the fortunes of oliver horn-第69章

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always　been　extended　to　Olivernot；　by　his　old　schoolmates　and　chums　at　least。　Even　Sue　had　passed　him　in　the　street　with　a　cold　stare　and　not　a　few　of　the　other　girlsgirls　he　had　romped　with　many　a　night　through　the　cool　paths　of　Kennedy　Square；　had　drawn　their　skirts　aside　as　he　passed　lest　he　should　foul　them　with　his　touch。

But　his　courage　had　not　wavered　nor　had　his　strength　failed　him。　The　same　qualities　that　had　made　Richard　stick　to　the　motor　were　in　his　own　blood。　His　delicately　modelled　slender　fingers；　white　as　ivory；　and　as　sure　as　a　pair　of　callipers　so　like　his　father'sand　which　as　we　watch　him　work　so　deftly　arranging　the　colors　on　his　palette；　adjusting　the　oil…cup；　trying　the　points　of　the　brushes　on　his　thumb…nail；　gathering　them　in　a　sheaf　in　his　left　hand　as　they　answer　his　purpose；　had　served　him　in　more　ways　than　one　since　he　took　that　midnight　ride　back　from　his　old　home　in　Kennedy　Square。　These　same　hands　that　look　so　white　and　well…kept　as　he　stands　by　his　easel　in　the　full　glare　of　the　gas…jets；　had　been　his　sole　reliance　during　these　days　of　toil　and　suffering。　They　had　provided　all　the　bread　that　had　gone　into　his　mouth；　and　every　stitch　of　clothes　that　had　covered　his　back。　And　they　had　not　been　over…particular　as　to　how　they　had　accomplished　　it　nor　at　what　hours　or　places。　They　had　cleaned　lithographic　stones；　the　finger…nails　stained　for　weeks　with　colored　inks；　they　had　packed　hardware；　　they　had　driven　a　pen　far　into　the　night　on　space　work　for　the　daily　papers；　they　had　carried　a　dinner…pail　to　and　from　his　lodgings　to　the　factory　two　miles　away　where　he　had　workedvery　little　in　this　pail　some　of　the　time；　they　had　posted　ledgers；　　made　office…fires；　swept　out　storesanything　and　everything　that　his　will　compelled；　and　his　　necessities　made　imperative。　And　they　had　done　it　all　forcefully　and　willingly；　with　the　persistence　and　sureness　of　machines　accomplishing　a　certain　output　in　so　many　hours。　Joyfully　too；　sustained　and　encouraged　by　the　woman　he　loved　and　whose　heart　through　all　his　and　her　vicissitudes　was　still　his　own。

All　this　had　strengthened　him；　had　taught　him　that　any　kind　of　work；　no　matter　how　menial；　was　worthy　of　a　gentleman；　so　long　as　his　object　was　obtained　in　this　case　his　independence　and　his　livelihood。　It　had　been　a　bitter　experience　at　first；　especially　for　a　Southerner　brought　up　as　he　had　been；　but　he　had　mastered　it　at　last。　His　early　training　had　helped　him；　especially　that　part　which　he　owed　to　his　mother；　who　had　made　him　carry　the　market…basket　as　a　boy；　to　humble　a　foolish　and　hurtful　pride。　He　was　proud　enough　of　it　now。

But　never　through　all　these　privations　had　these　same　white　hands　and　this　tired　body　and　brain　been　so　occupied　that　they　could　not　find　time　during　some　one　of　the　hours　of　the　day　and　night　to　wield　the　brush；　no　matter　how　urgent　had　been　the　call　for　the　week's　boardwielding　it；　too；　so　lovingly　and　knowingly；　and　with　such　persistency；　that　to…night　although　still　poorhe　stood　recognized　as　a　rising　man　by　the　men　in　the　front　rank　of　the　painters　of　his　time。

And　with　his　mother's　consent；　too。　Not　that　he　had　asked　it　in　so　many　words　and　stood　hesitating；　fearing　to　take　the　divergent　path　until　he　could　take　her　willing　blessing　with　him。　He　had　made　his　decision　firmly　and　against　her　wishes。　She　had　kept　silent　at　first；　and　had　watched　his　progress　as　she　had　watched　his　baby　steps；　tearfullyprayerfully　at　timesstanding　ready　to　catch　him　if　he　fell。　But　that　was　over　now。　The　bigness　of　her　vision　covering　　margins　wide　enough　for　new　impressions；　impressions　　which　her　broad　mind；　great　enough　and　honest　enough　to　confess　its　mistakes；　always　welcomed　　and　understood；　had　long　since　made　clear　to　her　what　in　her　early　anxiety　she　had　ignored：　that　if　her　son　had　inherited　the　creative　and　imaginative　gifts　of　his　father　（those　gifts　which　she　so　little　understood）；　he　had　also　inherited　from　her　a　certain　spirit　of　determination；　together　　with　that　practical　turn　of　mind　which　had　given　the　men　of　her　own　family　their　eminence。　In　proof　of　this　she　could　not　but　see　that　the　instability　which　she　had　so　dreaded　in　his　earlier　years　had　given　way　to　a　certain　fixedness　of　purpose　and　firm　self…reliance。　The　thought　of　this　thrilled　her　as　nothing　else　in　his　whole　career　had　ever　done。　All　these　things　helped　reconcile　her　to　his　choice　of　a　profession。

