" How unlocked for ! " at length said the

mistress of the household as she recovered herself. " From whom can the letter have come?"

Old Oblomov took it, and turned it over in his hands, as though at a loss what to do with the epistle.

'-Where did you get it from?" he in- quired of the peasant. '-And who gave it you?"

' I got it at the inn where I put up," replied the man. "Twice did folk come from the post-office to inquire if any peasantry from Oblomovka were there, since a letter was awaiting the barin. The first time they came, I kept quiet, and the post- man took the letter away; but afterwards the deacon of Verklevo saw me, and they came and gave me the letter, and made me pay five kopecks for it. I asked them what I was to do with the letter, and they said that I was to hand it to your Honour."

"Then at first you refused it? " the mistress remarked sharply.

"Yes, I refused it. What should we want with letters? We have no need for them, nor had I any orders to take charge of such things. So I was afraid to touch it. 'Don't

you go too fast with that thing,' I said to