Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter I
Itwasacontinuousinterestinsmallthings,apeopleeverwillingtobeamusedattrifles,refusingtoconsiderseriousmatters—good-natured,allowingthemselvestobeimposedupon,takinglifeeasily—generous,companionable,enthusiastic;living,asitwere,fromdaytoday,inaplacewheretheluxuriesoflifewerehadwithouteffort;inacitythatofferedtoconsiderationtherestlessnessofaNewYork,withoutitsearnestness;theserenityofaNaples,withoutitslanguor;theromanceofaSeville,withoutitspicturesqueness.
AsLymanturnedfromthewindow,abouttoresumehiswork,theofficeboyappearedatthedoor.
“Themanfromthelithographcompany,sir,”announcedtheboy.
“Well,whatdoeshewant?”demandedLyman,adding,however,upontheinstant:“Showhimin.”
Ayoungmanentered,carryingagreatbundle,whichhedepositedonachair,withagaspofrelief,exclaiming,alloutofbreath:
“FromtheStandardLithographCompany.”
“Whatis?”
“Don’tknow,”repliedtheother.“Maps,Iguess.”
“Idon’twantanymaps.Whosentthem?Iguessyou’remistaken.”Lymantorethecoverfromthetopofthepackage,drawingoutoneofagreatmanyhugesheetsofwhitepaper,foldedeighttimes.Suddenly,heutteredanexclamation:
“Ah,Isee.TheyAREmaps.Buttheseshouldnothavecomehere.Theyaretogototheregularofficefordistribution.”Hewroteanewdirectiononthelabelofthepackage:“Takethemtothataddress,”hewenton.“I’llkeepthisonehere.Theothersgotothataddress.IfyouseeMr.Darrell,tellhimthatMr.
