Мхи старой усадьбы
Egotism; or, The Bosom Serpent
"MayHesupportmetoo!"
Roderickwasrecliningonthemarginofafountainwhichgushedintothefleckeredsunshinewiththesameclearsparkleandthesamevoiceofairyquietudeaswhentreesofprimevalgrowthflungtheirshadowscrossitsbosom.Howstrangeisthelifeofafountain!—bornateverymoment,yetofanagecoevalwiththerocks,andfarsurpassingthevenerableantiquityofaforest.
"Youarecome!Ihaveexpectedyou,"saidElliston,whenhebecameawareofthesculptor’spresence.
Hismannerwasverydifferentfromthatoftheprecedingday—quiet,courteous,and,asHerkimerthought,watchfulbothoverhisguestandhimself.Thisunnaturalrestraintwasalmosttheonlytraitthatbetokenedanythingamiss.Hehadjustthrownabookuponthegrass,whereitlayhalfopened,thusdisclosingitselftobeanaturalhistoryoftheserpenttribe,illustratedbylifelikeplates.Nearitlaythatbulkyvolume,theDuctorDubitantiumofJeremyTaylor,fullofcasesofconscience,andinwhichmostmen,possessedofaconscience,mayfindsomethingapplicabletotheirpurpose.
"Yousee,"observedElliston,pointingtothebookofserpents,whileasmilegleameduponhislips,"Iammakinganefforttobecomebetteracquaintedwithmybosomfriend;butIfindnothingsatisfactoryinthisvolume.IfImistakenot,hewillprovetobesuigeneris,andakintonootherreptileincreation."
"Whencecamethisstrangecalamity?"inquiredthesculptor.
