Мхи старої садиби
The Artist of the Beautiful
Ithasalreadylostitsbeauty;inafewmomentsmoreitsmechanismwouldbeirreparablyinjured."
"Takeawayyourhand,father!"entreatedAnnie,turningpale."Hereismychild;letitrestonhisinnocenthand.There,perhaps,itslifewillreviveanditscolorsgrowbrighterthanever."
Herfather,withanacridsmile,withdrewhisfinger.Thebutterflythenappearedtorecoverthepowerofvoluntarymotion,whileitshuesassumedmuchoftheiroriginallustre,andthegleamofstarlight,whichwasitsmostetherealattribute,againformedahaloroundaboutit.Atfirst,whentransferredfromRobertDanforth’shandtothesmallfingerofthechild,thisradiancegrewsopowerfulthatitpositivelythrewthelittlefellow’sshadowbackagainstthewall.He,meanwhile,extendedhisplumphandashehadseenhisfatherandmotherdo,andwatchedthewavingoftheinsect’swingswithinfantinedelight.Nevertheless,therewasacertainoddexpressionofsagacitythatmadeOwenWarlandfeelasifherewereoldPeteHovenden,partially,andbutpartially,redeemedfromhishardscepticismintochildishfaith.
"Howwisethelittlemonkeylooks!"whisperedRobertDanforthtohiswife.
"Ineversawsuchalookonachild’sface,"answeredAnnie,admiringherowninfant,andwithgoodreason,farmorethantheartisticbutterfly."Thedarlingknowsmoreofthemysterythanwedo."
Asifthebutterfly,liketheartist,wereconsciousofsomethingnotentirelycongenialinthechild’snature,italternatelysparkledandgrewdim.
