Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Behrman,too,fat,withavaststomach,thecheckandneckmeetingtoformagreat,tremulousjowl,therolloffatoverhiscollar,sprinkledwithsparse,stiffhairs;sawhisbrown,round-toppedhatofvarnishedstraw,thelinenveststampedwithinnumerableinterlockedhorseshoes,theheavywatchchain,clinkingagainstthepearlvestbuttons;invariablyplacid,unruffled,neverlosinghistemper,serene,unassailable,enthroned.

           Then,attheendofall,itwastheranchagain,seeninalastbriefglancebeforehehadgonetobed;thefecundatedearth,calmatlast,nursingtheemplantedgermoflife,ruddywiththesunset,thehorizonspurple,thesmallclamourofthedaylapsingintoquiet,thegreat,stilltwilight,buildingitself,dome-like,towardthezenith.Thebarnfowlswereroostinginthetreesnearthestable,thehorsescrunchingtheirfodderinthestalls,theday’sworkceasingbyslowdegrees;andthepriest,theSpanishchurchman,FatherSarria,relicofadepartedregime,kindly,benign,believinginallgoodness,aloverofhisfellowsandofdumbanimals,yet,forallthat,hurryingawayinconfusionanddiscomfiture,carryinginonehandthevesselsoftheHolyCommunionandintheotherabasketofgamecocks.