rwintersky:amusterofnorthernlightsrearedtheirdimlances,closeserried,alongthehorizon.Throwingtheseintodistance,rose,inthefround,ahead,—acolossalhead,inedtowardstheiceberg,aingagainstit.Twothinhands,joineduheforehead,andsuppit,drewupbeforethelowerfeaturesasableveil,abrowquitebloodless,whiteasbone,andaneyehollowandfixed,blankofmeaningbutflassinessofdespair,alonewerevisible.Abovethetemples,amidstwreathedturbanfoldsofblackdrapery,vagueinitscharacterandsistencyascloud,gleamedaringofwhiteflame,gemmedwithsparklesofamoreluridtihispalecrestwas“thelikenessofakingly;”whatitdiademedwas“theshapewhichshapehadnone.”

    “Wereyouhappywhenyoupaihesepictures?”askedMr.Rochesterpresently.

    “Iwasabsorbed,sir:yes,andIy.Topaintthem,inshort,wastoenjoyohekeepleasuresIhaveeverknown.”

    “Thatisnotsayingmuch.Yourpleasures,byyourownat,havebeenfew;butIdaresayyoudidexistinakindofartist’sdreamlandwhileyoublentandarrahesestras.Didyousitatthemlongeachday?”

    “Ihadnothiodo,becauseitwasthevacation,andIsatatthemfrtillnoon,andfromnoontillnight:thelengthofthemidsummerdaysfavouredmyinationtoapply.”

    “Andyoufeltself-satisfiedwiththeresultofyourardentlabours?”

    “Farfromit.Iwastormehetrastbetweenmyideaandmyhandiwork:ineachcaseIhadimaginedsomethingwhichIwasquitepowerlesstorealise.”

    “Notquite:youhavesecuredtheshadowofyourthought;butnomore,probably.Youhadnotenoughoftheartist’sskillandscetogiveitfullbeihedrawingsare,foraschool-girl,peculiar.Astothethoughts,theyareelfish.TheseeyesintheE