Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 2
Thegrowthandknowledgeoftwoyearsofboyhoodstoodbetweenthenandnow,forbiddingsuchanoutlet:andalldaythestreamofgloomytendernesswithinhimhadstartedforthandreturneduponitselfindarkcoursesandeddies,wearyinghimintheenduntilthepleasantryoftheprefectandthepaintedlittleboyhaddrawnfromhimamovementofimpatience.
—Soyoumayaswelladmit,Heronwenton,thatwe’vefairlyfoundyououtthistime.Youcan’tplaythesaintonmeanymore,that’sonesurefive.
Asoftpealofmirthlesslaughterescapedfromhislipsand,bendingdownasbefore,hestruckStephenlightlyacrossthecalfofthelegwithhiscane,asifinjestingreproof.
Stephen’smomentofangerhadalreadypassed.Hewasneitherflatterednorconfused,butsimplywishedthebantertoend.Hescarcelyresentedwhathadseemedtohimasillyindelicatenessforheknewthattheadventureinhismindstoodinnodangerfromthesewords:andhisfacemirroredhisrival’sfalsesmile.
—Admit!repeatedHeron,strikinghimagainwithhiscaneacrossthecalfoftheleg.
Thestrokewasplayfulbutnotsolightlygivenasthefirstonehadbeen.Stephenfelttheskintingleandglowslightlyandalmostpainlessly;and,bowingsubmissively,asiftomeethiscompanion’sjestingmood,begantorecitetheCONFITEOR.Theepisodeendedwell,forbothHeronandWallislaughedindulgentlyattheirreverence.
