Пробный камень
III
“Youdidn’tcometotheoperalastnight,”shebegan,inthetonethatseemedalwaysrathertorecordafactthantoofferareflectiononit.
Heansweredwithadiscouragedgesture.“Whatwastheuse?Wecouldn’thavetalked.”
“Notaswellashere,”sheassented;adding,afterameditativepause,“Asyoudidn’tcomeItalkedtoAuntVirginiainstead.”
“Ah!”hereturned,thefactbeinghardlystrikingenoughtodetachhimfromthecontemplationofherhands,whichhadfallen,aswastheirwont,intoanattitudefullofplasticpossibilities.Onefeltthemtobehandsthat,movingonlytosomepurpose,werecapableofintervalsofsereneinaction.
“Wehadalongtalk,”MissTrentwenton;andshewaitedagainbeforeadding,withtheincreasedabsenceofstressthatmarkedhergravercommunications,“AuntVirginiawantsmetogoabroadwithher.”
Glennardlookedupwithastart.“Abroad?When?”
“Now—nextmonth.Tobegonetwoyears.”
Hepermittedhimselfamovementoftenderderision.“Doesshereally?Well,Iwantyoutogoabroadwithme—foranynumberofyears.Whichofferdoyouaccept?”
“Onlyoneofthemseemstorequireimmediateconsideration,”shereturned,withasmile.
Glennardlookedatheragain.“You’renotthinkingofit?”
Hergazedroppedandsheunclaspedherhands.Hermovementsweresorarethattheymighthavebeensaidtoitalicizeherwords.“AuntVirginiatalkedtomeveryseriously.Itwillbeagreatrelieftomotherandtheotherstohavemeprovidedforinthatwayfortwoyears.Imustthinkofthat,youknow.
