Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 5
Amonk!Hisownimagestartedforthaprofanerofthecloister,ahereticfranciscan,willingandwillingnottoserve,spinninglikeGherardinodaBorgoSanDonnino,alithewebofsophistryandwhisperinginherear.
No,itwasnothisimage.Itwasliketheimageoftheyoungpriestinwhosecompanyhehadseenherlast,lookingathimoutofdove’seyes,toyingwiththepagesofherIrishphrase-book.
—Yes,yes,theladiesarecomingroundtous.Icanseeiteveryday.Theladiesarewithus.Thebesthelpersthelanguagehas.
—Andthechurch,FatherMoran?
—Thechurchtoo.Comingroundtoo.Theworkisgoingaheadtheretoo.Don’tfretaboutthechurch.
Bah!hehaddonewelltoleavetheroomindisdain.Hehaddonewellnottosaluteheronthestepsofthelibrary!Hehaddonewelltoleavehertoflirtwithherpriest,totoywithachurchwhichwasthescullery-maidofchristendom.
Rudebrutalangerroutedthelastlingeringinstantofecstasyfromhissoul.Itbrokeupviolentlyherfairimageandflungthefragmentsonallsides.