Мхи старої садиби
The Artist of the Beautiful
"
Herethechildclappedhishandsandmadeagreatbabbleofindistinctutterance,apparentlydemandingthatthebutterflyshouldbegivenhimforaplaything.
OwenWarland,meanwhile,glancedsidelongatAnnie,todiscoverwhethershesympathizedinherhusband’sestimateofthecomparativevalueofthebeautifulandthepractical.Therewas,amidallherkindnesstowardshimself,amidallthewonderandadmirationwithwhichshecontemplatedthemarvellousworkofhishandsandincarnationofhisidea,asecretscorn—toosecret,perhaps,forherownconsciousness,andperceptibleonlytosuchintuitivediscernmentasthatoftheartist.ButOwen,inthelatterstagesofhispursuit,hadrisenoutoftheregioninwhichsuchadiscoverymighthavebeentorture.Heknewthattheworld,andAnnieastherepresentativeoftheworld,whateverpraisemightbebestowed,couldneversaythefittingwordnorfeelthefittingsentimentwhichshouldbetheperfectrecompenseofanartistwho,symbolizingaloftymoralbyamaterialtrifle,—convertingwhatwasearthlytospiritualgold,—hadwonthebeautifulintohishandiwork.Notatthislatestmomentwashetolearnthattherewardofallhighperformancemustbesoughtwithinitself,orsoughtinvain.Therewas,however,aviewofthematterwhichAnnieandherhusband,andevenPeterHovenden,mightfullyhaveunderstood,andwhichwouldhavesatisfiedthemthatthetoilofyearshadherebeenworthilybestowed.
