the fortunes of oliver horn-第66节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃A　cracking　price？　She　must　have　needed　the　money　bad。〃　The　more　he　thought　of　it　the　funnier　it　seemed。

Snedecor　looked　surprised。　He　was　thinking　of　Fish's　order　and　the　amount　of　his　commission。　Most　of　Oliver's　remarks　were　unintelligible　to　himespecially　　his　reference　to　the　stockings。

〃What　shall　I　say　to　him？〃　Snedecor　asked　at　last。

〃Oh；　nothing　in　particular。　Just　send　him　to　my　studio。　I'll　be　in　all　to…morrow　morning。〃

〃Well；　but　don't　you　think　you'd　better　go　and　see　him　yourself　now？　He's　too　big　a　bug　to　run　after　people。　That　kind　of　thing　don't　come　every　day；　you　know；　you　might　lose　it。　Why；　he　lives　right　near　you　in　that　swell　house　across　the　Square。〃

〃Oh；　I　know　him　very　well；〃　said　Oliver；　nodding　his　head。　〃No；　let　him　come　to…morrow　to　me；　it　won't　hurt　him　to　walk　up　three　flights　of　stairs。　I'm　busy　to…day。　Now　I　think　of　it；　there's　one　thing；　though；　you　CAN　tell　him；　and　please　be　particular　about　itthere　will　be　no　advance　over　my　regular　price。　I　don't　care　to　compete　with　her　ladyship。〃

Without　waiting　to　hear　the　dealer's　protest　he　stepped　outside　the　shop　and　joined　the　crowd　about　the　window；　elbowing　each　other　for　a　better　view　of　the　portrait。　No　one　recognized　him。　He　was　too　obscure　for　that。　They　might　after　this；　he　thought　with　an　exultant　throb；　and　a　flush　of　pride　crossed　his　face。

As　he　walked　down　Broadway　a　sense　of　the　humor　of　the　whole　situation　came　over　him。　Here　for　years　he　had　been　working　day　and　night；　running　　the　gauntlet　of　successive　juries　and　hanging　committees；　with　his　best　things　rejected　or　skied　until　his　Tam…o'…Shanter　girl　made　a　hit；　worrying；　hoping　against　hope；　racking　his　brain　as　to　how　and　when　and　where　he　would　find　the　path　which　would　lead　him　to　commercial　successa　difficult　task　for　one　too　proud　to　beg　for　favors　and　too　independent　　to　seek　another's　aidand　here；　out　of　the　clear　sky；　had　come　this　audacious　Bohemienne；　the　pet　of　foyer　and　studioa　woman　who　presented　the　greatest　　number　of　contrasts　to　the　things　he　held　most　dear　in　womankindand　with　a　single　stroke　had　cleared　the　way　to　success　for　him。　And　this；　too；　not　from　any　love　of　him；　nor　his　work；　nor　his　future；　but　simply　to　settle　a　board…bill　or　pay　for　a　bonnet。

Again　Oliver　laughed；　this　time　so　loudly　that　the　man　in　front　turned　and　looked　at　him。

〃A　cracking　price；〃　he　kept　repeating　to　himself；　〃a　cracking　price；　eh？　and　out　of　old　Peter　Fish！　Went　fishing　for　minnows　and　hooked　a　whale；　and　another　little　fish　for　me！　I　wonder　what　she　baited　her　hook　with。　That　woman's　a　genius。〃

Suddenly　he　caught　sight　of　the　sign　of　a　Long　Island　florist　set　up　in　an　apothecary's　window　between　　the　big　green　and　red　glass　globes　that　lined　its　sides。

