IremembermywifeandIsawtheNewYearin。Wesatattable，chewedlazily，andheardthedeaftelegraphclerkmonotonouslytappingonhisapparatusinthenextroom。Ihadalreadydrunkfiveglassesofdruggedvodka，and，proppingmyheavyheadonmyfist，thoughtofmyoverpoweringboredomfromwhichtherewasnoescape，whilemywifesatbesidemeanddidnottakehereyesoffme。Shelookedatmeasnoonecanlookbutawomanwhohasnothinginthisworldbutahandsomehusband。Shelovedmemadly，slavishly，andnotmerelymygoodlooks，ormysoul，butmysins，myill-humorandboredom，andevenmycrueltywhen，indrunkenfury，notknowinghowtoventmyill-humor，Itormentedherwithreproaches。
Inspiteoftheboredomwhichwasconsumingme，wewerepreparingtoseetheNewYearinwithexceptionalfestiveness，andwereawaitingmidnightwithsomeimpatience。Thefactis，wehadinreservetwobottlesofchampagne，therealthing，withthelabelofVeuveClicquot；thistreasureIhadwonthepreviousautumninabetwiththestation-masterofD。whenIwasdrinkingwithhimatachristening。Itsometimeshappensduringalessoninmathematics，whentheveryairisstillwithboredom，abutterflyfluttersintotheclass-room；theboystosstheirheadsandbeginwatchingitsflightwithinterest，asthoughtheysawbeforethemnotabutterflybutsomethingnewandstrange；inthesamewayordinarychampagne，chancingtocomeintoourdrearystation，rousedus。Wesatinsilencelookingalternatelyattheclockandatthebottles。
WhenthehandspointedtofiveminutestotwelveIslowlybeganuncorkingabottle。Idon’tknowwhetherIwasaffectedbythevodka，orwhetherthebottlewaswet，butallIrememberisthatwhenthecorkflewuptotheceilingwithabang，mybottleslippedoutofmyhandsandfellonthefloor。Notmorethanaglassofthewinewasspilt，asImanagedtocatchthebottleandputmythumboverthefoamingneck。
\"Well，maytheNewYearbringyouhappiness！\"Isaid，fillingtwoglasses。\"Drink！\"
Mywifetookherglassandfixedherfrightenedeyesonme。Herfacewaspaleandworealookofhorror。