Пробный камень
V
Shewassmilingalittleovertheprospecthislastwordshadopened.Behindherheadshiversofsunandshaderanacrossthestripedawning.Arowofmaplesandaprivethedgehidtheirneighbor’sgables,givingthemundividedpossessionoftheirleafyhalf-acre;andlife,amomentbefore,hadbeenliketheirplotofground,shutoff,hedgedinfromimportunities,impenetrablyhisandhers.Nowitseemedtohimthateverymaple-leaf,everyprivet-bud,wasarelentlesshumangaze,pressingcloseupontheirprivacy.Itwasasthoughtheysatinabrightlylitroom,uncurtainedfromadarknessfullofhostilewatchers....Hiswifestillsmiled;andherunconsciousnessofdangerseemed,insomehorribleway,toputherbeyondthereachofrescue....
Hehadnotknownthatitwouldbelikethis.Afterthefirstodiousweeks,spentinpreparingthelettersforpublication,insubmittingthemtoFlamel,andinnegotiatingwiththepublishers,thetransactionhaddroppedoutofhisconsciousnessintothatunvisitedlimbotowhichwerelegatethedeedswewouldrathernothavedonebuthavenonotionofundoing.FromthemomenthehadobtainedMissTrent’spromisenottosailwithheraunthehadtriedtoimaginehimselfirrevocablycommitted.Afterthat,heargued,hisfirstdutywastoher—shehadbecomehisconscience.
