下载辰思小说免费APP
andatthesametimeheperceived，orthoughtheperceived，flatteringsymptomsofareciprocityofliking，andthiswasquitesufficienttodeterminewhateverindecisionhemighthaveheretoforeexperienced，andtoleadhimtodevoteexclusivelytohereveryhopeandfeelingofhisheart。Inshort，hewasasmuchinloveasaDutchmancouldbe。Hewasnotlonginmakinghispassionknowntotheprettymaidenherself，andhisdeclarationwasfollowedbyacorrespondingconfessionuponherpart。
Schalken，however，wasapoorman，andhepossessednocounterbalancingadvantagesofbirthorpositiontoinducetheoldmantoconsenttoaunionwhichmustinvolvehisnieceandwardinthestrugglingsanddifficultiesofayoungandnearlyfriendlessartist。Hewas，therefore，towaituntiltimehadfurnishedhimwithopportunity，andaccidentwithsuccess；andthen，ifhislabourswerefoundsufficientlylucrative，itwastobehopedthathisproposalsmightatleastbelistenedtobyherjealousguardian。Monthspassedaway，and，cheeredbythesmilesofthelittleRose，Schalken’slabourswereredoubled，andwithsucheffectandimprovementasreasonablytopromisetherealisationofhishopes，andnocontemptibleeminenceinhisart，beforemanyyearsshouldhaveelapsed。
Theevencourseofthischeeringprosperitywas，however，destinedtoexperienceasuddenandformidableinterruption，andthat，too，inamannersostrangeandmysteriousastobaffleallinvestigation，andthrowupontheeventsthemselvesashadowofalmostsupernaturalhorror。
Schalkenhadoneeveningremainedinthemaster’sstudioconsiderablylongerthanhismorevolatilecompanions，whohadgladlyavailedthemselvesoftheexcusewhichtheduskofeveningafforded，towithdrawfromtheirseveraltasks，inordertofinishadayoflabourinthejollityandconvivialityofthetavern。
ButSchalkenworkedforimprovement，orratherforlove。Besides，hewasnowengagedmerelyinsketchingadesign，anoperationwhich，unlikethatofcolouring，mightbecontinuedaslongastherewaslightsufficienttodistinguishbetweencanvasandcharcoal。Hehadnotthen，nor，indeed，untillongafter，discoveredthepeculiarpowersofhispencil，andhewasengagedincomposingagroupofextremelyroguish-lookingandgrotesqueimpsanddemons，whowereinflictingvariousingenioustormentsuponaperspiringandpot-belliedSt。Anthony，whoreclinedinthemidstofthem，apparentlyinthelaststageofdrunkenness。
Theyoungartist，however，thoughincapableofexecuting，orevenofappreciating，anythingoftruesublimity，hadneverthelessdiscernmentenoughtopreventhisbeingbyanymeanssatisfiedwithhiswork；andmanywerethepatienterasuresandcorrectionswhichthelimbsandfeaturesofsaintanddevilunderwent，yetallwithoutproducingintheirnewarrangementanythingofimprovementorincreasedeffect。
Thelarge，old-fashionedroomwassilent，and，withtheexceptionofhimself，quitedesertedbyitsusualinmates。Anhourhadpassed——nearlytwo——withoutanyimprovedresult。Daylighthadalreadydeclined，andtwilightwasfastgivingwaytothedarknessofnight。Thepatienceoftheyoungmanwasexhausted，andhestoodbeforehisunfinishedproduction，absorbedinnoverypleasingruminations，onehandburiedinthefoldsofhislongdarkhair，andtheotherholdingthepieceofcharcoalwhichhadsoillexecuteditsoffice，andwhichhenowrubbed，withoutmuchregardtothesablestreakswhichitproduced，withirritablepressureuponhisampleFlemishinexpressibles。
’Pshaw!’saidtheyoungmanaloud，’wouldthatpicture，devils，saint，andall，werewheretheyshouldbe——inhell!’
Ashort，suddenlaugh，utteredstartlinglyclosetohisear，instantlyrespondedtotheejaculation。
Theartistturnedsharplyround，andnowforthefirsttimebecameawarethathislabourshadbeenoverlookedbyastranger。
Withinaboutayardandahalf，andratherbehindhim，therestoodwhatwas，orappearedtobe，thefigureofanelderlyman：heworeashortcloak，andbroad-
brimmedhatwithaconicalcrown，andinhishand，whichwasprotectedwithaheavy，gauntlet-shapedglove，hecarriedalongebonywalking-stick，surmountedwithwhatappeared，asitglittereddimlyinthetwilight，tobeamassiveheadofgold
