Пробный камень
I
”Sofewintimatefriends!Foryearsshehadhadbutone;onewhointhelastyearshadrequitedherwonderfulpages,hertragicoutpouringsoflove,humility,andpardon,withthescantphrasesbywhichamanevadesthevulgarestofsentimentalimportunities.Hehadbeenabruteinspiteofhimself,andsometimes,nowthattheremembranceofherfacehadfaded,andonlyhervoiceandwordsremainedwithhim,hechafedathisowninadequacy,hisstupidinabilitytorisetotheheightofherpassion.Hisegoismwasnotofakindtomirroritscomplacencyintheadventure.Tohavebeenlovedbythemostbrilliantwomanofherday,andtohavebeenincapableoflovingher,seemedtohim,inlookingback,themostderisiveevidenceofhislimitations;andhisremorsefultendernessforhermemorywascomplicatedwithasenseofirritationagainstherforhavinggivenhimonceforallthemeasureofhisemotionalcapacity.Itwasnotoften,however,thathethusprobedthepast.Thepublic,intakingpossessionofMrs.Aubyn,hadeasedhisshouldersoftheirburden.Therewassomethingfatuousinanattitudeofsentimentalapologytowardamemoryalreadyclassic:toreproachone’sselffornothavinglovedMargaretAubynwasagooddeallikebeingdisturbedbyaninabilitytoadmiretheVenusofMilo.Fromhercoldnicheoffameshelookeddownironicallyenoughonhisself-flagellations....
