When We Dead Awaken - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[With attention.] Who is it that's not an artist?
MAIA.
[Again in a sleepy tone.] Why, he--the other one, of course.
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
The bear-hunter, you mean?
MAIA.
Yes. There's not a bit of the artist about him--not the least little bit.
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Smiling.] No, I believe there's no doubt about that.
MAIA.
[Vehemently, without moving.] And so ugly as he is! [Plucks up a tuft of heather and throws it away.] So ugly, so ugly! Isch!
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
Is that why you are so ready to set off with him--out into the wilds?
MAIA.
[Curtly.] I don't know. [Turning towards him.] You are ugly, too, Rubek.
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
Have you only just discovered it?
MAIA.
No, I have seen it for long.
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Shrugging his shoulders.] One doesn't grow younger. One doesn't grow younger, Frau Maia.
MAIA.
It's not that sort of ugliness that I mean at all. But there has come to be such an expression of fatigue, of utter weariness, in your eyes--when you deign, once in a while, to cast a glance at me.
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
Have you noticed that?
MAIA.
[Nods.] Little by little this evil look has come into your eyes. It seems almost as though you were nursing some dark plot against me.
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
Indeed? [In a friendly but earnest tone.] Come here and sit beside me, Maia; and let us talk a little.
MAIA.
[Half rising.] Then will you let me sit upon your knee? As I used to in the early days?
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
No, you mustn't--people can see us from the hotel. [Moves a little.] But you can sit here on the bench--at my side.
MAIA.
No, thank you; in that case I'd rather lie here, where I am. I can hear you quite well here. [Looks inquiringly at him.] Well, what is it you want to say to me?
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Begins slowly.] What do you think was my real reason for agreeing to make this tour?
MAIA.
Well--I remember you declared, among other things, that it was going to do me such a tremendous lot of good. But--but--
