Луна и грош

Chapter XLI

           ThatwasperhapsthecauseofthepeculiarqualityofDirk’sloveforhiswife.Ihadnoticedinitsomethingmorethanpassion.IrememberedalsohowIhadalwaysfanciedthatherreserveconcealedIknewnotwhat;butnowIsawinitmorethanthedesiretohideashamefulsecret.Hertranquillitywaslikethesullencalmthatbroodsoveranislandwhichhasbeensweptbyahurricane.Hercheerfulnesswasthecheerfulnessofdespair.Stricklandinterruptedmyreflectionswithanobservationtheprofoundcynicismofwhichstartledme.

           "Awomancanforgiveamanfortheharmhedoesher,"hesaid,"butshecanneverforgivehimforthesacrificeshemakesonheraccount."

           "Itmustbereassuringtoyoutoknowthatyoucertainlyrunnoriskofincurringtheresentmentofthewomenyoucomeincontactwith,"Iretorted.

           Aslightsmilebrokeonhislips.

           "Youarealwayspreparedtosacrificeyourprinciplesforarepartee,"heanswered.

           "Whathappenedtothechild?"

           "Oh,itwasstill-born,threeorfourmonthsaftertheyweremarried."

           ThenIcametothequestionwhichhadseemedtomemostpuzzling.

           "WillyoutellmewhyyoubotheredaboutBlancheStroeveatall?"

           HedidnotanswerforsolongthatInearlyrepeatedit.

           "HowdoIknow?"hesaidatlast."Shecouldn’tbearthesightofme.Itamusedme."

           "Isee."

           Hegaveasuddenflashofanger.

           "Damnitall,Iwantedher."

           Butherecoveredhistemperimmediately,andlookedatmewithasmile.

           "Atfirstshewashorrified."

           "Didyoutellher?"

           "Therewasn’tanyneed.Sheknew.Ineversaidaword.Shewasfrightened.AtlastItookher.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 180 из 284