Page:Dead Souls - A Poem by Nikolay Gogol - vol2.djvu/147

Rh that their master had been 'taken' with the young lady and the young lady had been 'taken' with their master … but that afterwards they had fallen out about something and parted. He noticed himself that Andrey Ivanovitch was always with pen or pencil drawing little heads, one like the other. One day soon after dinner, as he sat making his silver snuff-box rotate on its axis as usual, he spoke as follows: 'You have got everything, Andrey Ivanovitch, there is only one thing wanting.' 'What's that?' asked the other, letting off coils of smoke. 'A partner to share your life,' said Tchitchikov. Andrey Ivanovitch said nothing; and with that the conversation ended. Tchitchikov was not disconcerted. He chose another moment, this time just before supper, and after talking of one thing and another, said suddenly: 'You know really, Andrey Ivanovitch, it wouldn't be at all amiss for you to get married.' Tyentyetnikov said not a word in reply, as though he disliked any talk on the subject. Tchitchikov was not disconcerted. For the third time he chose a moment, this time after supper, and spoke thus: 'It's all very well but the more I turn over your circumstances in my mind, the more clearly I see that you must get married: you will fall into hypochondria.' Either Tchitchikov's words were so convincing, or Andrey Ivanovitch's mood was particularly favourable for openness—he heaved a sigh and said, blowing tobacco smoke into