Дні мрій
The Magic Ring
Harold,itshouldbeexplained,wasofaverydifferentmentalmould,andneverbrooded,moped,noratehisheartoutoveranydisappointment.Onewildoutburst—onedissolutionofaminuteintohisoriginalelementsofairandwater,oftearsandoutcry—somuchinsultednatureclaimed.Thenhewouldpullhimselftogether,ironouthiscountenancewithasmile,andadjusthimselftothenewconditionofthings.
Ifthegodsareevergratefultomanforanything,itiswhenheissogoodastodisplayashortmemory.TheOlympianswereneverslowtorecognizethisqualityofHarold’s,inwhich,indeed,theirsalvationlay,andonthisoccasiontheirgratitudehadtakenthepracticalformofafinefatorange,tough-rindedasorangesofthosedayswerewonttobe.Thishehadevisceratedinthegoodold-fashionedmanner,bybitingoutaholeintheshoulder,insertingalumpofsugartherein,andthenworkingitcannilytillthewholesoulandbodyoftheorangepassedglorifiedthroughthesugarintohisbeing.Thereupon,filledfulloforange-juiceandiniquity,heconceivedadeadlysnare.Havingdeftlypattedandsqueezedtheorange-skintillitresumeditsoriginalshape,hefilleditupwithwater,insertedafreshlumpofsugarintheorifice,and,issuingforth,blandlyprofferedittomeasIsatmoodilyinthedoorwaydreamingofstrangewildcircusesundertropicskies.
Suchastaleolddodgeasthiswouldhardlyhavetakenmeinatordinarymoments.
