Портрет художника в юності

           Hepassedunchallengedamongthedocksandalongthequayswonderingatthemultitudeofcorksthatlaybobbingonthesurfaceofthewaterinathickyellowscum,atthecrowdsofquayportersandtherumblingcartsandtheill-dressedbeardedpoliceman.ThevastnessandstrangenessofthelifesuggestedtohimbythebalesofmerchandisestockedalongthewallsorswungaloftoutoftheholdsofsteamerswakenedagaininhimtheunrestwhichhadsenthimwanderingintheeveningfromgardentogardeninsearchofMercedes.AndamidthisnewbustlinglifehemighthavefanciedhimselfinanotherMarseillebutthathemissedthebrightskyandthesum-warmedtrellisesofthewineshops.Avaguedissatisfactiongrewupwithinhimashelookedonthequaysandontheriverandontheloweringskiesandyethecontinuedtowanderupanddowndayafterdayasifhereallysoughtsomeonethateludedhim.

           Hewentonceortwicewithhismothertovisittheirrelatives:andthoughtheypassedajovialarrayofshopslitupandadornedforChristmashismoodofembitteredsilencedidnotleavehim.Thecausesofhisembittermentweremany,remoteandnear.Hewasangrywithhimselfforbeingyoungandthepreyofrestlessfoolishimpulses,angryalsowiththechangeoffortunewhichwasreshapingtheworldabouthimintoavisionofsqualorandinsincerity.Yethisangerlentnothingtothevision.Hechronicledwithpatiencewhathesaw,detachinghimselffromitandtastingitsmortifyingflavourinsecret.