Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter V
Oh!”shecried,withasuddensobbingcatchinherthroat,“Inevercanforgetit,andyoudon’tknowwhatitmeanstoagirl.”
“Well,that’sjustwhatIdowant,”herepeated.“Iwantyoutoforgetitandhaveusbegoodfriends.”
Inhisembarrassment,Annixtercouldthinkofnootherwords.Hekeptreiteratingagainandagainduringthepausesoftheconversation:
“Iwantyoutoforgetit.Willyou?Willyouforgetit—that—thismorning,andhaveusbegoodfriends?”
Hecouldseethathertroublewaskeen.Hewasastonishedthatthemattershouldbesograveinherestimation.Afterall,whatwasitthatagirlshouldbekissed?Buthewantedtoregainhislostground.
“Willyouforgetit,MissHilma?Iwantyoutolikeme.”
Shetookacleannapkinfromthesideboarddrawerandlaiditdownbytheplate.
“I—Idowantyoutolikeme,”persistedAnnixter.“Iwantyoutoforgetallaboutthisbusinessandlikeme.”
Hilmawassilent.Annixtersawthetearsinhereyes.
“Howaboutthat?Willyouforgetit?Willyou—will—willyouLIKEme?”
Sheshookherhead.
“No,”shesaid.
“Nowhat?Youwon’tlikeme?Isthatit?”
Hilma,blinkingatthenapkinthroughhertears,noddedtosay,Yes,thatwasit.Annixterhesitatedamoment,frowning,harassedandperplexed.
“Youdon’tlikemeatall,hey?”
AtlengthHilmafoundherspeech.Inherlowvoice,lowerandmorevelvetythanever,shesaid:
“No—Idon’tlikeyouatall.”
Then,asthetearssuddenlyoverpoweredher,shedashedahandacrosshereyes,andranfromtheroomandoutofdoors.
