Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter II
“IthoughtIhatedyouallthetime,”shesaid,andthevelvetyhuskinessofhervoiceneversoundedsosweettohim.
“AndIthoughtitwasthatcrockerysmashinggoatofaloutofacow-puncher.”
“Delaney?Theidea!Oh,dear!Ithinkitmustalwayshavebeenyou.”
“Sincewhen,Hilma?”heasked,puttinghisarmaroundher.“Ah,butitisgoodtohaveyou,mygirl,”heexclaimed,delightedbeyondwordsthatshepermittedthisfreedom.“Sincewhen?Tellusallaboutit.”
“Oh,sincealways.ItwaseversolongbeforeIcametothinkofyou—to,well,tothinkabout—Imeantoremember—oh,youknowwhatImean.ButwhenIdid,oh,THEN!”
“Thenwhat?”
“Idon’tknow—Ihaven’tthought—thatwaylongenoughtoknow.”
“Butyousaidyouthoughtitmusthavebeenmealways.”
“Iknow;butthatwasdifferent—oh,I’mallmixedup.I’msonervousandtremblynow.Oh,”shecriedsuddenly,herfaceovercastwithalookofearnestnessandgreatseriousness,bothherhandscatchingathiswrist,“Oh,youWILLbegoodtome,now,won’tyou?I’monlyalittle,littlechildinsomanyways,andI’vegivenmyselftoyou,allinaminute,andIcan’tgobackofitnow,andit’sforalways.Idon’tknowhowithappenedorwhy.SometimesIthinkIdidn’twishit,butnowit’sdone,andIamgladandhappy.ButNOWifyouweren’tgoodtome—oh,thinkofhowitwouldbewithme.Youarestrong,andbig,andrich,andIamonlyaservantofyours,alittlenobody,butI’vegivenallIhadtoyou—myself—andyoumustbesogoodtomenow.Alwaysrememberthat.
