Мхи старої садиби
Rappaccini's Daughter
Hepaused,hesitated,turnedhalfabout,butagainwenton.Hiswitheredguideledhimalongseveralobscurepassages,andfinallyundidadoor,throughwhich,asitwasopened,therecamethesightandsoundofrustlingleaves,withthebrokensunshineglimmeringamongthem.Giovannisteppedforth,and,forcinghimselfthroughtheentanglementofashrubthatwreatheditstendrilsoverthehiddenentrance,stoodbeneathhisownwindowintheopenareaofDr.Rappaccini’sgarden.
Howoftenisitthecasethat,whenimpossibilitieshavecometopassanddreamshavecondensedtheirmistysubstanceintotangiblerealities,wefindourselvescalm,andevencoldlyself-possessed,amidcircumstanceswhichitwouldhavebeenadeliriumofjoyoragonytoanticipate!Fatedelightstothwartusthus.Passionwillchoosehisowntimetorushuponthescene,andlingerssluggishlybehindwhenanappropriateadjustmentofeventswouldseemtosummonhisappearance.SowasitnowwithGiovanni.DayafterdayhispulseshadthrobbedwithfeverishbloodattheimprobableideaofaninterviewwithBeatrice,andofstandingwithher,facetoface,inthisverygarden,baskingintheOrientalsunshineofherbeauty,andsnatchingfromherfullgazethemysterywhichhedeemedtheriddleofhisownexistence.Butnowtherewasasingularanduntimelyequanimitywithinhisbreast.HethrewaglancearoundthegardentodiscoverifBeatriceorherfatherwerepresent,and,perceivingthathewasalone,beganacriticalobservationoftheplants.
