Дни грёз

           Imadehalf-wayadvances,however,suggestingweshouldlieinambushbytheedgeofthepondandcutofftheducksastheywaddleddowninsimple,unsuspectingsinglefile;thenhuntthemasbisonsflyingscatteredoverthevastprairie.Afascinatingpursuitthis,andstrictlyillicit.ButHaroldwouldnoneofmyovertures,andretreatedtothehousewailingwithfulllungs.

           Thingsweregettingsimplyinfernal.Istruckoutblindlyfortheopencountry;andevenasImadeforthegateashrillvoicefromawindowbademekeepofftheflower-beds.WhenthegatehadswungtobehindmewithaviciousclickIfeltbetter,andaftertenminutesalongtheroaditbegantogrowonmethatsomeradicalchangewasneeded,thatIwasinablindalley,andthatthisintolerablestateofthingsmustsomehowcease.AllthatIcoulddoIhadalreadydone.Aswell-meaningafellowaseversteppedwaspoundingalongtheroadthatday,withanexceedingsoreheart;onewhoonlywishedtoliveandletlive,intouchwithhisfellows,andappreciatingwhatjoyslifehadtooffer.Whatwaswantednowwasacompletechangeofenvironment.Somewhereintheworld,Ifeltsure,justiceandsympathystillresided.Therewereplacescalledpampas,forinstance,thatsoundedwell.Leagueuponleagueofgrass,withjustanoccasionalwildhorse,andnotarelationwithinthehorizon!Toabruisedspiritthisseemedasaneandahealingsortofexistence.Therewereotherpleasantcorners,again,whereyoudivedforpearlsandstabbedsharksinthestomachwithyourbigknife.