По эту сторону рая
Spires and Gargoyles
"Hedancesasifthegirlwereonhisbackinsteadofinhisarms."
Sheappreciatedthis.
"You’reawfullygoodatsizingpeopleup."
Amorydeniedthispainfully.However,hesizedupseveralpeopleforher.Thentheytalkedabouthands.
"You’vegotawfullynicehands,"shesaid."Theylookasifyouplayedthepiano.Doyou?"
Ihavesaidtheyhadreachedaverydefinitestage—nay,more,averycriticalstage.Amoryhadstayedoveradaytoseeher,andhistrainleftattwelve-eighteenthatnight.Histrunkandsuitcaseawaitedhimatthestation;hiswatchwasbeginningtohangheavyinhispocket.
"Isabelle,"hesaidsuddenly,"Iwanttotellyousomething."Theyhadbeentalkinglightlyabout"thatfunnylookinhereyes,"andIsabelleknewfromthechangeinhismannerwhatwascoming—indeed,shehadbeenwonderinghowsoonitwouldcome.Amoryreachedabovetheirheadsandturnedouttheelectriclight,sothattheywereinthedark,exceptfortheredglowthatfellthroughthedoorfromthereading-roomlamps.Thenhebegan:
"Idon’tknowwhetherornotyouknowwhatyou—whatI’mgoingtosay.Lordy,Isabelle—thissoundslikealine,butitisn’t."
"Iknow,"saidIsabellesoftly.
"Maybewe’llnevermeetagainlikethis—Ihavedarnedhardlucksometimes."Hewasleaningawayfromherontheotherarmofthelounge,butshecouldseehiseyesplainlyinthedark.
"You’llmeetmeagain—silly."Therewasjusttheslightestemphasisonthelastword—sothatitbecamealmostatermofendearment.
