Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter V.
Itoughttobeastrapandanail.”
“Oldfool,”observedAnnixter,whosereparteewastheheavingofbrickbats.“Say,”hecontinued,holdingtherazorfromhisface,andjerkinghisheadoverhisshoulder,whilehelookedatPresley’sreflectioninhismirror;“say,lookaround.Isn’tthisaniftylittleroom?Werefittedthewholehouse,youknow.Noticeshe’sallpainted?”
“Ihavebeenlookingaround,”answeredPresley,sweepingtheroomwithaseriesofglances.Heforeborecriticism.Annixterwassoboyishlyproudoftheeffectthatitwouldhavebeenunkindtohaveundeceivedhim.Presleylookedatthemarvellous,department-storebedofbrass,withitsbrave,gaycanopy;themill-madewash-stand,withitspitcherandbowlofblindingredandgreenchina,thestraw-framedlithographsofsymbolicfemalefiguresagainstthemulti-coloured,newwall-paper;theinadequatespindlechairsofwhiteandgold;thesphereoftissuepaperhangingfromthegasfixture,andtheplumesofpampasgrasstackedtothewallatartisticangles,andoverhangingtwoastonishingoilpaintings,indazzlinggoldenframes.
“Say,howaboutthosepaintings,Pres?”inquiredAnnixteralittleuneasily.“Idon’tknowwhetherthey’regoodornot.Theywerepaintedbyathree-fingeredChinamaninMonterey,andIgotthelotforthirtydollars,framesthrownin.Why,Ithinktheframesaloneareworththirtydollars.”
“Well,sodoI,”declaredPresley.Hehastenedtochangethesubject.
“Buck,”hesaid,“Ihearyou’vebroughtMrs.DykeandSidneytolivewithyou.
