Мхи старой усадьбы
The Artist of the Beautiful
"Oh,outofmyownhead,"answeredshe,"andfromsomethingthatIheardyousay,longago,whenyouwerebutaboyandIalittlechild.Butcome,willyoumendthispoorthimbleofmine?"
"Anythingforyoursake,Annie,"saidOwenWarland,—"anything,evenwereittoworkatRobertDanforth’sforge."
"Andthatwouldbeaprettysight!"retortedAnnie,glancingwithimperceptibleslightnessattheartist’ssmallandslenderframe."Well;hereisthethimble."
"Butthatisastrangeideaofyours,"saidOwen,"aboutthespiritualizationofmatter."
Andthenthethoughtstoleintohismindthatthisyounggirlpossessedthegifttocomprehendhimbetterthanalltheworldbesides.Andwhatahelpandstrengthwoulditbetohiminhislonelytoilifhecouldgainthesympathyoftheonlybeingwhomheloved!Topersonswhosepursuitsareinsulatedfromthecommonbusinessoflife—whoareeitherinadvanceofmankindorapartfromit—thereoftencomesasensationofmoralcoldthatmakesthespiritshiverasifithadreachedthefrozensolitudesaroundthepole.Whattheprophet,thepoet,thereformer,thecriminal,oranyothermanwithhumanyearnings,butseparatedfromthemultitudebyapeculiarlot,mightfeel,poorOwenfelt.
"Annie,"criedhe,growingpaleasdeathatthethought,"howgladlywouldItellyouthesecretofmypursuit!You,methinks,wouldestimateitrightly.You,Iknow,wouldhearitwithareverencethatImustnotexpectfromtheharsh,materialworld."
"WouldInot?tobesureIwould!"repliedAnnieHovenden,lightlylaughing.
