Дни грёз

           Wehadbeenfriendlyrivalsbefore,inmanyanexploit;butherewasaltogetheramoreseriousaffair.Wasthis,then,tobethebeginningofstrifeandcoldness,ofcivilwaronthehearthstoneandthesunderingofoldties?ThenIrecollectedthetruepositionofthings,andfeltverysorryforHarold;foritwasinexorablywrittenthathewouldhavetogivewaytome,sinceIwastheelder.Ruleswerenotmadefornothing,inasensiblyconstructeduniverse.

           Therewaslittlemoretowaitfor,nowCoraliehadgone;yetIlingeredstill,onthechanceofherappearingagain.Nextmomenttheclowntrippedupandfellflat,withmagnificentartifice,andatoncefreshemotionsbegantostir.Lovehadendureditslittlehour,andsternambitionnowasserteditself.Oh,tobeasplendidfellowlikethis,self-contained,readyofspeech,agilebeyondconception,bravingtheforcesofsociety,hishandagainsteveryone,yetalwaysgettingthebestofit!Whatfreshnessofhumour,whatcourtesytodames,whattriumphantabilitytodiscomfitrivals,frock-coatedandmoustachedthoughtheymightbe!Andwhatagrand,self-confidentstraddleofthelegs!Whocoulddesireafinercareerthantogothroughlifethusgorgeouslyequipped!Successwashiskey-note,adroitnesshispanoply,andthemellowmusicoflaughterhisinstantreward.EvenCoralie’simagewaveredandreceded.Iwouldcomebacktoherintheevening,ofcourse;butIwouldbeaclownalltheworkinghoursoftheday.