In fact, she
liked youngsters to be frank, impetuous, extravagant in their views and
out of the common rut. The two ladies had been likened to Divine and
Earthly Love, or to Venus Urania and Venus Pandemos--a comparison which
was manifestly unfair to both of them.
It was during this summer bathing that Madame Steynlin had made
acquaintance of what was, at the time, the Master's favourite disciple.
His name happened to be Peter--Peter Arsenievitch Krasnojabkin. He was a
fine son of earth--a strapping young giant who threw himself into
eating, drinking, and other joys of life with enviable barbaric zest.
There was not an ounce of piety in his composition. He had donned the
scarlet blouse because he wanted to see Nepenthe and, like the
Christians of old, had no money. Driven by that roving spirit which is
the Muscovite's heritage and by the desire of all sensible men to taste
new lands, new wine, new women, he professed himself a Little White
Cow. It was quite the regular thing to do. It brought you to the notice
of that secret committee of enthusiasts who paid your travel expenses;
it gave you a free trip to the sunny south.
Pages:
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261