Дни грёз
Its Walls Were As Of Jasper
Thehousethatwewereboundforonthisoccasionwasa“bighouse;”agenerictitleappliedbyustotheclassofresidencethathadalongcarriage-drivethroughrhododendrons;andaporticoproppedbyflutedpillars;andagravebutlerwhoboltedbackswing-doors,andcamedownsteps,andpretendedtohaveentirelyforgottenhisfamiliarintercoursewithyouatlessseriousmoments;andabighall,wherenobootsorshoesoruppergarmentswereallowedtolieaboutfranklyandeasily,aswithus;andwhere,finally,peoplewereapttositaboutdressedupasiftheyweregoingontoaparty.
TheladywhoreceiveduswaseffusivetoAuntElizaandhollowlygracioustome.IntensecondstheyhadtheirheadstogetherandwerehardatittalkingCLOTHES.Iwaslefthighanddryonastraight-backedchair,longingtokickthelegsofit,yetnotdaring.ForatimeIwascontenttostare;therewaslotstostareat,highandlowandaround.Thentheinevitablefidgetscameon,andscratchingone’slegsmitigatedslightly,butdidnotentirelydispersethem.Mytwowarderswerestilldeepinclothes;Islippedoffmychairandedgedcautiouslyaroundtheroom,exploring,examining,recording.
Manystrange,finethingslayalongmyroute—picturesandgimcracksonthewalls,trinketsandglobularoldwatchesandsnuff-boxesonthetables;andItookgoodcaretofingereverythingwithinreachthoroughlyandconscientiously.Somearticles,inaddition,Ismelt.AtlastinmyorbitIhappenedonanopendoor,halfconcealedbythefoldsofacurtain.Iglancedcarefullyaround.
