Мхи старой усадьбы
The Artist of the Beautiful
Afterhisrecoveryhissmallandslenderframeassumedanobtusergarnitureoffleshthanithadeverbeforeworn.Histhincheeksbecameround;hisdelicatelittlehand,sospirituallyfashionedtoachievefairytask-work,grewplumperthanthehandofathrivinginfant.Hisaspecthadachildishnesssuchasmighthaveinducedastrangertopathimonthehead—pausing,however,intheact,towonderwhatmannerofchildwashere.Itwasasifthespirithadgoneoutofhim,leavingthebodytoflourishinasortofvegetableexistence.NotthatOwenWarlandwasidiotic.Hecouldtalk,andnotirrationally.Somewhatofababbler,indeed,didpeoplebegintothinkhim;forhewasapttodiscourseatwearisomelengthofmarvelsofmechanismthathehadreadaboutinbooks,butwhichhehadlearnedtoconsiderasabsolutelyfabulous.AmongthemheenumeratedtheManofBrass,constructedbyAlbertusMagnus,andtheBrazenHeadofFriarBacon;and,comingdowntolatertimes,theautomataofalittlecoachandhorses,whichitwaspretendedhadbeenmanufacturedfortheDauphinofFrance;togetherwithaninsectthatbuzzedabouttheearlikealivingfly,andyetwasbutacontrivanceofminutesteelsprings.Therewasastory,too,ofaduckthatwaddled,andquacked,andate;though,hadanyhonestcitizenpurchaseditfordinner,hewouldhavefoundhimselfcheatedwiththemeremechanicalapparitionofaduck.
"Butalltheseaccounts,"saidOwenWarland,"Iamnowsatisfiedaremereimpositions."
Then,inamysteriousway,hewouldconfessthatheoncethoughtdifferently.
