Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VI
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Hilmaoverwhelmedhimwithaburstofgratitudewhichhegrufflypretendedtodeprecate.Oh,thatwasallright.Ithadn’tcosthimmuch.Helikedtoseepeoplehavingagoodtimehimself,andthecrowddidseemtobeenjoyingthemselves.WhatdidSHEthink?Didthingslooklivelyenough?Andhowaboutherself—wassheenjoyingit?
StupidlyAnnixterdrovethequestionhomeagain,athiswits’endastohowtomakeconversation.Hilmaprotestedvolublyshewouldneverforgetthisnight,adding:
“Dance!Oh,youdon’tknowhowIloveit!Ididn’tknowmyself.Icoulddanceallnightandneverstoponce!”
Annixterwassmittenwithuneasiness.Nodoubtthis“promenading”wasnotatalltohertaste.Wonderingwhatkindofaspectaclehewasabouttomakeofhimself,heexclaimed:
“Wanttodancenow?”
“Oh,yes!”shereturned.
Theypausedintheirwalk,andHilma,facinghim,gaveherselfintohisarms.Annixtershuthisteeth,theperspirationstartingfromhisforehead.Forfiveyearshehadabandoneddancing.Neverinhisbestdayshaditbeenoneofhisaccomplishments.
Theyhesitatedamoment,waitingtocatchthetimefromthemusicians.Anothercoupleboredownuponthematpreciselythewrongmoment,jostlingthemoutofstep.Annixtersworeunderhisbreath.Hisarmstillabouttheyoungwoman,hepulledherovertoonecorner.
“Now,”hemuttered,“we’lltryagain.”
Asecondtime,listeningtotheone-two-three,one-two-threecadenceofthemusicians,theyendeavouredtogetunderway.AnnixterwaitedthefractionofasecondtoolongandsteppedonHilma’sfoot.
