’Ihaveathousandmen，’saidhe，’Towaituponmywill，AndtowersnineupontheTyne，AndthreeupontheTill。’
’AndwhatcareIforyoumen，’saidshe，’OrtowersfromTynetoTill，Sithyoumustgowithme，’shesaid，’Towaituponmywill？’-
SirHoggieandtheFairiesNEXTmorningTorpenhowfoundDicksunkindeepestreposeoftobacco。
’Well，madman，howd’youfeel？’
’Idon’tknowI’mtryingtofindout。’
’Youhadmuchbetterdosomework。’
’Maybe；butI’minnohurryI’vemadeadiscoveryTorp，there’stoomuchEgoinmyCosmos。’
’Notreally！Isthisrevelationduetomylectures，ortheNilghai’s？’
’Itcametomesuddenly，allonmyownaccountMuchtoomuchEgo；
andnowI’mgoingtowork。’
Heturnedoverafewhalf-finishedsketches，drummedonanewcanvas，cleanedthreebrushes，setBinkietobitethetoesofthelayfigure，rattledthroughhiscollectionofarmsandaccoutrements，andthenwentoutabruptly，declaringthathehaddoneenoughfortheday。
’Thisispositivelyindecent，’saidTorpenhow，’andthefirsttimethatDickhaseverbrokenupalightmorningPerhapshehasfoundoutthathehasasoul，oranartistictemperament，orsomethingequallyvaluable。
ThatcomesofleavinghimaloneforamonthPerhapshehasbeengoingoutofeveningsImustlooktothis。’Herangforthebald-headedoldhousekeeper，whomnothingcouldastonishorannoy。
’Beeton，didMrHeldardineoutatallwhileIwasoutoftown？’
’Neverlaid’isdress-clothesoutonce，sir，allthetimeMostly’edinedin；
but’ebroughtsomemostremarkableyounggentlemenup’ereaftertheatresonceortwiceRemarkablefancytheywasYougentlemenonthetopfloordoesverymuchasyoulikes，butitdoseemtome，sir，droppin’awalkin’-stickdownfiveflightso’stairsan’thengoin’
downfourabreasttopickitupagainathalf-pasttwointhemornin’，singin’
“Bringbackthewhiskey，Williedarlin，’“——notonceortwice，butscoreso’times，——isn’tcharitytotheothertenantsWhatIsayis，“Doasyouwouldbedoneby。”That’smymotto。’
’Ofcourse！ofcourse！I’mafraidthetopfloorisn’tthequietestinthehouse。’
’Imakenocomplaints，sirIhavespoketoMrHeldarfriendly，an’
helaughed，an’didmeapictureofthemissisthatisasgoodasacolouredprintIt’asn’tthehighshineofaphotograph，butwhatIsayis，“Neverlookagift-horseinthemouth。”MrHeldar’sdress-clothes’aven’tbeenonhimforweeks。’
’Thenit’sallright，’saidTorpenhowtohimself’Orgiesarehealthy，andDickhasaheadofhisown，butwhenitcomestowomenmakingeyesI’mnotsocertain，——Binkie，neveryoubeaman，littledorglums。
They’recontrarybrutes，andtheydothingswithoutanyreason。’
DickhadturnednorthwardacrossthePark，buthewaswalkinginthespiritonthemud-flatswithMaisieHelaughedaloudasherememberedthedaywhenhehaddeckedAmomma’shornswiththeham-frills，andMaisie，whitewithrage，hadcuffedhimHowlongthosefouryearsseemedinreview，andhowcloselyMaisiewasconnectedwitheveryhourofthem！Stormacrossthesea，andMaisieinagraydressonthebeach，sweepingherdrenchedhairoutofhereyesandlaughingatthehomewardraceofthefishing-smacks；hotsunshineonthemud-flats，andMaisiesniffingscornfully，withherchinintheair；Maisieflyingbeforethewindthatthreshedtheforeshoreanddrovethesandlikesmallshotaboutherears；Maisie，verycomposedandindependent，tellingliestoMrsJennettwhileDicksupportedherwithcoarserperjuries；
Maisiepickingherwaydelicatelyfromstonetostone，apistolinherhandandherteethfirm-set；andMaisieinagraydresssittingonthegrassbetweenthemouthofacannonandanoddingyellowsea-poppy。
Thepicturespassedbeforehimonebyone，andthelaststayedthelongest。
DickwasperfectlyhappywithaquietpeacethatwasasnewtohismindasitwasforeigntohisexperiencesItneveroccurredtohimthattheremightbeothercallsuponhistimethanloafingacrosstheParkint...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：