Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter IX. Dr. Bauerstein
”
Mary’svoicecame,coolandliquid:
“Haveyouanyrighttocriticizemyactions?”
“Itwillbethetalkofthevillage!MymotherwasonlyburiedonSaturday,andhereyouaregaddingaboutwiththefellow.”
“Oh,”sheshruggedhershoulders,“ifitisonlyvillagegossipthatyoumind!”
“Butitisn’t.I’vehadenoughofthefellowhangingabout.He’saPolishJew,anyway.”
“AtingeofJewishbloodisnotabadthing.Itleavensthe”—shelookedathim—“stolidstupidityoftheordinaryEnglishman.”
Fireinhereyes,iceinhervoice.IdidnotwonderthatthebloodrosetoJohn’sfaceinacrimsontide.
“Mary!”
“Well?”Hertonedidnotchange.
Thepleadingdiedoutofhisvoice.
“AmItounderstandthatyouwillcontinuetoseeBauersteinagainstmyexpresswishes?”
“IfIchoose.”
“Youdefyme?”
“No,butIdenyyourrighttocriticizemyactions.HaveyounofriendsofwhomIshoulddisapprove?”
Johnfellbackapace.Thecolourebbedslowlyfromhisface.
“Whatdoyoumean?”hesaid,inanunsteadyvoice.
“Yousee!”saidMaryquietly.“Youdosee,don’tyou,thatyouhavenorighttodictatetomeastothechoiceofmyfriends?”
Johnglancedatherpleadingly,astrickenlookonhisface.
“Noright?HaveInoright,Mary?”hesaidunsteadily.Hestretchedouthishands.“Mary——”
Foramoment,Ithoughtshewavered.Asofterexpressioncameoverherface,thensuddenlysheturnedalmostfiercelyaway.
