Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 3
Theeyeswerenotoffendedwhichsheturneduponhimnorreproachful.Sheplacedtheirhandstogether,handinhand,andsaid,speakingtotheirhearts:
—Takehands,StephenandEmma.Itisabeautifuleveningnowinheaven.Youhaveerredbutyouarealwaysmychildren.Itisoneheartthatlovesanotherheart.Takehandstogether,mydearchildren,andyouwillbehappytogetherandyourheartswillloveeachother.
Thechapelwasfloodedbythedullscarletlightthatfilteredthroughtheloweredblinds;andthroughthefissurebetweenthelastblindandthesashashaftofwanlightenteredlikeaspearandtouchedtheembossedbrassesofthecandlesticksuponthealtarthatgleamedlikethebattle-wornmailarmourofangels.
Rainwasfallingonthechapel,onthegarden,onthecollege.Itwouldrainforever,noiselessly.Thewaterwouldriseinchbyinch,coveringthegrassandshrubs,coveringthetreesandhouses,coveringthemonumentsandthemountaintops.Alllifewouldbechokedoff,noiselessly:birds,men,elephants,pigs,children:noiselesslyfloatingcorpsesamidthelitterofthewreckageoftheworld.Fortydaysandfortynightstherainwouldfalltillthewaterscoveredthefaceoftheearth.
Itmightbe.Whynot?
—HELLHASENLARGEDITSSOULANDOPENEDITSMOUTHWITHOUTANYLIMITS—wordstaken,mydearlittlebrothersinChristJesus,fromthebookofIsaias,fifthchapter,fourteenthverse.
