Луна и грош

Chapter XIX

           "

           Wesatinthestudio,andhewavedhishandtoanunfinishedpictureonaneasel.Igavealittlestart.HewaspaintingagroupofItalianpeasants,inthecostumeoftheCampagna,loungingonthestepsofaRomanchurch.

           "Isthatwhatyou’redoingnow?"Iasked.

           "Yes.IcangetmymodelsherejustaswellasinRome."

           "Don’tyouthinkit’sverybeautiful?"saidMrs.Stroeve.

           "ThisfoolishwifeofminethinksI’magreatartist,"saidhe.

           Hisapologeticlaughdidnotdisguisethepleasurethathefelt.Hiseyeslingeredonhispicture.Itwasstrangethathiscriticalsense,soaccurateandunconventionalwhenhedealtwiththeworkofothers,shouldbesatisfiedinhimselfwithwhatwashackneyedandvulgarbeyondbelief.

           "Showhimsomemoreofyourpictures,"shesaid.

           "ShallI?"

           Thoughhehadsufferedsomuchfromtheridiculeofhisfriends,DirkStroeve,eagerforpraiseandnaivelyself-satisfied,couldneverresistdisplayinghiswork.Hebroughtoutapictureoftwocurly-headedItalianurchinsplayingmarbles.

           "Aren’ttheysweet?"saidMrs.Stroeve.

           Andthenheshowedmemore.IdiscoveredthatinParishehadbeenpaintingjustthesamestale,obviouslypicturesquethingsthathehadpaintedforyearsinRome.Itwasallfalse,insincere,shoddy;andyetnoonewasmorehonest,sincere,andfrankthanDirkStroeve.Whocouldresolvethecontradiction?

           Idonotknowwhatputitintomyheadtoask:

           "Isay,haveyoubyanychancerunacrossapaintercalledCharlesStrickland?"

           "Youdon’tmeantosayyouknowhim?"criedStroeve.

           "Beast,"saidhiswife.

           Stroevelaughed.

           "Mapauvrecherie.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 86 из 284