Дні мрій
A Departure
Thoughforlongwehadaffectedtodespisethem,thesetoys,yettheyhadgrownupwithus,sharedourjoysandoursorrows,seenusatourworst,andbecomepartoftheacceptedschemeofexistence.Aswegazedatuntenantedshelvesandempty,hatefullytidycorners,perhapsforthefirsttimeforlongwebegantodothematardyjustice.
TherewasoldLeotard,forinstance.Somehowhehadcometobesadlyneglectedoflateyears—andyethowexactlyhealwaysrespondedtocertainmoods!Hewasanacrobat,thisLeotard,wholivedinaglass-frontedbox.Hisloose-jointedlimbswerecardboard,cardboardhisslendertrunk;andhishandseternallygraspedthebarofatrapeze.Youturnedtheboxroundswiftlyfiveorsixtimes;thewonderfulunsolvedmachineryworked,andLeotardswungandleapt,backwards,forwards,nowastridethebar,nowflyingfree;iron-jointed,supple-sinewed,unceasinglynovelinhisinventionofnew,unguessableattitudes;whileabove,below,andaroundhim,arichly-dressedaudience,paintedinskilfulperspectiveofstalls,boxes,dress-circle,andgallery,watchedthethrillingperformancewithastoliditywhichseemedtomarkthemoutasmadeinGermany.Hardlyversatileenough,perhaps,thisLeotard;unsympathetic,notacompanionforallhours;norwouldyouhavechosenhimtotaketobedwithyou.
Andyet,withinhisownlimits,howfresh,howengrossing,howresourcefulandinventive!Well,hewasgone,itseemed—merelygone.Neverspeciallycherishedwhilehetarriedwithus,hehadyetcontrivedtobuildhimselfaparticularnicheofhisown.
