Дни грёз
Mutabile Semper
Selinahadafitofthefidgets,bredoftheunpromisingweather,and,insteadofsettlingdowntosomethingonherownaccount,mustneedswalkroundandannoyusartists,intentonembodyingourconceptionsoftheideal.ShehadbeenlookingovermyshouldersomeminutesbeforeIknewofit;orIwouldhavehadawordortwotosayuponthesubject.
“Isupposeyoucallthatthingaship,”sheremarkedcontemptuously.“Whoeverheardofapinkship?Hoo-hoo!”
Istifledmywrath,knowingthatinordertoscoreproperlyitwasnecessarytokeepacoolhead.
“Thereisapinkship,”Iobservedwithforcedcalmness,“lyinginthetoy-shopwindownow.Youcangoandlookatitifyoulike.D’yousupposeyouknowmoreaboutshipsthanthefellowswhomake’em?”
Selina,baffledforthemoment,returnedtothechargepresently.
“Thosearefunnythings,too,”sheobserved.“S’posethey’remeanttobetrees.Butthey’reBLUE.”
“TheyAREtrees,”Irepliedwithseverity;“andtheyAREblue.They’vegottobeblue,’cosyoustolemygambogelastweek,soIcan’tmixupanygreen.”
“DIDN’Tstealyourgamboge,”declaredSelina,haughtily,edgingaway,however,inthedirectionofHarold.“AndIwouldn’ttelllies,either,ifIwasyou,aboutadirtylittlebitofgamboge.”
Ipreservedadiscreetsilence.Afterall,IknewSHEknewshestolemygamboge.
