a chance passer…by。'〃 Thus from the first life regarded the little Chichikov with sour distaste； and as through a dim； frost…encrusted window。 A tiny room with diminutive casements which were never opened； summer or winter； an invalid father in a dressing…gown lined with lambskin； and with an ailing foot swathed in bandagesa man who was continually drawing deep breaths； and walking up and down the room； and spitting into a sandbox； a period of perpetually sitting on a bench with pen in hand and ink on lips and fingers； a period of being eternally confronted with the copy…book maxim； 〃Never tell a lie； but obey your superiors； and cherish virtue in your heart；〃 an everlasting scraping and shuffling of slippers up and down the room； a period of continually hearing a well…known； strident voice exclaim： 〃So you have been playing the fool again！〃 at times when the child； weary of the mortal monotony of his task； had added a superfluous embellishment to his copy； a period of experiencing the ever…familiar； but ever…unpleasant； sensation which ensued upon those words as the boy's ear was painfully twisted between two long fingers bent backwards at the tipssuch is the miserable picture of that youth of which； in later life； Chichikov preserved but the faintest of memories！ But in this world everything is liable to swift and sudden change； and； one day in early spring； when the rivers had melted； the father set forth with his little son in a teliezshka＇1＇ drawn by a sorrel steed of the kind known to horsy folk as a soroka； and having as coachman the diminutive hunchback who； father of the only serf family belonging to the elder Chichikov； served as general factotum in the Chichikov establishment。 For a day and a half the soroka conveyed them on their way； during which time they spent the night at a roadside inn； crossed a river； dined off cold pie and roast mutton； and eventually arrived at the county town。 To the lad the streets presented a spectacle of unwonted brilliancy； and he gaped with amazement。 Turning into a side alley wherein the mire necessitated both the most strenuous exertions on the soroka's part and the most vigorous castigation on the part of the driver and the barin； the conveyance eventually reached the gates of a courtyard which； combined with a small fruit garden containing various bushes； a couple of apple…trees in blossom； and a mean； dirty little shed； constituted the premises attached to an antiquated…looking villa。 Here there lived a relative of the Chichikovs； a wizened old lady who went to market in person and dried her stockings at the samovar。 On seeing the boy； she patted his cheek and expressed satisfaction at his physique； whereupon the fact became disclosed that here he was to abide for a while； for the purpose of attending a local school。 After a night's rest his father prepared to betake himself homeward again； but no tears marked the parting between him and his son； he merely gave the lad a copper or two and （a far more important thing） the following injunctions。 〃See here； my boy。 Do your lessons well； do not idle or play the fool； and above all things； see that you please your teachers。 So long as you observe these rules you will make progress； and surpass your fellows； even if God shall have denied you brains； and you should fail in your studies。 Also； do not consort overmuch with your comrades； for they will do you no good； but； should you do so； then make friends with the richer of them； since one day they may be useful to you。 Also； never entertain or treat any one； but see that every one entertains and treats YOU。 Lastly； and above all else； keep and save your every kopeck。 To save money is the most important thing in life。 Always a friend or a comrade may fail you； and be the first to desert you in a time of adversity； but never will a KOPECK fail you； whatever may be your plight。 Nothing in the world cannot be done； cannot be attained； with the aid of money。〃 These injunctions given； the father embraced his son； and set forth on his return； and though the son never again beheld his parent； the latter's words and precepts sank deep into the little Chichikov's soul。
＇1＇ Four…wheeled open carriage。
The next day young Pavlushka made his first attendance at school。 But no special aptitude in any branch of learning did he display。 Rather； his distinguishing characteristics were diligence and neatness。 On the other hand； he developed great intelligence as regards the PRACTICAL aspect of life。 In a trice he divined and comprehended how things ought to be worked； and； from that time forth； bore himself towards his school…fellows in such a way that； though they frequently gave him presents； he not only never returned the compliment； but even on occasions pocketed the gifts for the mere purpose of selling them again。 Also； boy though he was； he acquired the art of self…denial。 Of the trifle which his father had given him on parting he spent not a kopeck； but； the same year； actually added to his little store by fashioning a bullfinch of wax； painting it； and selling the same at a handsome profit。 Next； as time went on； he engaged in other speculationsin particular； in the scheme of buying up eatables； taking his seat in class beside boys who had plenty of pocket…money； and； as soon as such opulent individuals showed signs of failing attention （and； therefore； of growing appetite）； tendering them； from beneath the desk； a roll of pudding or a piece of gingerbread； and charging according to degree of appetite and size of portion。 He also spent a couple of months in training a mouse； which he kept confined in a little wooden cage in his bedroom。 At length； when the training had reached the point that； at the several words of command； the mouse would stand upon its hind legs； lie down； and get up again； he sold the creature for a respectable sum。 Thus； in time； his gains attained the amount of five roubles； whereupon he made himself a purse and then started to fill a second receptacle of the kind。 Still more studied was his attitude towards the authorities。 No one could sit more quietly in his place on the bench than he。 In the same connection it may be remarked that his teacher was a man who； above all things； loved peace and good behaviour； and simply could not abide clever； witty boys； since he suspected them of laughing at him。 Consequently any lad who had once attracted the master's attention with a manifestation of intelligence nee