Дни грёз
Its Walls Were As Of Jasper
Lordsandladiesthrongedtheforeground,whileonadaisinthecentreagallantgentleman,justalightedoffhishorse,stoopedtothefingersofagirlasbravelydressedoutasSelina’sladybetweenthesaints;androundaboutstoodvenerablepersonages,robedinthemostvariegatedclothing.Therewereboys,too,inplenty,withtinyredcapsontheirthickhair;andtheirshirtshadbunchedupandworkedoutatthewaist,justasmyowndidsooften,afterchasinganybody;andeachboyofthemworeanoddpairofstockings,oneblueandtheotherred.Thissystemofattirewentstraighttomyheart.Ihadtriedthesamethingsooften,andhadmetwithsomuchdiscouragement;andhere,atlast,wasmyjustification,painteddeliberatelyinagrown-upbook!Ilookedaboutformysaint-friends—thearmourmanandtheotherfellow—buttheywerenottobeseen.Evidentlytheywereunabletogetoffduty,evenforawedding,andstillstoodonguardinthatgreenmeadowdownbelow.Iwasdisappointed,too,thatnotanangelwasvisible.Oneortwoofthem,surely,couldeasilyhavebeensparedforanhour,torunupandseetheshow;andtheywouldhavebeenthoroughlyathomehere,inthemidstofallthecolourandthemovementandthefun.
Butitwastimetogeton,forclearlytheinterestwasonlyjustbeginning.Overwentthenextpage,andtherewewere,thewholecrowdofus,assembledinanoblechurch.Itwasnoteasytomakeoutexactlywhatwasgoingon;butinthethrongIwasdelightedtorecognizemyangelsatlast,happyandverymuchathome.