Turning　on　his　heel　he　entered　the　door。

〃Pick　me　out　a　dozen　red　japonicas；〃　he　said　to　the　boy　behind　the　counter。

Oliver　waited　until　each　short…stemmed　blossom　was　carefully　selected；　laid　on　its　bed　of　raw　cotton；　blanketed　with　the　same　covering；　and　packed　in　a　paper　box。　Then；　taking　a　card　from　his　pocket；　he　wrote　upon　its　back：　〃Most　grateful　thanks　for　my　share　of　the　catch；〃　slipped　it　into　an　envelope；　　addressed　it　to　〃The　fair　Fisher；　The　Countess　Kovalski；〃　　and；　with　a　grim　smile　on　his　face；　kept　on　down　Broadway　toward　the　dingy　hotel；　the　resort　of　all　the　Southerners　of　the　time；　to　arrange　for　rooms　for　his　father　and　Nathan　Gill。

Having；　with　his　card　and　his　japonicas；　dismissed　the　Countess　from　his　mind；　and　to　a　certain　extent　his　obligations；　the　full　importance　of　this　new　order　of　Peter　Fish's　began　to　take　possession　of　him。　The　color　rose　in　his　cheeks　and　an　old…time　spring　and　lightness　came　into　his　steps。　He　knew　that　such　a　commission；　and　from　such　a　man；　would　at　once　gain　for　him　a　recognition　from　art　patrons　and　a　standing　among　the　dealers。　Lasting　success　was　now　assured　him　in　the　line　he　had　chosen　for　his　life's　work。　It　only　remained　for　him　to　do　the　best　that　was　in　him。　Better　than　all；　it　had　come　to　him　unasked　and　without　　any　compromising　effort　on　his　own　part。

He　knew　the　connoisseur's　collection。　It　filled　the　large　gallery　adjoining　his　extensive　home　on　Washington　　Square　and　was　not　only　the　best　in　the　city；　containing　as　it　did　examples　of　Sir　Thomas　Lawrence；　　Sir　Joshua　Reynolds；　Chrome；　Sully；　and　many　of　the　modern　French　schoolamong　them　two　fine　Courbets　and　a　Rousseaubut　it　had　lately　been　enriched　by　one　or　more　important　American　landscapes；　notably　Sanford　Gifford's　〃Catskill　Gorge〃　and　Church's　〃Tropics〃two　canvases　which　had　attracted　more　than　usual　attention　at　the　Spring　Exhibition　of　the　Academy。　An　order；　therefore；　for　a　family　portrait　from　so　distinguished　a　patron　not　only　gave　weight　and　dignity　to　the　work　of　any　painter　he　might　select；　but　it　would　　unquestionably　influence　his　many　friends　and　　acquaintances　to　go　and　do　likewise。

As　Oliver；　his　eyes　aglow；　his　whole　heart　filled　with　joy；　stepped　quickly　down　the　street　the　beauty　of　the　day　made　him　throw　back　his　shoulders　and　drink　in　long　deep　breaths；　as　if　he　would　fill　his　very　pores　with　its　vitality。　These　early　spring　days　in　New　Yorkthe　most　beautiful　the　world　over；　not　even　in　Italy　can　one　find　better　skiesalways　affected　him　in　this　way。　There　was　a　strength…giving　　quality　in　the　ozone；　a　brilliancy　in　the　sunshine；　and　a　tempered　coolness　in　the　air　to　be　found　nowhere　　else。　There　was；　too；　a　certain　picturesqueness　in　the　sky…line　of　the　housesa　sky…line　fringed　with　jets　of　white　steam　from　the　escape…pipes　of　numerous　fires　below；　which　appealed　to　his　artistic　sense。　These　curling　plumes　that　waved　so　triumphantly　in　the　sparkling　morning　light；　or　stirred　by　the　wind；　flapped　like　milk…white　signal　flags；　breaking　at　last　into　tatters　and　shreds；　blurring　the　edges　of　chimney　and　cornice；　were　a　constant　source　of　delight　to　the　young　painter。　He　would　often　stop　to　watch　their　movements；　and　as　often　determine　to　paint　them　at　the　first　opportunity。　They　seemed　to　express　to　him　something　of　the　happy　freedom　of　one　released　from　pent…up　toil；　a　freedom　longed　for　in　his　own　heart；　and　which　had　rarely　been　his　since　those　blessed　days　under　Moose　Hillock；　when　he　and　Margaret　　roamed　the　woods　together。

