Поворот винта

           Inthefirstweeksthedayswerelong;theyoften,attheirfinest,gavemewhatIusedtocallmyownhour,thehourwhen,formypupils,teatimeandbedtimehavingcomeandgone,Ihad,beforemyfinalretirement,asmallintervalalone.MuchasIlikedmycompanions,thishourwasthethinginthedayIlikedmost;andIlikeditbestofallwhen,asthelightfaded—orrather,Ishouldsay,thedaylingeredandthelastcallsofthelastbirdssounded,inaflushedsky,fromtheoldtrees—Icouldtakeaturnintothegroundsandenjoy,almostwithasenseofpropertythatamusedandflatteredme,thebeautyanddignityoftheplace.Itwasapleasureatthesemomentstofeelmyselftranquilandjustified;doubtless,perhaps,alsotoreflectthatbymydiscretion,myquietgoodsenseandgeneralhighpropriety,Iwasgivingpleasure—ifheeverthoughtofit!—tothepersontowhosepressureIhadresponded.WhatIwasdoingwaswhathehadearnestlyhopedanddirectlyaskedofme,andthatIcould,afterall,doitprovedevenagreaterjoythanIhadexpected.IdaresayIfanciedmyself,inshort,aremarkableyoungwomanandtookcomfortinthefaiththatthiswouldmorepubliclyappear.Well,Ineededtoberemarkabletoofferafronttotheremarkablethingsthatpresentlygavetheirfirstsign.

           Itwasplump,oneafternoon,inthemiddleofmyveryhour:thechildrenweretuckedaway,andIhadcomeoutformystroll.