Дни грёз
The Magic Ring
Hepulleduptoawalkassoonashecaughtsightofus,andthedog-cartcrawledslowlyalongtillitstoppedjustopposite.Thenheleanthischinonhishandandregardeduslongandsoulfully,yetsaidheneveraword;whilewejiggedupanddowninthedust,grinningbashfullybutwithexpectation.Foryouneverknewexactlywhatthismanmightsayordo.
“Youlookbored,”heremarkedpresently;“thoroughlybored.Orelse—letmesee;you’renotmarried,areyou?”
Heaskedthisinsuchsadearnestnessthatwehastenedtoassurehimwewerenotmarried,thoughwefeltheoughttohaveknownthatmuch;wehadbeenintimateforsometime.
“Thenit’sonlyboredom,”hesaid.“Justsatietyandworld-weariness.Well,ifyouassuremeyouaren’tmarriedyoucanclimbintothiscartandI’lltakeyouforadrive.I’mbored,too.Iwanttodosomethingdarkanddreadfulandexciting.”
Weclamberedin,ofcourse,yappingwithdelightandtreadingalloverhistoes;andaswesetoff,Harolddemandedofhimimperiouslywhitherhewasgoing.
“Mywife,”hereplied,“hasorderedmetogoandlookupthecurateandbringhimhometotea.Doesthatsoundsufficientlyexcitingforyou?”
Ourfacesfell.Thecurateofthehourwasnotasuccess,fromourpointofview.Hewasnotafunnyman,inanysenseoftheword.
“—butI’mnotgoingto,”headded,cheerfully.“ThenIwastostopatsomecottageandask—whatwasit?TherewasNETTLE-RASHmixedupinit,I’msure.Butnevermind,I’veforgotten,anditdoesn’tmatter.
