Страна слепых

           Instead,Imusttouchyou,hearyou,andneverseeyouagain. Imustcomeunderthatroofofrockandstoneanddarkness,thathorribleroofunderwhichyourimaginationstoops... No;youwouldnothavemedothat?" 

           Adisagreeabledoubthadariseninhim. Hestopped,andleftthethingaquestion. 

           "Iwish,"shesaid,"sometimes——"Shepaused. 

           "Yes,"saidhe,alittleapprehensively. 

           "Iwishsometimes—youwouldnottalklikethat." 

           "Likewhat?" 

           "Iknowit’spretty—it’syourimagination.Iloveit,butnow——" 

           Hefeltcold. "Now?"hesaidfaintly. 

           Shesatquitestill. 

           "Youmean—youthink—Ishouldbebetter,betterperhaps——-" 

           Hewasrealisingthingsveryswiftly. Hefeltanger,indeed,angeratthedullcourseoffate,butalsosympathyforherlackofunderstanding—asympathynearakintopity. 

           "Dear,"hesaid,andhecouldseebyherwhitenesshowintenselyherspiritpressedagainstthethingsshecouldnotsay. Heputhisarmsabouther,hekissedherear,andtheysatforatimeinsilence. 

           "IfIweretoconsenttothis?"hesaidatlast,inavoicethatwasverygentle. 

           Sheflungherarmsabouthim,weepingwildly."Oh,ifyouwould,"shesobbed,"ifonlyyouwould!" 

           Foraweekbeforetheoperationthatwastoraisehimfromhisservitudeandinferioritytothelevelofablindcitizen,Nunezknewnothingofsleep, andallthroughthewarmsunlithours,whiletheothersslumberedhappily,hesatbroodingorwanderedaimlessly,tryingtobringhismindtobearonhisdilemma.