Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter I
Certainly,neitherhisfathernorhisbrotherweredressedforthefunctionthatimpended.Hehadbeenstupid.Magnusinvariablyattractedattention,andnowwithhistrousersstrappedunderhisboots,hiswrinkledfrockcoat—Lymantwistedhiscuffsintosightwithanimpatient,nervousmovementofhiswrists,glancingasecondtimeathisbrother’spinkface,forwardcurling,yellowhairandclothesofacountrycut.Buttherewasnohelpforit.HewonderedwhatweretheclubregulationsinthematterofbringinginvisitorsonLadies’Day.“Sureenough,Ladies’Day,”heremarked,“Iamverygladyoustruckit,Governor.Wecansitrightwhereweare.Iguessthisisasgoodaplaceasanytoseethecrowd.It’sagoodchancetoseeallthebiggunsofthecity.Doyouexpectyourpeoplehere,Mr.Cedarquist?”
“Mywifemaycome,andmydaughters,”saidthemanufacturer.
“Ah,”murmuredPresley,“somuchthebetter.Iwasgoingtogivemyselfthepleasureofcallinguponyourdaughters,Mr.Cedarquist,thisafternoon.”
“Youcansaveyourcarfare,Pres,”saidCedarquist,“youwillseethemhere.”
Nodoubt,theinvitationsfortheoccasionhadappointedoneo’clockasthetime,forbetweenthathourandtwo,theguestsarrivedinanalmostunbrokenstream.Fromtheirpointofvantageintheroundwindowofthemainroom,Magnus,histwosons,andPresleylookedonveryinterested.Cedarquisthadexcusedhimself,affirmingthathemustlookoutforhiswomenfolk.
Ofeverytenofthearrivals,seven,atleast,wereladies.
