The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Author:Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141397436
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2014-10-21T04:00:00+00:00

Old Water

The lake lay glassy in level golden light. Where the long shadows of the wooded bank spread across it was dark, fathomless. Where the little cliff rose on the eastern shore its bright reflection went down endlessly.

Slowly across the open gold came a still canoe, sent swiftly and smoothly on by well-accustomed arms.

‘How strong! How splendid! Ah! she is like a Valkyr!’ said the poet; and Mrs Osgood looked up at the dark bulk with appreciative eyes.

‘You don’t know how it delights me to have you speak like that!’ she said softly. ‘I feel those things myself, but have not the gift of words. And Ellen is so practical.’

‘She could not be your daughter and not have a poetic soul,’ he answered, smiling gravely.

‘I’m sure I hope so. But I have never felt sure! When she was little I read to her from the poets, always; but she did not care for them – unless it was what she called “story poetry.” And as soon as she had any choice of her own she took to science.’

‘The poetry is there,’ he said, his eyes on the smooth brown arms, now more near. ‘That poise! That motion! It is the very soul of poetry – and the body! Her body is a poem!’

Mrs Osgood watched the accurate landing, the strong pull that brought the canoe over the roller and up into the little boathouse. ‘Ellen is so practical!’ she murmured. ‘She will not even admit her own beauty.’

‘She is unawakened,’ breathed the poet – ‘Unawakened!’ And his big eyes glimmered as with a stir of hope.

‘It’s very brave of her, too,’ the mother went on. ‘She does not really love the water, and just makes herself go out on it. I think in her heart she’s afraid – but will not admit it. O Ellen! Come here dear. This is Mr Pendexter – the Poet.’

Ellen gave her cool brown hand; a little wet even, as she had casually washed them at the water’s edge; but he pressed it warmly, and uttered his admiration of her skill with the canoe.

‘O that’s nothing,’ said the girl. ‘Canoeing’s dead easy.’

‘Will you teach it to me?’ he asked. ‘I will be a most docile pupil.’

She looked up and down his large frame with a somewhat questioning eye. It was big enough surely, and those great limbs must mean strength; but he lacked something of the balance and assured quickness which speaks of training.

‘Can’t you paddle?’ she said.

‘Forgive my ignorance – but I have never been in one of those graceful slim crafts. I shall be so glad to try.’

‘Mr Pendexter has been more in Europe than America,’ her mother put in hastily, ‘and you must not imagine, my dear, that all men care for these things. I’m sure that if you are interested, my daughter will be very glad to teach you, Mr Pendexter.’

‘Certainly,’ said Ellen. ‘I’ll teach him in two tries. Want to start tomorrow morning? I’m usually out pretty early.’

‘I shall be delighted,’ he said.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.