The Moon And Sixpence 25.3

Now the warhas come, bringing with it a new attitude. Youth has turned to gods we of anearlier He looked round the studio ruefully. On the easel was a half-finishedpicture of a smiling Italian peasant, holding a bunch of grapes over the headof a dark-eyed girl."Even ifhe didn't like them he should have been civil. He needn't have insulted you. Heshowed that he despised you, and you lick his hand. Oh, I hate him. ""Dearchild, he has genius. You don't think I believe that I have it. I wish I had;but I know it when I see it, and I honour it with all my heart. It's the mostwonderful thing in the world. It's a great burden to its possessors. We shouldbe very tolerant with them, and very patient. "I stoodapart, somewhat embarrassed by the domestic scene, and wondered why Stroeve hadinsisted on my coming with him. I saw that his wife was on the verge of tears."Butit's not only because he's a genius that I ask you to let me bring him here;it's because he's a human being, and he is ill and poor. ""I willnever have him in my house -- never. "Stroeveturned to me."Tellher that it's a matter of life and death. It's impossible to leave him in thatwretched hole. ""It'squite obvious that it would be much easier to nurse him here, " I said,"but of course it would be very inconvenient. I have an idea that someonewill have to be with him day and night. ""Mylove, it's not you who would shirk a little trouble. ""If hecomes here, I shall go, " said Mrs. Stroeve violently."I don'trecognize you. You're so good and kind. ""Oh, forgoodness sake, let me be. You drive me to distraction. "他懊丧地环顾了一下画室。画架上立着一幅未完成的油画——一个意大利农民笑容满面地拿着一串葡萄，在一个黑眼睛的小女孩头顶上擎着。“即使他不喜欢你的画也应该有一点礼貌啊。他没有必要侮辱你。他的态度很清楚地表现出对你非常鄙视，可是你却还要舔他的手。啊，我讨厌这个人。”“亲爱的孩子，他是有天才的。不要认为我相信自己也有天才。我倒希望我有呢。但是别人谁是天才我看得出来，我从心眼里尊重这种人。天才是世界上最奇妙的东西。对于他们本人说来，天才是一个很大的负担。我们对这些人必须非常容忍，非常耐心才行。”我站在一旁听着，这幕家庭冲突使我有些尴尬。我不了解施特略夫为什么非要我同他一起来不可。我看到他的妻子眼泪已经快要流出来了。“但是我求你让我把他带来，并不只因为他是个天才。我要这样做是因为他是个人，是因为他害着病，因为他一个钱也没有。”“我永远也不让他进咱们的家门——永远也不让。”施特略夫转过身来，面对着我。“你对她讲一讲吧，这是一件生死攸关的事。无论如何也不能把他扔在那个倒霉的地方不管。”“事情非常清楚，让他到这里来调养要好得多，”我说，“但是当然了，这对你们是很不方便的。我想得有一个人日夜照看着他。”“亲爱的，你不是那种怕麻烦不肯伸手帮忙的人。”“如果他到这里来，我就走，”施特略夫太太气冲冲地说。“我简直认不出你来了。你不是一向心肠很软吗？”“啊，看在老天爷面上，别逼我了。你快要把我逼疯了。”