Мхи старой усадьбы
Rappaccini's Daughter
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"AndgladlywillIundertakeit,"criedagaintherichtonesoftheyounglady,asshebenttowardsthemagnificentplantandopenedherarmsasiftoembraceit."Yes,mysister,mysplendour,itshallbeBeatrice’stasktonurseandservethee;andthoushaltrewardherwiththykissesandperfumedbreath,whichtoherisasthebreathoflife."
Then,withallthetendernessinhermannerthatwassostrikinglyexpressedinherwords,shebusiedherselfwithsuchattentionsastheplantseemedtorequire;andGiovanni,athisloftywindow,rubbedhiseyesandalmostdoubtedwhetheritwereagirltendingherfavoriteflower,oronesisterperformingthedutiesofaffectiontoanother.Thescenesoonterminated.WhetherDr.Rappaccinihadfinishedhislaborsinthegarden,orthathiswatchfuleyehadcaughtthestranger’sface,henowtookhisdaughter’sarmandretired.Nightwasalreadyclosingin;oppressiveexhalationsseemedtoproceedfromtheplantsandstealupwardpasttheopenwindow;andGiovanni,closingthelattice,wenttohiscouchanddreamedofarichflowerandbeautifulgirl.Flowerandmaidenweredifferent,andyetthesame,andfraughtwithsomestrangeperilineithershape.
Butthereisaninfluenceinthelightofmorningthattendstorectifywhatevererrorsoffancy,orevenofjudgment,wemayhaveincurredduringthesun’sdecline,oramongtheshadowsofthenight,orinthelesswholesomeglowofmoonshine.Giovanni’sfirstmovement,onstartingfromsleep,wastothrowopenthewindowandgazedownintothegardenwhichhisdreamshadmadesofertileofmysteries.
