Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Thetearsoverflowedhiseyesandrandownuponhischeeks.Shedrewawayfromhimandheldhimasecondatarm’slength,lookingathim,andhesawthatshe,too,hadbeencrying.

           “Ithink,”hesaid,“weareacoupleofsofties.”

           “No,no,”sheinsisted.“Iwanttocryandwantyoutocry,too.Oh,dear,Ihaven’tahandkerchief.”

           “Here,takemine.”

           Theywipedeachother’seyesliketwochildrenandforalongtimesatinthedesertedlittleJapanesepleasurehouse,theirarmsabouteachother,talking,talking,talking.

           OnthefollowingSaturdaytheyweremarriedinanuptownPresbyterianchurch,andspenttheweekoftheirhoneymoonatasmall,familyhotelonSutterStreet.Asamatterofcourse,theysawthesightsofthecitytogether.TheymadetheinevitablebridaltriptotheCliffHouseandspentanafternooninthegrewsomeandmade-to-orderbeautiesofSutro’sGardens;theywentthroughChinatown,thePalaceHotel,theparkmuseum—whereHilmaresolutelyrefusedtobelieveintheEgyptianmummy—andtheydroveoutinahiredhacktothePresidioandtheGoldenGate.

           Onthesixthdayoftheirexcursions,Hilmaabruptlydeclaredtheyhadhadenoughof“playingout,”andmustbeseriousandgettowork.

           ThisworkwasnothinglessthanthebuyingofthefurnitureandappointmentsfortherejuvenatedranchhouseatQuienSabe,wheretheyweretolive.Annixterhadtelegraphedtohisoverseertohavethebuildingrepainted,replastered,andreshingledandtoemptytheroomsofeverythingbutthetelephoneandsafe.