Читать книгу The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 01, No. 06, April, 1858 - Various - Страница 9

  Why doesn't Mr. Claude come with us? you ask.—We don't know.

  You should know better than we. He talked of the Vatican marbles;

  But I can't wholly believe that this was the actual reason,—

  He was so ready before, when we asked him to come and escort us.

  Certainly he is odd, my dear Miss Roper. To change so

  Suddenly, just for a whim, was not quite fair to the party,—

  Not quite right. I declare, I really am almost offended:

  I, his great friend, as you say, have doubtless a title to be so.

  Not that I greatly regret it, for dear Georgina distinctly

  Wishes for nothing so much as to show her adroitness. But, oh, my

  Pen will not write any more;—let us say nothing further about it.

  Yes, my dear Miss Roper, I certainly called him repulsive;

  So I think him, but cannot be sure I have used the expression

  Quite as your pupil should; yet he does most truly repel me.

  Was it to you I made use of the word? or who was it told you?

  Yes, repulsive; observe, it is but when he talks of ideas,

  That he is quite unaffected, and free, and expansive, and easy;

  I could pronounce him simply a cold intellectual being.—

  When does he make advances?—He thinks that women should woo him;

  Yet, if a girl should do so, would be but alarmed and disgusted.

  She that should love him must look for small love in return,—like

       the ivy

  On the stone wall, must expect but rigid and niggard support, and

  Even to get that must go searching all round with her humble embraces.