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 needed but to shuffle in his place； or unintentionally to twitch an eyebrow； for the said master at once to burst into a rage； to turn the supposed offender out of the room； and to visit him with unmerciful punishment。 〃Ah； my fine fellow；〃 he would say； 〃I'LL cure you of your impudence and want of respect！ I know you through and through far better than you know yourself； and will take good care that you have to go down upon your knees and curb your appetite。〃 Whereupon the wretched lad would； for no cause of which he was aware； be forced to wear out his breeches on the floor and go hungry for days。 〃Talents and gifts；〃 the schoolmaster would declare； 〃are so much rubbish。 I respect only good behaviour； and shall award full marks to those who conduct themselves properly； even if they fail to learn a single letter of their alphabet： whereas to those in whom I may perceive a tendency to jocularity I shall award nothing； even though they should outdo Solon himself。〃 For the same reason he had no great love of the author Krylov； in that the latter says in one of his Fables： 〃In my opinion； the more one sings； the better one works；〃 and often the pedagogue would relate how； in a former school of his； the silence had been such that a fly could be heard buzzing on the wing； and for the space of a whole year not a single pupil sneezed or coughed in class； and so complete was the absence of all sound that no one could have told that there was a soul in the place。 Of this mentor young Chichikov speedily appraised the mentality； wherefore he fashioned his behaviour to correspond with it。 Not an eyelid； not an eyebrow； would he stir during school hours； howsoever many pinches he might receive from behind； and only when the bell rang would he run to anticipate his fellows in handing the master the three…cornered cap which that dignitary customarily sported； and then to be the first to leave the class…room； and contrive to meet the master not less than two or three times as the latter walked homeward； in order that； on each occas