Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Part I - II
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
THE CONFESSION OF A FOOL 19
were like two shipwrecked people in their eagerness to
pour out their hearts to the first comer.
The Baroness in particular perplexed nie. I tried to
call up her picture, but was confused by the wealth of
contradictory characteristics which I had discovered in
her, and from which I had to choose. Kindhearted,
amiable, brusque, enthusiastic, communicative and re-
served, cold and excitable, she seemed to be full of whims,
brooding over ambitious dreams. She was neither com-
monplace nor clever, but she impressed people. Of
Byzantine slenderness, which allowed her dress to fall in
simple, noble folds, like the dress of a St. Cecilia, her
body was of bewitching proportions, her wrists and ankles
exquisitely beautiful. Every now and then the pale,
somewhat rigid features of her little face warmed into life
and sparkled with infectious gaiety.
It was difficult to say who was master in the house.
He, the soldier, accustomed to command, but burdened
with a weak constitution, seemed submissive, more, I
thought, from indifference than want of will-power. They
were certainly on friendly terms, but there was none of
the ecstasy of young love. When I made their acquaint-
ance they were delighted to rejuvenate themselves by
calling up the memories of the past before a third person.
In studying them more closely, I became convinced that
they lived on relics, bored each other, and the frequent
invitations which I received after my first call proved
that my conclusions were correct.
On the eve of the Baroness’s departure for Finland I
called on her to say good-bye. It was a lovely evening
in June. The moment I entered the courtyard I caught
sight of her behind the garden railings ; she was standing
in a shrubbery of aristolochias, and the transcendent
beauty of her appearance came upon me almost with a
c 2
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
