Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Derrick,stirringhercoffeewithonehand,heldopenwiththeotherthepagesofWalterPater’s“Marius.”Atherfeet,PrincessNathalie,thewhiteAngoracat,sleek,over-fed,self-centred,satonherhaunches,industriouslylickingatthewhitefurofherbreast,whilenearathand,bytherailingoftheporch,Presleypotteredwithanewbicyclelamp,fillingitwithoil,adjustingthewicks.

           Harrankissedhismotherandsatdowninawickerchairontheporch,removinghishat,runninghisfingersthroughhisyellowhair.

           MagnusDerrick’swifelookedhardlyoldenoughtobethemotheroftwosuchbigfellowsasHarranandLymanDerrick.Shewasnotfarintothefifties,andherbrownhairstillretainedmuchofitsbrightness.Shecouldyetbecalledpretty.Hereyeswerelargeandeasilyassumedalookofinquiryandinnocence,suchasonemightexpecttoseeinayounggirl.Bydispositionshewasretiring;sheeasilyobliteratedherself.Shewasnotmadefortheharshnessoftheworld,andyetshehadknowntheseharshnessesinheryoungerdays.Magnushadmarriedherwhenshewastwenty-oneyearsold,atatimewhenshewasagraduateofsomeyears’standingfromtheStateNormalSchoolandwasteachingliterature,music,andpenmanshipinaseminaryinthetownofMarysville.Sheoverworkedherselfherecontinually,loathingthestrainofteaching,yetclingingtoitwithatenacitybornoftheknowledgethatitwasheronlymeansofsupport.Bothherparentsweredead;shewasdependentuponherself.HeroneambitionwastoseeItalyandtheBayofNaples.