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The Artist of the Beautiful
Hiscustomrapidlydiminished—amisfortune,however,thatwasprobablyreckonedamonghisbetteraccidentsbyOwenWarland,whowasbecomingmoreandmoreabsorbedinasecretoccupationwhichdrewallhisscienceandmanualdexterityintoitself,andlikewisegavefullemploymenttothecharacteristictendenciesofhisgenius.Thispursuithadalreadyconsumedmanymonths.
Aftertheoldwatchmakerandhisprettydaughterhadgazedathimoutoftheobscurityofthestreet,OwenWarlandwasseizedwithaflutteringofthenerves,whichmadehishandtrembletooviolentlytoproceedwithsuchdelicatelaborashewasnowengagedupon.
"ItwasAnnieherself!"murmuredhe."Ishouldhaveknownit,bythisthrobbingofmyheart,beforeIheardherfather’svoice.Ah,howitthrobs!Ishallscarcelybeabletoworkagainonthisexquisitemechanismto-night.Annie!dearestAnnie!thoushouldstgivefirmnesstomyheartandhand,andnotshakethemthus;forifIstrivetoputtheveryspiritofbeautyintoformandgiveitmotion,itisforthysakealone.Othrobbingheart,bequiet!Ifmylaborbethusthwarted,therewillcomevagueandunsatisfieddreamswhichwillleavemespiritlessto-morrow."
Ashewasendeavoringtosettlehimselfagaintohistask,theshopdooropenedandgaveadmittancetonootherthanthestalwartfigurewhichPeterHovendenhadpausedtoadmire,asseenamidthelightandshadowoftheblacksmith’sshop.RobertDanforthhadbroughtalittleanvilofhisownmanufacture,andpeculiarlyconstructed,whichtheyoungartisthadrecentlybespoken.
