Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter IX
Butyouareyoung;youhaveallyourlifetoliveyet.Yoursorrowneednotbeaburdentoyou.Ifyouconsideritasyoushould—asyouWILLsomeday,believeme—itwillonlybeagreathelptoyou.Itwillmakeyoumorenoble,atruerwoman,moregenerous.”
“IthinkIsee,”sheanswered,“andIneverthoughtaboutitinthatlightbefore.”
“Iwanttohelpyou,”heanswered,“asyouhavehelpedme.Iwanttobeyourfriend,andaboveallthingsIdonotwanttoseeyourlifewasted.IamgoingawayanditisquitepossibleIshallneverseeyouagain,butyouwillalwaysbeahelptome.”
“Idonotunderstand,”sheanswered,“butIknowyoumeantobevery,verykindtome.Yes,Ihopewhenyoucomeback—ifyoueverdo—youwillstillbethat.Idonotknowwhyyoushouldwanttobesokind,unless—yes,ofcourse—youweremyhusband’sdearestfriend.”
Theytalkedalittlelonger,andatlengthPresleyrose.
“IcannotbringmyselftoseeMrs.Derrickagain,”hesaid.“Itwouldonlyservetomakeherveryunhappy.Willyouexplainthattoher?Ithinkshewillunderstand.”
“Yes,”answeredHilma.“Yes,Iwill.”
Therewasapause.Thereseemedtobenothingmoreforeitherofthemtosay.Presleyheldouthishand.
“Good-bye,”shesaid,asshegavehimhers.
Hecarriedittohislips.
“Good-bye,”heanswered.“Good-byeandmayGodblessyou.”
Heturnedawayabruptlyandlefttheroom.Butashewasquietlymakinghiswayoutofthehouse,hopingtogettohishorseunobserved,hecamesuddenlyuponMrs.DykeandSidneyontheporchofthehouse.
