Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Aha,hesawthroughher!Shewastryingtogetaholdonhim,wasshe?Hewouldshowher.Waittillhesawheragain.Hewouldsendheraboutherbusinessinahurry.Heresolveduponaterribledemeanourinthepresenceofthedairygirl—agreatshowofindifference,afiercemasculinenonchalance;andwhen,thenextmorning,shebroughthimhisbreakfast,hehadbeensmittendumbassoonassheenteredtheroom,glueinghiseyesuponhisplate,hiselbowsclosetohisside,awkward,clumsy,overwhelmedwithconstraint.

           Whiletruetohisconvictionsasawoman-haterandgenuinelydespisingHilmabothasagirlandasaninferior,theideaofherworriedhim.Mostofall,hewasangrywithhimselfbecauseofhisinanesheepishnesswhenshewasabout.Heatfirsthadtoldhimselfthathewasafoolnottobeabletoignoreherexistenceashitherto,andthenthathewasagreaterfoolnottotakeadvantageofhisposition.Certainlyhehadnottheremotestideaofanyaffection,butHilmawasafinelookinggirl.Heimaginedanaffairwithher.

           Ashereflecteduponthematternow,scowlingabstractedlyatthebuttonoftheelectricbell,turningthewholebusinessoverinhismind,herememberedthatto-daywasbutter-makingdayandthatMrs.Treewouldbeoccupiedinthedairy.ThatmeantthatHilmawouldtakeherplace.Heturnedtothemirrorofthesideboard,scrutinisinghisreflectionwithgrimdisfavour.