Signs and Symbols Vladimir Nabokov I For the fourth time in as many years they were confronted with the problem of what birthday present to bring a young man who was incurably deranged in his mind. He had no desires. Man-made objects were to him either hives of evil, vibrant with a malignant activity that he alone could perceive, or gross comforts for which no use could be found in his abstract world. After eliminating …showed first 75 words of 2175 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2175 total…where there was a large birthmark stood out conspicuously and, although he had shaved that morning, a silvery bristle showed on his chin. While she poured him another glass of tea, he put on his spectacles and re-examined with pleasure the luminous yellow, green, red little jars. His clumsy moist lips spelled out their eloqu! ent labels: apricot, grape, beech plum, quince. He had got to crab apple, when the telephone rang again. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**