Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter IV
MarriagehadonlyaccentuatedthebeautifulmaturityofHilma’sfigure—nownolongerprecocious—definingthesingle,deepswellfromherthroattoherwaist,thestrong,fineamplitudeofherhips,thesweetfeminineundulationofherneckandshoulders.Hercheekswerepinkwithhealth,andherlargeroundarmscarriedthepiled-updisheswithneveratremour.Annixter,observantenoughwherehiswifewasconcernednotedhowthereflectionofthewhitechinasetaglowofpalelightunderneathherchin.
“Hilma,”hesaid,“I’vebeenwonderinglatelyaboutthings.We’resoblamedhappyourselvesitwon’tdoforustoforgetaboutotherpeoplewhoaredown,willit?Mightchangeourluck.AndI’mjustlikelytoforgetthatway,too.It’smynature.”
Hiswifelookedupathimjoyfully.HerewasthenewAnnixter,certainly.
“InallthishullabalooaboutDyke,”hewenton“there’ssomeonenobodyain’tthoughtaboutatall.That’sMRS.Dyke—andthelittletad.Iwouldn’tbesurprisediftheywereinaholeoverthere.Whatdoyousaywedriveovertothehopranchafterdinnerandseeifshewantsanything?”
Hilmaputdowntheplatesandcamearoundthetableandkissedhimwithoutaword.
Assoonastheirdinnerwasover,Annixterhadthecarry-allhitchedup,and,dispensingwithyoungVacca,droveovertothehopranchwithHilma.
Hilmacouldnotkeepbackthetearsastheypassedthroughthelamentabledesolationofthewithered,brownvines,symbolsofperishedhopesandabandonedeffort,andAnnixtersworebetweenhisteeth.
