Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Presleycameforward,holdingouthishand,allunabletobelievehiseyes.Itwasawoman,grave,dignified,composed,whoadvancedtomeethim.Hilmawasdressedinblack,thecutandfashionofthegownsevere,almostmonastic.Allthelittlefeminineandcontradictorydaintinesseswerenowheretobeseen.Herstatuesquecalmevennessofcontouryetremained,butitwasthecalmnessofgreatsorrow,ofinfiniteresignation.Beautifulshestillremained,butshewasolder.Theseriousnessofonewhohasgainedtheknowledgeoftheworld—knowledgeofitsevil—seemedtoenvelopeher.Thecalmgravityofagreatsufferingpast,butnotforgotten,satuponher.Notyettwenty-one,sheexhibitedthedemeanourofawomanofforty.

           Theone-timeamplitudeofherfigure,thefulnessofhipandshoulder,thegreatdeepswellfromwaisttothroatweregone.Shehadgrownthinnerand,inconsequence,seemedunusually,almostunnaturallytall.Herneckwasslender,theoutlineofherfulllipsandroundchinwasalittlesharp;herarms,thosewonderful,beautifularmsofhers,werealittleshrunken.Buthereyeswereaswideopenasalways,rimmedaseverbythethin,intenselyblacklineofthelashesandherbrown,fragranthairwasstillthick,still,attimes,glitteredandcoruscatedinthesun.Whenshespoke,itwaswiththeold-timevelvetyhuskinessofvoicethatAnnixterhadlearnedtolovesowell.

           “Oh,itisyou,”shesaid,givinghimherhand.“Youweregoodtowanttoseemebeforeyouleft.Ihearthatyouaregoingaway.”

           Shesatdownuponthesofa.