Мхи старої садиби
Egotism; or, The Bosom Serpent
OnthisdecisionofsuchcompetentauthorityRoderickwasreleased,andhadreturnedtohisnativecitytheverydaybeforehisencounterwithGeorgeHerkimer.
Assoonaspossibleafterlearningtheseparticularsthesculptor,togetherwithasadandtremulouscompanion,soughtEllistonathisownhouse.Itwasalarge,sombreedificeofwood,withpilastersandabalcony,andwasdividedfromoneoftheprincipalstreetsbyaterraceofthreeelevations,whichwasascendedbysuccessiveflightsofstonesteps.Someimmenseoldelmsalmostconcealedthefrontofthemansion.Thisspaciousandoncemagnificentfamilyresidencewasbuiltbyagrandeeoftheraceearlyinthepastcentury,atwhichepoch,landbeingofsmallcomparativevalue,thegardenandothergroundshadformedquiteanextensivedomain.Althoughaportionoftheancestralheritagehadbeenalienated,therewasstillashadowyenclosureintherearofthemansionwhereastudent,oradreamer,oramanofstrickenheartmightliealldayuponthegrass,amidthesolitudeofmurmuringboughs,andforgetthatacityhadgrownuparoundhim.
IntothisretirementthesculptorandhiscompanionwereusheredbyScipio,theoldblackservant,whosewrinkledvisagegrewalmostsunnywithintelligenceandjoyashepaidhishumblegreetingstooneofthetwovisitors.
"Remaininthearbor,"whisperedthesculptortothefigurethatleaneduponhisarm."Youwillknowwhether,andwhen,tomakeyourappearance."
"Godwillteachme,"wasthereply.
