1 "Now your bed is ready for you," said the hostess to Chichikov.
2 But the guest declined the proffered heel-tickling, and, on his hostess taking her departure, hastened to divest himself of his clothing, both upper and under, and to hand the garments to Fetinia.
3 At length he recollected that it was the face of his hostess.
4 For the same reason a number of scarecrows with outstretched arms stood reared on long poles, with, surmounting one of the figures, a cast-off cap of the hostess's.
5 "This lady owns by no means a poor village," said Chichikov to himself; wherefore he decided then and there to have a talk with his hostess, and to cultivate her closer acquaintance.
6 Probably the reader will have noticed that, for all his expressions of solicitude, Chichikov's tone towards his hostess partook of a freer, a more unceremonious, nature than that which he had adopted towards Madam Manilov.
7 Presently his hostess entered the room.
8 "I beseech you to have a morsel," murmured his hostess.
9 Indeed, it was a toothsome dish, and, after his difficulties and exertions with his hostess, it tasted even better than it might otherwise have done.
10 Twice more was the process repeated, and then he requested his hostess to order the britchka to be got ready.
11 Then they filed into the dining-room in the wake of the hostess, who sailed on ahead like a goose swimming across a pond.
12 In the drawing-room the company found dessert awaiting them in the shape of pears, plums, and apples; but since neither host nor guest could tackle these particular dainties the hostess removed them to another room.
13 At this moment the hostess returned.
14 "Then THIS is what I think about the dead souls," said the hostess.
15 The hostess, too, was elegantly and fashionably attired, and devoted her whole conversation to the town and the local theatre.