书城公版Underwoods
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第19章 XVII - HENRY JAMES

Who comes to-night? We ope the doors in vain.

Who comes? My bursting walls, can you contain The presences that now together throng Your narrow entry, as with flowers and song, As with the air of life, the breath of talk?

Lo, how these fair immaculate women walk Behind their jocund maker; and we see Slighted DE MAUVES, and that far different she, GRESSIE, the trivial sphynx; and to our feast DAISY and BARB and CHANCELLOR (she not least!)

With all their silken, all their airy kin, Do like unbidden angels enter in.

But he, attended by these shining names, Comes (best of all) himself - our welcome James.