Still　a　third　cause　of　rejoicingand　this　sent　a　flutter　around　his　heartwas　the　near　prospect　of　meeting　his　dear　old　father；　whom　he　had　not　seen　for　months；　not　since　his　last　visit　home；　and　whose　long　years　of　struggle　and　waiting　seemed　now　to　be　so　nearly　ended。

With　these　last　joyous　thoughts　filling　his　mind；　he　stepped　quickly　through　the　corridor　of　the　hotel；　approached　the　desk；　and　had　just　given　the　names　of　his　father　and　Nathan　to　the　clerk；　when　a　man　behind　the　counter　interrupted　him　with：

〃Just　arrived。　Got　in　this　morning。　There　they　are　by　the　window。〃

Two　quaint…looking　old　gentlemen　were　gazing　out　upon　the　rush　of　Broadwaytwo　old　gentlemen　so　unusual　that　even　the　habitues　of　the　place；　those　who　sat　tilted　back　all　day　chipping　the　arms　of　their　chairs　with　their　pen…knives；　or　sipping　countless　toddies　and　juleps；　were　still　staring　at　them　in　　undisguised　astonishment。　Oneit　was　Nathanwore　a　queer　hat；　bushy；　white　hair；　and　long；　pen…wiper　cloak：　it　was　the　same　cloak；　or　another　just　like　it；　the　same；　no　doubt；　few　new　clothes　had　been　bought　during　the　war。　And　the　otherand　this　was　his　own　dear　fatherwore　a　buff　waistcoat；　high　white　silk　scarf；　and　brown　frock　coat；　with　velvet　collar。　Neither　of　them　were　every…day　sights　around　the　corridors　of　the　New　York　Hotel：　even　among　a　collection　of　human　oddities　representing　every　State　in　the　South。

〃We　thought　it　best　to　take　the　night　train；　my　son；〃　said　Richard；　starting　up　at　Oliver's　caressing　touchhe　had　put　both　hands　on　his　father's　shoulders。　　〃You　got　your　dear　mother's　letter　of　course。　Oh；　I'm　so　glad　to　see　you！　Sit　down　here　alongside　of　us。　How　well　you　are　looking；　my　son；〃　and　he　patted　him　lovingly　on　the　arm。　〃What　a　whirl　it　all　is！　Nathan　and　I　have　been　here　for　hours；　we　arrived　at　six　o'clock。　Did　you　ever　see　anything　like　it？　The　people　never　seem　to　stop　coming。　Ah！　this　is　the　place　for　you；　my　boy。　Everything　is　so　alive；　so　full　of　purpose；　so　intense；　so　delightful　and　　inspiring　to　me。　And　such　a　change　in　the　years　since　I　was　here。〃

He　had　brought　the　motor　with　him。　It　lay　at　the　moment　in　a　square　box　inside　the　office…railing。　Not　the　big　one　which　he　had　just　perfectedthat　one　was　at　home　under　the　window　in　the　old　shop；　in　the　back　yard　in　Kennedy　Squarebut　a　smaller　working　　model　made　of　pine　wood；　with　glass…tumblers　for　jars　and　imitation　magnets　wrapped　round　with　thread　instead　of　wirethe　whole　unintelligible　to　the　layman；　but　perfectly　clear　to　the　scientist。　He　had　with　him；　too；　packed　in　a　small　carpet…bag；　which　lay　within　reach　of　his　hand；　all　the　patents　which　had　been　granted　him　as　the　work　progressedbesides　a　huge　bundle　of　papers；　such　as　legal　documents；　notices　　from　the　scientific　journals；　and　other　data　connected　　with　the　great　Horn　Galvanic　Motor；　which　was　soon　to　revolutionize　the　motive　power　of　the　world。　Tucked　away　in　his　inside　pocket；　ready　for　instant　use；