Риф, или Там, где разбивается счастье

           Butisthere,insuchacase,anyrecommendationworthhalfasmuchasyourowndirectexperience?”

           “No;andit’sbeensofavourablethatIwasreadytoacceptitasconclusive.Only,naturally,whenIfoundyou’dknownherinLondonIwasinhopesyou’dgivemesomemorespecificreasonsforlikingherasmuchasIdo.”

           “I’mafraidIcangiveyounothingmorespecificthanmygeneralvagueimpressionthatsheseemsverypluckyandextremelynice.”

           “Youdon’t,atanyrate,knowanythingspecifictothecontrary?”

           “Tothecontrary?HowshouldI?I’mnotconsciousofeverhavingheardanyonesaytwowordsabouther.IonlyinferthatshemusthavepluckandcharactertohavestuckitoutsolongatMrs.Murrett’s.”

           “Yes,poorthing!Shehaspluck,certainly;andpride,too;whichmusthavemadeitalltheharder.”Annarosetoherfeet.“Youdon’tknowhowgladIamthatyourimpression’sonthewholesogood.Iparticularlywantedyoutolikeher.”

           Hedrewhertohimwithasmile.“OnthatconditionI’mpreparedtoloveevenAdelaidePainter.”

           “Ialmosthopeyouwonthavethechanceto—poorAdelaide!Herappearanceherealwayscoincideswithacatastrophe.”

           “Oh,thenImustmanagetomeetherelsewhere.”HeheldAnnacloser,sayingtohimself,ashesmoothedbackthehairfromherforehead:“Whatdoesanythingmatterbutjustthis?—MustIgonow?”headdedaloud.

           Sheansweredabsently:“Itmustbetimetodress”;thenshedrewbackalittleandlaidherhandsonhisshoulders.“Mylove—oh,mydearlove!”shesaid.