Пробный камень
II
Hewasjustdimlyawareofhavingpushedasidethepapersandtheheavycalfvolumesthatamomentbeforehadboundedhishorizon,andoflayingintheirplace,withoutatraceofconsciousvolition,theparcelhehadtakenfromthedrawer.
Thelettersweretiedinpacketsofthirtyorforty.Therewereagreatmanypackets.Onsomeoftheenvelopestheinkwasfading;onothers,whichboretheEnglishpost-mark,itwasstillfresh.Shehadbeendeadhardlythreeyears,andshehadwritten,atlengtheningintervals,tothelast....
Heundidoneoftheearlierpackets—littlenoteswrittenduringtheirfirstacquaintanceatHillbridge.Glennard,onleavingcollege,hadbegunlifeinhisuncle’slawofficeintheolduniversitytown.Itwastherethat,atthehouseofherfather,ProfessorForth,hehadfirstmettheyoungladythenchieflydistinguishedforhaving,aftertwoyearsofaconspicuouslyunhappymarriage,returnedtotheprotectionofthepaternalroof.
Mrs.Aubynwasatthattimeaneagerandsomewhattragicyoungwoman,ofcomplexmindandundevelopedmanners,whomhercrudeexperienceofmatrimonyhadfittedoutwithastockofgeneralizationsthatexplodedlikebombsintheacademicairofHillbridge.Inherchoiceofahusbandshehadbeenfortunateenough,iftheparadoxbepermitted,tolightononesosignallygiftedwiththefacultyofputtinghimselfinthewrongthatherleavinghimhadthedignityofamanifesto—madeher,asitwere,thespokeswomanofoutragedwifehood.
