Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 2
Afteralonglookhewouldgrowalmostdizzywithapoet’sloveforthesight,andthenhewouldscaletheslopehomewardintheduskpasttheoldwhitechurchandupthenarrowprecipitouswayswhereyellowgleamswouldbegintopeepoutinsmall-panedwindowsandthroughfanlightssethighoverdoubleflightsofstepswithcuriouswrought-ironrailings.
Atothertimes,andinlateryears,hewouldseekforvividcontrasts;spendinghalfawalkinthecrumblingcolonialregionsnorthwestofhishome,wherethehilldropstothelowereminenceofStampers’HillwithitsghettoandnegroquarterclusteringroundtheplacewheretheBostonstagecoachusedtostartbeforetheRevolution,andtheotherhalfinthegracioussoutherlyrealmaboutGeorge,Benevolent,Power,andWilliamsStreets,wheretheoldslopeholdsunchangedthefineestatesandbitsofwalledgardenandsteepgreenlaneinwhichsomanyfragrantmemorieslinger.Theserambles,togetherwiththediligentstudieswhichaccompaniedthem,certainlyaccountforalargeamountoftheantiquarianlorewhichatlastcrowdedthemodernworldfromCharlesWard’smind;andillustratethementalsoiluponwhichfell,inthatfatefulwinterof1919-20,theseedsthatcametosuchstrangeandterriblefruition.
Dr.Willettiscertainthat,uptothisill-omenedwinteroffirstchange,CharlesWard’santiquarianismwasfreefromeverytraceofthemorbid.
