Риф, или Там, где разбивается счастье

X

           ItwasasthoughFraserLeath’sideas,accustomedtohanglikemarionettesontheirpegs,shouldsuddenlycomedownandwalk.Thereweremoments,indeed,whenOwen’shumoursmusthavesuggestedtohisprogenitorthegambolsofaninfantFrankenstein;buttoAnnatheywerethevoiceofhersecretrebellions,andhertendernesstoherstep-sonwaspartlybasedonherseveritytowardherself.Ashehadthecourageshehadlacked,soshemeanthimtohavethechancesshehadmissed;andeveryeffortshemadeforhimhelpedtokeepherownhopesalive.

           HerinterestinOwenledhertothinkmoreoftenofhismother,andsometimesshewouldslipawayandstandalonebeforeherpredecessor’sportrait.SinceherarrivalatGivrethepicture—a“full-length”byaoncefashionableartist—hadundergonethesuccessivedisplacementsofanexiledconsortremovedfartherandfartherfromthethrone;andAnnacouldnothelpnotingthatthesestagescoincidedwiththegradualdeclineoftheartist’sfame.ShehadafancythatifhiscredithadbeenintheascendantthefirstMrs.Leathmighthavecontinuedtothroneoverthedrawing-roommantel-piece,eventotheexclusionofhersuccessor’seffigy.Insteadofthis,herperegrinationshadfinallylandedherintheshroudedsolitudeofthebilliard-room,anapartmentwhichnooneeverentered,butwhereitwasunderstoodthat“thelightwasbetter,”ormighthavebeeniftheshuttershadnotbeenalwaysclosed.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 100 из 369