Читать книгу На маяк. Уровень 3 / To the Lighthouse - Вирджиния Вулф - Страница 14

He had been to Amsterdam, Mr. Bankes was saying as he strolled across the lawn with Lily Briscoe. He had seen the Rembrandts[17].

He had been to Madrid. Unfortunately, it was Good Friday[18] and the Prado was shut.

He had been to Rome. Had Miss Briscoe never been to Rome? Oh, she must! It will be a wonderful experience for her – the Sistine Chapel[19]; Michael Angelo[20]; and Padua, with its Giottos[21].

She had been to Brussels; she had been to Paris but only for a short visit to see an aunt who was ill. She had been to Dresden; there were masses of pictures she had not seen. However, Lily Briscoe reflected, perhaps it was better not to see pictures. They only made one hopelessly discontented with one’s own work.

We can’t all be Titians and we can’t all be Darwins, he said. At the same time, we won’t have Darwins and Titians if we don’t have humble people like ourselves. Lily wanted to pay him a compliment; you’re not humble, Mr. Bankes. But he did not want compliments (most men do, she thought), and she was a little ashamed of her impulse and said nothing.

Anyhow, said Lily, she would always go on painting, because it interested her.

Yes, said Mr. Bankes, he was sure she would.

As they reached the end of the lawn he was asking her whether she could easily find subjects in London when they turned and saw the Ramsays. So that is marriage, Lily thought.

Mrs. Ramsay greeted them with her usual smile (oh, she’s thinking we’re going to get married, Lily thought) and said,

“I have triumphed tonight”.

That meant Mr. Bankes had agreed to dine with them. Then Prue ran to them with a ball. Her mother said,

“Haven’t they come back yet?”

Then she asked,

“Did Nancy go with them?”