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1、TheArtistoftheBeautifulbyNathanielHawthorneAnelderlyman,withhisprettydaughteronhisarm,waspassingalongthestreet,andemergedfromthegloomofthecloudyeveningintothelightthatfellacrossthepavementfromthewindowofasmallshop.Itwasaprojectingwindow;andontheinsideweresuspendedavarietyofwatc
2、hes,pinchbeck,silver,andoneortwoofgold,allwiththeirfacesturnedfromthestreets,asifchurlishlydisinclinedtoinformthewayfarerswhato'clockitwas.Seatedwithintheshop,sidelongtothewindowwithhispalefacebentearnestlyoversomedelicatepieceofmechanismonwhichwasthrowntheconcentratedlustreofa
3、shadelamp,appearedayoungman."WhatcanOwenWarlandbeabout?"mutteredoldPeterHovenden,himselfaretiredwatchmaker,andtheformermasterofthissameyoungmanwhoseoccupationhewasnowwonderingat."Whatcanthefellowbeabout?ThesesixmonthspastIhavenevercomebyhisshopwithoutseeinghimjustassteadilyatwo
4、rkasnow.Itwouldbeaflightbeyondhisusualfoolerytoseekfortheperpetualmotion;andyetIknowenoughofmyoldbusinesstobecertainthatwhatheisnowsobusywithisnopartofthemachineryofawatch.""Perhaps,father,"saidAnnie,withoutshowingmuchinterestinthequestion,"Owenisinventinganewkindoftimekeeper.I
5、amsurehehasingenuityenough.""Poh,child!HehasnotthesortofingenuitytoinventanythingbetterthanaDutchtoy,"answeredherfather,whohadformerlybeenputtomuchvexationbyOwenWarland'sirregulargenius."Aplagueonsuchingenuity!AlltheeffectthateverIknewofitwastospoiltheaccuracyofsomeofthebestwat
6、chesinmyshop.Hewouldturnthesunoutofitsorbitandderangethewholecourseoftime,if,asIsaidbefore,hisingenuitycouldgraspanythingbiggerthanachild'stoy!""Hush,father!Hehearsyou!"whisperedAnnie,pressingtheoldman'sarm."Hisearsareasdelicateashisfeelings;andyouknowhoweasilydisturbedtheyare.
7、Doletusmoveon."SoPeterHovendenandhisdaughterAnnieploddedonwithoutfurtherconversation,untilinaby-streetofthetowntheyfoundthemselvespassingtheopendoorofablacksmith'sshop.Withinwasseentheforge,nowblazingupandilluminatingthehighandduskyroof,andnowconfiningitslustretoanarrowprecinct
8、ofthecoal-strewnfloor,accordingasthebreathofthebellows