Oblomov / Обломов. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Oblomov would have liked to have his rooms clean, but he could not help wishing that it would all happen somehow of itself, without any fuss; but the moment Zakhar was asked to dust, scrub, and so on, he always made a fuss. Every time it was mentioned he began proving that it would mean a tremendous lot of trouble, knowing very well that the very thought of it terrified his master.

Zakhar left the room and Oblomov sank into thought. A few minutes later it again struck the half-hour.

«Good heavens», Oblomov said almost in dismay, «it’ll soon be eleven o’clock, and I haven’t got up and washed! Zakhar! Zakhar!»

«Dear, oh dear! What now?» Zakhar’s voice came from the passage followed by the familiar sound of a jump.

В«Is my water ready?В» Oblomov asked.

«Been ready for hours», Zakhar replied. «Why don’t you get up, sir?»

«Why didn’t you tell me it was ready? I’d have got up long ago. Go now, I’ll follow you presently. I have some work to do.

Zakhar went out, but a minute later returned with a greasy notebook covered with writing and scraps of paper.

«If you’re going to write, sir, you might as well check these accounts – they have to be paid».

В«What accounts? What has to be paid?В» Oblomov asked, looking displeased.

В«The butcher, the greengrocer, the laundress, and the baker, sir. They are all asking for moneyВ».

«All they think of is money!» Oblomov grumbled. «And why don’t you give me a few bills at a time? Why do you produce them all at once?»

«But every time I do, sir, you tell me to go – it’s always tomorrow, to-morrow».

«Well, can’t we put it off till to-morrow now?»

«No, sir. They keep on pestering me, sir. They won’t give us any credit. To-day’s the first of the month».

«Oh dear!» said Oblomov dejectedly. «A fresh worry! Well, what are you standing there for? Put them on the table. I’ll get up presently, wash, and have a look at them.

«It’s ready, sir», said Zakhar.

«All right, now», – he groaned and was about to raise himself in his bed in order to get up.

«I forgot to tell you, sir», Zakhar began. «Just a few hours ago, while you were still asleep, the house agent sent the porter to say that we must move – they want the flat».

В«Well, what about it? If they want it, we shall of course move.