Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Thethingwasafailure,andatonceherealisedthatnothinghadbeenfurtherfromHilma’smindthantheideaofhiskissingher.

           Shestartedbackfromhimabruptly,herhandsnervouslyclaspedagainstherbreast,drawinginherbreathsharplyandholdingitwithalittle,tremulouscatchofthethroatthatsentaquiveringvibrationthelengthofhersmooth,whiteneck.Hereyesopenedwidewithachildlikelook,moreofastonishmentthananger.Shewassurprised,outofallmeasure,discountenanced,takenallaback,andwhenshefoundherbreath,gavevoicetoagreat“Oh”ofdismayanddistress.

           Foraninstant,Annixterstoodawkwardlyinhisplace,ridiculous,clumsy,murmuringoverandoveragain:

           “Well—well—that’sallright—who’sgoingtohurtyou?Youneedn’tbeafraid—who’sgoingtohurtyou—that’sallright.”

           Then,suddenly,withaquick,indefinitegestureofonearm,heexclaimed:

           “Good-bye,I—I’msorry.”

           Heturnedaway,stridingupthestairs,crossingthedairy-room,andregainedtheopenair,ragingandfurious.Heturnedtowardthebarns,clappinghishatuponhishead,mutteringthewhileunderhisbreath:

           “Oh,yougoat!YoubeastlyfoolPIP.GoodLORD,whatanassyou’vemadeofyourselfnow!”

           SuddenlyheresolvedtoputHilmaTreeoutofhisthoughts.Thematterwasinterferingwithhiswork.Thiskindofthingwassurenotearninganymoney.Heshookhimselfasthoughfreeinghisshouldersofanirksomeburden,andturnedhisentireattentiontotheworknearestathand.