Портрет художника в юности

           ButGodwasnotinitofcoursewhentheystoleit.Butstillitwasastrangeandagreatsineventotouchit.Hethoughtofitwithdeepawe;aterribleandstrangesin:itthrilledhimtothinkofitinthesilencewhenthepensscrapedlightly.Buttodrinkthealtarwineoutofthepressandbefoundoutbythesmellwasasintoo:butitwasnotterribleandstrange.Itonlymadeyoufeelalittlesickishonaccountofthesmellofthewine.Becauseonthedaywhenhehadmadehisfirstholycommunioninthechapelhehadshuthiseyesandopenedhismouthandputouthistonguealittle:andwhentherectorhadstoopeddowntogivehimtheholycommunionhehadsmeltafaintwinysmellofftherector’sbreathafterthewineofthemass.Thewordwasbeautiful:wine.ItmadeyouthinkofdarkpurplebecausethegrapesweredarkpurplethatgrewinGreeceoutsidehouseslikewhitetemples.Butthefaintsmelloftherector’sbreathhadmadehimfeelasickfeelingonthemorningofhisfirstcommunion.Thedayofyourfirstcommunionwasthehappiestdayofyourlife.AndoncealotofgeneralshadaskedNapoleonwhatwasthehappiestdayofhislife.Theythoughthewouldsaythedayhewonsomegreatbattleorthedayhewasmadeanemperor.Buthesaid:

           —Gentlemen,thehappiestdayofmylifewasthedayonwhichImademyfirstholycommunion.

           FatherArnallcameinandtheLatinlessonbeganandheremainedstill,leaningonthedeskwithhisarmsfolded.