Королі та капуста
Masters of arts
Iwantedittocreepintothemlikeabarofmusicandmushroomtherelikeasoftbullet.AndIwanted’emtogoawayandask,‘Whatelsehashedone?’AndIdidn’twant’emtofindathing;notaportraitnoramagazinecovernoranillustrationnoradrawingofagirl—nothingbutthepicture.That’swhyI’velivedonfriedsausages,andtriedtokeeptruetomyself.Ipersuadedmyselftodothisportraitforthechanceitmightgivemetostudyabroad.Butthishowling,screamingcaricature!GoodLord!can’tyouseehowitis?"
"Sure,"saidKeogh,astenderlyashewouldhavespokentoachild,andhelaidalongforefingeronWhite’sknee."Isee.It’sbadtohaveyourartallsluggeduplikethat.Iknow.YouwantedtopaintabigthinglikethepanoramaofthebattleofGettysburg.Butletmekalsomineyoualittlementalsketchtoconsider.Uptodatewe’reout$385.50onthisscheme.Ourcapitaltookeverycentbothofuscouldraise.We’vegotaboutenoughlefttogetbacktoNewYorkon.Ineedmyshareofthattenthousand.IwanttoworkacopperdealinIdaho,andmakeahundredthousand.That’sthebusinessendofthething.Comedownoffyourartperch,Carry,andlet’slandthathatfulofdollars."
"Billy,"saidWhite,withaneffort,"I’lltry.Iwon’tsayI’lldoit,butI’lltry.I’llgoatit,andputitthroughifIcan."
"That’sbusiness,"saidKeoghheartily."Goodboy!Now,here’sanotherthing—rushthatpicture—crowditthroughasquickasyoucan.
