Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VI
ThegaylyapparelledclerkfromBonnevillehadjustinvolvedhimselfinadeplorableincident.Inasearchforhishandkerchief,whichhehadlostwhiletryingtofindhisprogrammecard,hehadinadvertentlywanderedintothefeedroom,setapartastheladies’dressingroom,atthemomentwhenMrs.Hooven,havingremovedthewaistofMinna’sdress,wasrelacinghercorsets.Therewasatremendousscene.Theclerkwasejectedforcibly,Mrs.Hoovenfillingalltheneighbourhoodwithshrillexpostulation.Ayoungman,Minna’s“partner,”whostoodnearthefeedroomdoor,waitingforhertocomeout,hadinvitedtheclerk,withelaboratesarcasm,tostepoutsideforamoment;andtheclerk,breathless,stupefied,hustledfromhandtohand,remainedpetrified,withstaringeyes,turningaboutandabout,lookingwildlyfromfacetoface,speechless,witless,wonderingwhathadhappened.
Butthesquaredancewasover.TheCityBandwasjustbeginningtoplayawaltz.Annixterassuringhimselfthateverythingwasgoingallright,waspickinghiswayacrossthefloor,whenhecameuponHilmaTreequitealone,andlookinganxiouslyamongthecrowdofdancers.
“Havingagoodtime,MissHilma?”hedemanded,pausingforamoment.
“Oh,amI,JUST!”sheexclaimed.“Thebesttime—butIdon’tknowwhathasbecomeofmypartner.See!I’mleftallalone—theonlytimethiswholeevening,”sheaddedproudly.“Haveyouseenhim—mypartner,sir?Iforgethisname.Ionlymethimthisevening,andI’vemetSOmanyIcan’tbegintorememberhalfofthem.
