Мхи старої садиби
The Artist of the Beautiful
"Come;explaintomequicklywhatisthemeaningofthislittlewhirligig,sodelicatelywroughtthatitmightbeaplaythingforQueenMab.See!Iwillputitinmotion."
"Hold!"exclaimedOwen,"hold!"
Anniehadbutgiventheslightestpossibletouch,withthepointofaneedle,tothesameminuteportionofcomplicatedmachinerywhichhasbeenmorethanoncementioned,whentheartistseizedherbythewristwithaforcethatmadeherscreamaloud.Shewasaffrightedattheconvulsionofintenserageandanguishthatwrithedacrosshisfeatures.Thenextinstanthelethisheadsinkuponhishands.
"Go,Annie,"murmuredhe;"Ihavedeceivedmyself,andmustsufferforit.Iyearnedforsympathy,andthought,andfancied,anddreamedthatyoumightgiveitme;butyoulackthetalisman,Annie,thatshouldadmityouintomysecrets.Thattouchhasundonethetoilofmonthsandthethoughtofalifetime!Itwasnotyourfault,Annie;butyouhaveruinedme!"
PoorOwenWarland!Hehadindeederred,yetpardonably;forifanyhumanspiritcouldhavesufficientlyreverencedtheprocessessosacredinhiseyes,itmusthavebeenawoman’s.EvenAnnieHovenden,possiblymightnothavedisappointedhimhadshebeenenlightenedbythedeepintelligenceoflove.
Theartistspenttheensuingwinterinawaythatsatisfiedanypersonswhohadhithertoretainedahopefulopinionofhimthathewas,intruth,irrevocablydoomedtounutilityasregardedtheworld,andtoanevildestinyonhisownpart.Thedeceaseofarelativehadputhiminpossessionofasmallinheritance.
