Волны

           Whatwasfieryandfurtivelikeaflingofgraincastintotheairandblownhitherandthitherbywildgustsoflifefromeveryquarterisnowmethodicalandorderlyandflungwithapurpose--soitseems.

           ’Lord,howpleasant!Lord,howgood!Howtolerableisthelifeoflittleshopkeepers,Iwouldsay,asthetraindrewthroughthesuburbsandonesawlightsinbedroomwindows.Active,energeticasaswarmofants,Isaid,asIstoodatthewindowandwatchedworkers,baginhand,streamintotown.Whathardness,whatenergyandviolenceoflimb,Ithought,seeingmeninwhitedrawers’scouringafterafootballonapatchofsnowinJanuary.Nowbeinggrumpyaboutsomesmallmatter--itmightbethemeat--itseemedluxurioustodisturbwithalittlerippletheenormousstability,whosequiver,forourchildwasabouttobeborn,increaseditsjoy,ofourmarriedlife.Isnappedatdinner.Ispokeunreasonablyasif,beingamillionaire,Icouldthrowawayfiveshillings;or,beingaperfectsteeple-jack,stumbledoverafootstoolonpurpose.Goinguptobedwesettledourquarrelonthestairs,andstandingbythewindowlookingataskyclearliketheinsideofabluestone,"Heavenbepraised,"Isaid,"weneednotwhipthisproseintopoetry.Thelittlelanguageisenough."Forthespaceoftheprospectanditsclarityseemedtooffernoimpedimentwhatsoever,buttoallowourlivestospreadoutandoutbeyondallbristlingofroofsandchimneystotheflawlessverge.

           ’Intothiscrasheddeath--Percival’s.