I have
avoided more than I have sought. I have not drunk deep of life
because I have been unathirst. To me--
"To stand aloof and view the fight
Is all the pleasure of the game."
My interest even in Judith has been of a detached nature. I have
been like Faust. I might have said:
_"Werd' ich zum Augenblicke sagen
Werweile doch! Du bist so schon!_
Then may the devil take me and do what he likes with me!"
I have never had the least inclination to apostrophise the moment
in this fashion and request it to tarry on account of its
exceeding charm. Never until this afternoon, when the deep
summer enchantment of the turquoise day was itself ensorcelised
by the witchery of a girl's springtide.
"You have three, four, five--oh, such a lot of grey hairs," said
Carlotta, looking down on my reclining head.
"Many people have grey hair at twenty," said I.
"But I have none."
"You are not yet twenty, Carlotta."
"Do you think I will have them then? Oh, it would be dreadful.
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