Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Buthewasdistrait,histhoughtselsewhere;hedidnotattempttohidehisimpatiencewhensomeoftheyoungmentriedtoengagehiminconversation,askinghimtobeintroducedtotheirsisters,ortheirfriends’sisters.Hesentthemabouttheirbusinessharshly,abominablyrude,leavingawakeofangrydisturbancebehindhim,sowingtheseedsoffuturequarrelsandrenewedunpopularity.HewaslookingforHilmaTree.

           Whenatlasthecameunexpectedlyuponher,standingnearwhereMrs.Treewasseated,somehalf-dozenyoungmenhoveringuneasilyinherneighbourhood,allhisaudacitywassuddenlystrickenfromhim;hisgruffness,hisoverbearinginsolencevanishedwithanabruptnessthatlefthimcold.Hisold-timeconfusionandembarrassmentreturnedtohim.Insteadofspeakingtoherasheintended,heaffectednottoseeher,butpassedby,hisheadintheair,pretendingasuddeninterestinaJapaneselanternthatwasabouttocatchfire.

           Buthehadhadasingledistinctglimpseofher,definite,precise,andthisglimpsewasenough.Hilmahadchanged.Thechangewassubtle,evanescent,hardtodefine,butnotthelessunmistakable.Theexcitement,theenchantingdelight,thedeliciousdisturbanceof“thefirstball,”hadproduceditsresult.Perhapstherehadonlybeenthislacking.Itwashardtosay,butforthatbriefinstantoftimeAnnixterwaslookingatHilma,thewoman.Shewasnolongertheyounggirluponwhomhemightlookdown,towhomhemightcondescend,whoselittle,infantilegracesweretobeconsideredwithamusedtoleration.