Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 2
Heborecynicallywiththeshamefuldetailsofhissecretriotsinwhichheexultedtodefilewithpatiencewhateverimagehadattractedhiseyes.Bydayandbynighthemovedamongdistortedimagesoftheouterworld.Afigurethathadseemedtohimbydaydemureandinnocentcametowardshimbynightthroughthewindingdarknessofsleep,herfacetransfiguredbyalecherouscunning,hereyesbrightwithbrutishjoy.Onlythemorningpainedhimwithitsdimmemoryofdarkorgiasticriot,itskeenandhumiliatingsenseoftransgression.
Hereturnedtohiswanderings.TheveiledautumnaleveningsledhimfromstreettostreetastheyhadledhimyearsbeforealongthequietavenuesofBlackrock.Butnovisionoftrimfrontgardensorofkindlylightsinthewindowspouredatenderinfluenceuponhimnow.Onlyattimes,inthepausesofhisdesire,whentheluxurythatwaswastinghimgaveroomtoasofterlanguor,theimageofMercedestraversedthebackgroundofhismemory.Hesawagainthesmallwhitehouseandthegardenofrose-bushesontheroadthatledtothemountainsandherememberedthesadlyproudgestureofrefusalwhichhewastomakethere,standingwithherinthemoonlitgardenafteryearsofestrangementandadventure.AtthosemomentsthesoftspeechesofClaudeMelnotterosetohislipsandeasedhisunrest.
