Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Themonotonyoftheranchateintoherhearthourbyhour,yearbyyear.Andwithitall,whenwasshetoseeRome,Italy,andtheBayofNaples?Itwasadifferentprospecttruly.Magnushadgivenherhispromisethatoncetheranchwaswellestablished,theytwoshouldtravel.Butcontinuallyhehadbeenobligedtoputheroff,nowforonereason,nowforanother;themachinewouldnotasyetrunofitself,hemuststillfeelhishanduponthelever;nextyear,perhaps,whenwheatshouldgotoninety,ortherainsweregood.Shedidnotinsist.Sheobliteratedherself,onlyallowing,fromtimetotime,herpretty,questioningeyestomeethis.Inthemeantimesheretiredwithinherself.Shesurroundedherselfwithbooks.Hertastewasofthedelicacyofpointlace.SheknewherAustinDobsonbyheart.Shereadpoems,essays,theideasoftheseminaryatMarysvillepersistinginhermind.“MariustheEpicurean,”“TheEssaysofElia,”“SesameandLilies,”“TheStonesofVenice,”andthelittletoymagazines,fulloftheflaccidbanalitiesofthe“MinorPoets,”werecontinuallyinherhands.

           WhenPresleyhadappearedonLosMuertos,shehadwelcomedhisarrivalwithdelight.Hereatlastwasacongenialspirit.Shelookedforwardtolongconversationswiththeyoungmanonliterature,art,andethics.ButPresleyhaddisappointedher.Thathe—outsideofhisfewchosendeities—shouldcarelittleforliterature,shockedherbeyondwords.Hisindifferenceto“style,”toelegantEnglish,wasapositiveaffront.