По эту сторону рая

           "No!Callthemremarkable-lookingoranythingyouwant—butuglytheycertainlyare."

           Unabashed,Burneranhishandlovinglyacrossthespaciousforeheads,andpilingupthepicturesputthembackinhisdesk.

           Walkingatnightwasoneofhisfavoritepursuits,andonenighthepersuadedAmorytoaccompanyhim.

           "Ihatethedark,"Amoryobjected."Ididn’tuseto—exceptwhenIwasparticularlyimaginative,butnow,Ireallydo—I’maregularfoolaboutit."

           "That’suseless,youknow."

           "Quitepossibly."

           "We’llgoeast,"Burnesuggested,"anddownthatstringofroadsthroughthewoods."

           "Doesn’tsoundveryappealingtome,"admittedAmoryreluctantly,"butlet’sgo."

           Theysetoffatagoodgait,andforanhourswungalonginabriskargumentuntilthelightsofPrincetonwereluminouswhiteblotsbehindthem.

           "Anypersonwithanyimaginationisboundtobeafraid,"saidBurneearnestly."AndthisverywalkingatnightisoneofthethingsIwasafraidabout.I’mgoingtotellyouwhyIcanwalkanywherenowandnotbeafraid."

           "Goon,"Amoryurgedeagerly.Theywerestridingtowardthewoods,Burne’snervous,enthusiasticvoicewarmingtohissubject.

           "Iusedtocomeoutherealoneatnight,oh,threemonthsago,andIalwaysstoppedatthatcross-roadwejustpassed.Therewerethewoodsloomingupahead,justastheydonow,thereweredogshowlingandtheshadowsandnohumansound.Ofcourse,Ipeopledthewoodswitheverythingghastly,justlikeyoudo;don’tyou?"

           "Ido,"Amoryadmitted.