Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter V
ThenAnnixtersaid:
“Here’saletterforyou.”Helaiditdownonthetablenearher,andHilmapickeditup.“Andseehere,MissHilma,”Annixtercontinued,“aboutthat—thismorning—IsupposeyouthinkIamafirst-classmucker.Ifitwilldoanygoodtoapologise,why,Iwill.Iwanttobefriendswithyou.Imadeabadmistake,andstartedinthewrongway.Idon’tknowmuchaboutwomenpeople.Iwantyoutoforgetaboutthat—thismorning,andnotthinkIamagalootandamucker.Willyoudoit?Willyoubefriendswithme?”
HilmasettheplateandcoffeecupbyAnnixter’splacebeforeanswering,andAnnixterrepeatedhisquestion.Thenshedrewadeep,quickbreath,theflushinhercheeksreturning.
“Ithinkitwas—itwassowrongofyou,”shemurmured.“Oh!youdon’tknowhowithurtme.Icried—oh,foranhour.”
“Well,that’sjustit,”returnedAnnixtervaguely,movinghisheaduneasily.“Ididn’tknowwhatkindofagirlyouwere—Imean,Imadeamistake.Ithoughtitdidn’tmakemuchdifference.Ithoughtallfeemaleswereaboutalike.”
“Ihopeyouknownow,”murmuredHilmaruefully.“I’vepaidenoughtohaveyoufindout.Icried—youdon’tknow.Why,ithurtmeworsethananythingIcanremember.Ihopeyouknownow.”“Well,Idoknownow,”heexclaimed.
“Itwasn’tsomuchthatyoutriedtodo—whatyoudid,”answeredHilma,thesingledeepswellfromherwaisttoherthroatrisingandfallinginheremotion.“Itwasthatyouthoughtthatyoucould—thatanybodycouldthatwantedto—thatIheldmyselfsocheap.
