"MacDONALD, George - The Day Boy and the Night Girl (The Romance of Photogen and Nycteris)" - читать интересную книгу автора (MacDonald George)

in which was a river with a pebbly channel and a continual song. The garden went
down to the bank of the river, enclosed by high walls, which crossed the river
and there stopped. Each wall had a double row of battlements, and between the
rows was a narrow walk.
In the topmost story of the castle, the Lady Aurora occupied a spacious
apartment of several large rooms looking southward. The windows projected
oriel-wise over the garden below, and there was a splendid view from them both
up and down and across the river. The opposite side of the valley was steep, but
not very high. Far away snowpeaks were visible. These rooms Aurora seldom left,
but their airy spaces, the brilliant landscape and sky, the plentiful sunlight,
the musical instruments, books, pictures, curiosities, with the company of
Watho, who made herself charming, precluded all dullness. She had venison and
feathered game to eat, milk and pale sunny sparkling wine to drink.
She had hair of the yellow gold, waved and rippled; her skin was fair, not white
like Watho's, and her eyes were of the blue of the heavens when bluest; her
features were delicate but strong, her mouth large and finely curved, and
haunted with smiles.


III. Vesper
BEHIND the castle the hill rose abruptly; the northeastern tower, indeed, was in
contact with the rock and communicated with the interior of it. For in the rock
was a series of chambers, known only to Watho and the one servant whom she
trusted, called Falca. Some former owner had constructed these chambers after
the tomb of an Egyptian king, and probably with the same design, for in the
center of one of them stood what could only be a sarcophagus, but that and
others were walled off. The sides and roofs of them were carved in low relief,
and curiously painted. Here the witch lodged the blind lady, whose name was
Vesper. Her eyes were black, with long black lashes; her skin had a look of
darkened silver, but was of purest tint and grain; her hair was black and fine
and straight flowing; her features were exquisitely formed, and if less
beautiful yet more lovely from sadness; she always looked as if she wanted to
lie down and not rise again. She did not know she was lodged in a tomb, though
now and then she wondered why she never touched a window. There were many
couches, covered with richest silk, and soft as her own cheek, for her to lie
upon; and the carpets were so thick, she might have cast herself down anywhere
-- as befitted a tomb. The place was dry and warm, and cunningly pierced for
air, so that it was always fresh, and lacked only sunlight. There the witch fed
her upon milk, and wine dark as a carbuncle, and pomegranates, and purple
grapes, and birds that dwell in marshy places; and she played to her mournful
tunes, and caused wailful violins to attend her, and told her sad tales, thus
holding her ever in an atmosphere of sweet sorrow.


IV. Photogen
WATHO at length had her desire, for witches often get what they want: a splendid
boy was born to the fair Aurora. Just as the sun rose, he opened his eyes. Watho
carried him immediately to a distant part of the castle, and persuaded the
mother that he never cried but once, dying the moment he was born. Overcome with
grief, Aurora left the castle as soon as she was able, and Watho never invited