Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 1
ButGodwasnotinitofcoursewhentheystoleit.Butstillitwasastrangeandagreatsineventotouchit.Hethoughtofitwithdeepawe;aterribleandstrangesin:itthrilledhimtothinkofitinthesilencewhenthepensscrapedlightly.Buttodrinkthealtarwineoutofthepressandbefoundoutbythesmellwasasintoo:butitwasnotterribleandstrange.Itonlymadeyoufeelalittlesickishonaccountofthesmellofthewine.Becauseonthedaywhenhehadmadehisfirstholycommunioninthechapelhehadshuthiseyesandopenedhismouthandputouthistonguealittle:andwhentherectorhadstoopeddowntogivehimtheholycommunionhehadsmeltafaintwinysmellofftherector’sbreathafterthewineofthemass.Thewordwasbeautiful:wine.ItmadeyouthinkofdarkpurplebecausethegrapesweredarkpurplethatgrewinGreeceoutsidehouseslikewhitetemples.Butthefaintsmelloftherector’sbreathhadmadehimfeelasickfeelingonthemorningofhisfirstcommunion.Thedayofyourfirstcommunionwasthehappiestdayofyourlife.AndoncealotofgeneralshadaskedNapoleonwhatwasthehappiestdayofhislife.Theythoughthewouldsaythedayhewonsomegreatbattleorthedayhewasmadeanemperor.Buthesaid:
—Gentlemen,thehappiestdayofmylifewasthedayonwhichImademyfirstholycommunion.
FatherArnallcameinandtheLatinlessonbeganandheremainedstill,leaningonthedeskwithhisarmsfolded.
