Мартин Иден

Chapter 20

           Hehadlikedwomeninthatturgidpastofhis,andbeenfascinatedbysomeofthem,buthehadnotknownwhatitwastolovethem. Hehadwhistledinamasterful,carelessway,andtheyhadcometohim. Theyhadbeendiversions,incidents,partofthegamemenplay,butasmallpartatmost. Andnow,andforthefirsttime,hewasasuppliant,tenderandtimidanddoubting. Hedidnotknowthewayoflove,noritsspeech,whilehewasfrightenedathislovedone’sclearinnocence. 

           Inthecourseofgettingacquaintedwithavariedworld,whirlingonthroughtheeverchangingphasesofit,hehadlearnedaruleofconductwhichwastotheeffectthatwhenoneplayedastrangegame,heshouldlettheotherfellowplayfirst. Thishadstoodhimingoodsteadathousandtimesandtrainedhimasanobserveraswell. Heknewhowtowatchthethingthatwasstrange,andtowaitforaweakness,foraplaceofentrance,todivulgeitself. Itwaslikesparringforanopeninginfist-fighting. Andwhensuchanopeningcame,heknewbylongexperiencetoplayforitandtoplayhard. 

           SohewaitedwithRuthandwatched,desiringtospeakhislovebutnotdaring. Hewasafraidofshockingher,andhewasnotsureofhimself. Hadhebutknownit,hewasfollowingtherightcoursewithher. Lovecameintotheworldbeforearticulatespeech,andinitsownearlyyouthithadlearnedwaysandmeansthatithadneverforgotten. Itwasinthisold,primitivewaythatMartinwooedRuth. 

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