Oliver；　now　thoroughly　warm　and　dry；　busied　himself　　getting　his　brushes　and　paints　together　and　scraping　off　one　of　Fred's　palettes。　Bianchi's　bald　head　and　fat；　red；　smooth…shaven　face　with　its　double　chintime　had　not　dealt　leniently　with　the　distinguished　lithographerhad　inspired　our　hero　to　attempt　　a　〃Franz　Hals　smear；〃　as　Waller　called　it；　and　the　Pole；　when　he　arrived；　was　to　sit　for　him　in　the　costume　of　an　old　Dutch　burgomaster；　the　big　white　ruff　furnishing　the　high　lights　in　the　canvas。

By　the　time　Oliver　had　arranged　his　palette　the　club　had　settled　itself　for　work；　the　smoke　from　the　pipes　floating　in　long　lines　toward　the　ceiling；　befogging　　the　big　white　albatross　that　hung　from　a　wire　in　the　skylight。　Munson；　who　had　rubbed　in　a　background　　of　bitumen　over　a　square　tile；　sat　next　to　Fred；　who　was　picking　out；　with　the　end　of　a　wooden　match；　the　outlines　of　an　army…wagon　sketched　on　a　plate　smeared　with　color。　Simmons　was　looking　over　a　portfolio　that　Watson；　a　new　member；　had　brought　with　him；　filled　with　a　lot　of　his　summer　sketches　made　on　the　Normandy　coast。

One　view　of　the　fish…market　at　Dieppe　caught　Oliver's　　eye。　The　slant　of　light　burnishing　the　roof　of　the　church　to　silver　and　flooding　the　pavement　of　the　open　square；　crowded　with　black　figures；　the　white　caps　of　the　fish…women　indicated　by　crisp　pats　of　the　brush；　pleased　our　painter　immensely。

〃Charming；　old　man；〃　said　Oliver；　turning　to　Watson。　〃How　long　did　it　take　you？〃

〃About　four　hours。〃

〃Looks　like　it；〃　growled　Waller；　reaching　over　Oliver's　shoulder　and　drawing　the　sketch　toward　him。　〃That's　the　gospel　of　'smear；'　Horn；〃　and　he　tossed　it　back。　〃Not　a　figure　in　the　group　has　got　any　drawing　in　it。〃

Waller　had　set　his　face　against　the　new　out…door　school；　and　never　lost　a　chance　to　ridicule　it。

〃That's　not　what　Watson　is　after；〃　exclaimed　Oliver。　　〃The　figures　are　mere　accessories。　The　dominating　　light　is　the　thing；　he's　got　that〃and　he　held　the　sketch　close　to　the　overhead　gas…jets　so　that　the　members　could　see　it　the　better。

〃Dominating　light　be　hanged！　What's　the　use　of　slobbering　puddles　of　paint　over　a　canvas　and　calling　it　plein　air；　or　impressionism；　or　out…of…doors；　or　some　such　rot？　Get　down　to　business　and　DRAW。　When　you　have　done　that　you　can　talk。　It　can't　be　done　in　four　hours；　and　if　some　of　you　fellows　keep　on　the　way　you're　going；　you'll　never　do　it　in　four　years。〃

〃A　four　hours'　sketch　handled　as　Watson　has　this；〃　said　Oliver；　thoughtfully；　〃is　better　than　four　years'　work　on　one　of　your　Hudson　Rivery　things。　The　sun　doesn't　stand　still　long　enough　for　a　man　to　get　more　than　an　expression　of　what　he　seesthat　is　if　he's　after　truth。　The　angle　of　shadow　changes　too　quickly；　and　so　do　the　reflected　lights。〃

〃What's　the　matter　with　the　next　day？〃　burst　out　Waller。　〃Can't　you　take　up　your　sketch　where　you　left　off？　You　talk　as　if　every　great　picture　had　to　be　painted　before　luncheon。〃

〃But　there　is　no　'next　day；'〃　interrupted　Watson。　　〃I　entirely　agree　with　Horn。〃　He　had　been　listening　to　the　discussion　with　silent　interest。　〃No　next　day　like　the　one　on　which　you　began　your　canvas。　　The　sky　is　differentgray；　blue；　or　full　of　fleecy；　sunny　clouds。　Your　shadows　are　more　purple；　or　blue　or　gray；　depending　on　your　sky　overhead；　and　so　are　your　reflections。　If　you　go　on　and　try　to　piece　out　your　sketch；　you　make　an　almanac　of　it　not　a　portrait　of　what　you　saw。　I　can　pick　out　the　Mondays；　Tuesdays；　and　Wednesdays　on　that　kind　of　a　sketch　as　soon　as　I　see　it。　Nature　is　like　a　bird　if　you　want　to　surprise　her；　you　must　let　go　both　barrels　when　she　rises；　if　you　miss　her　at　your　first　shot　you　will　never　have　another　chancenot　at　that　particular　bird。〃

〃Well；　but　suppose　you　DO　happen　to　have　two　days　alike；〃　insisted　Waller。　〃I　have　seen　thirty　days　on