Dead Souls - Gogol Nikolai Vasilievich.pdf - Cove Systems

Manilovka, and, after driving an additional two
versts, arrived at a spot whence there
branched off a by-road. Yet two, three, or four
versts of the by-road had been covered before
they saw the least sign of a two-storied stone
mansion. Then it was that Chichikov suddenly
recollected that, when a friend has invited one
to visit his country house, and has said that the
distance thereto is fifteen versts, the distance
is sure to turn out to be at least thirty.
Not many people would have admired the
situation of Manilov's abode, for it stood on an
isolated rise and was open to every wind that
blew. On the slope of the rise lay
closely-mown turf, while, disposed here and
there, after the English fashion, were
flower-beds containing clumps of lilac and
yellow acacia. Also, there were a few
insignificant groups of slender-leaved,
pointed-tipped birch trees, with, under two of
the latter, an arbour having a shabby green
cupola, some blue-painted wooden supports,
and the inscription "This is the Temple of