Дні мрій
Its Walls Were As Of Jasper
InthispicturethatIhavetospeakabout,althoughthecharactershadastupidwayofnotdoinganything,andapparentlynotwantingtodoanything,therewasatleastasufficiencyofthem;soinduecoursetheywereallotted,too.
Initselfthepicture,which—initsebonyandtortoise-shellframe—hunginacornerofthedining-room,hadhithertopossessednospecialinterestforus,andwouldprobablyneverhavebeendealtwithatallbutforarevoltofthegirlsagainstasuccessionofbooksonsport,inwhichtheillustratorseemedtohaveforgottenthatthereweresuchthingsaswomenintheworld.Selinaaccordinglymadeforitonerainymorning,andannouncedthatshewastheladyseatedinthecentre,whosegownofrich,floweredbrocadefellinsuchstraight,severelinestoherfeet,whosecloakofdarkbluewasheldbyajewelledclasp,andwhoselong,fairhairwascrownedwithadiademofgoldandpearl.Well,wehadnoobjectiontothat;itseemedfairenough,especiallytoEdward,whopromptlyproceededto“grab”thearmour-manwhostoodleaningonhisshieldatthelady’srighthand.Adaintyanddelicatearmour-manthis!AndIconfess,thoughIknewitwasallrightandfairandorderly,IfeltaslightpangwhenhepassedoutofmyreachintoEdward’spossession.HisarmourwasjustthesortIwantedmyself—scallopedandflutedandshimmeringandspotless;and,thoughhewasbutaboybyhisbeardlessfaceandgoldenhair,theshatteredspear-shaftinhisgraspproclaimedhimagenuinefighterandfreshfromsomesuchagreeablework.
