With a man of that kind I am always hail-fellow-well-met, and glad to drink a glass of tea with him, or to eat a biscuit.

One CAN'T help respecting a decent fellow.

For instance, this gentleman of mine--why, every one looks up to him, for he has been in the Government's service, and is a Collegiate Councillor." Thus soliloquising, he passed to more remote abstractions; until, had Chichikov been listening, he would have learnt a number of interesting details concerning himself.

However, his thoughts were wholly occupied with his own subject, so much so that not until a loud clap of thunder awoke him from his reverie did he glance around him.

The sky was completely covered with clouds, and the dusty turnpike beginning to be sprinkled with drops of rain.