Пробный камень
I
Itwasthefutilityofhismultipliedshiftsandprivationsthatmadethemseemunworthyofahighattitude;thesensethat,howeverrapidlyheeliminatedthesuperfluous,hisclearedhorizonwaslikelytooffernonearerviewoftheoneprospecttowardwhichhestrained.Togiveupthingsinordertomarrythewomanonelovesiseasierthantogivethemupwithoutbeingbroughtappreciablynearertosuchaconclusion.
ThroughtheopendoorhesawyoungHollingsworthrisewithayawnfromtheineffectualsolaceofabrandy-and-sodaandtransporthispurposelesspersontothewindow.Glennardmeasuredhiscoursewithacontemptuouseye.ItwassolikeHollingsworthtogetupandlookoutofthewindowjustasitwasgrowingtoodarktoseeanything!Therewasamanrichenoughtodowhathepleased—hadhebeencapableofbeingpleased—yetbarredfromallconceivableachievementbyhisownimperviousdulness;while,afewfeetoff,Glennard,whowantedonlyenoughtokeepadecentcoatonhisbackandaroofovertheheadofthewomanhelovedGlennard,whohadsweated,toiled,deniedhimselfforthescantmeasureofopportunitythathiszealwouldhaveconvertedintoakingdom—satwretchedlycalculatingthat,evenwhenhehadresignedfromtheclub,andknockedoffhiscigars,andgivenuphisSundaysoutoftown,hewouldstillbenonearerattainment.
TheSpectatorhadslippedtohisfeetandashepickedituphiseyefellagainontheparagraphaddressedtothefriendsofMrs.Aubyn.
