Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 4
Hewasaloneandyoungandwilfulandwildhearted,aloneamidawasteofwildairandbrackishwatersandthesea-harvestofshellsandtangleandveiledgreysunlightandgaycladlightcladfiguresofchildrenandgirlsandvoiceschildishandgirlishintheair.
Agirlstoodbeforehiminmidstream,aloneandstill,gazingouttosea.Sheseemedlikeonewhommagichadchangedintothelikenessofastrangeandbeautifulseabird.Herlongslenderbarelegsweredelicateasacrane’sandpuresavewhereanemeraldtrailofseaweedhadfashioneditselfasasignupontheflesh.Herthighs,fullerandsoft-huedasivory,werebaredalmosttothehips,wherethewhitefringesofherdrawerswerelikefeatheringofsoftwhitedown.Herslate-blueskirtswerekiltedboldlyaboutherwaistanddovetailedbehindher.Herbosomwasasabird’s,softandslight,slightandsoftasthebreastofsomedark-plumageddove.Butherlongfairhairwasgirlish:andgirlish,andtouchedwiththewonderofmortalbeauty,herface.
Shewasaloneandstill,gazingouttosea;andwhenshefelthispresenceandtheworshipofhiseyeshereyesturnedtohiminquietsufferanceofhisgaze,withoutshameorwantonness.Long,longshesufferedhisgazeandthenquietlywithdrewhereyesfromhisandbentthemtowardsthestream,gentlystirringthewaterwithherfoothitherandthither.
