Риф, или Там, где разбивается счастье

XXI

           

           Shesubmittedtothisscrutinywithnomoreevidenceofsurprisethanamonumentexaminedbyatourist;butwhenthefateofherluggagehadbeensettledsheturnedsuddenlytoDarrowand,droppinghereyesfromhisfacetohisfeet,askedintrenchantaccents:“Whatsortofbootshaveyougoton?”

           Beforehecouldsummonhiswitstotheconsiderationofthisquestionshecontinuedinatoneofsuppressedindignation:“UntilAmericansgetusedtothefactthatFranceisunderwaterforhalftheyearthey’reperpetuallyriskingtheirlivesbynotbeingproperlyprotected.Isupposeyou’vebeentrampingthroughallthisnastyclammymudasifyou’dbeentakingastrollonBostonCommon.”

           Darrow,withalaugh,affirmedhispreviousexperienceofFrenchdampness,andthedegreetowhichhewasonhisguardagainstit;butthelady,withacontemptuoussnort,rejoined:“Youyoungmenareallalike——“;towhichsheappended,afteranotherhardlookathim:“Isupposeyou’reGeorgeDarrow?Iusedtoknowoneofyourmother’scousins,whomarriedaTunstallofMountVernonStreet.MynameisAdelaidePainter.HaveyoubeeninBostonlately?No?I’msorryforthat.IheartherehavebeenseveralnewhousesbuiltatthelowerendofCommonwealthAvenueandIhopedyoucouldtellmeaboutthem.Ihaven’tbeenthereforthirtyyearsmyself.”

           MissPainter’sarrivalatGivreproducedthesameeffectasthewind’shaulingaroundtothenorthafterdaysoflanguidweather.WhenDarrowjoinedthegroupaboutthetea-tableshehadalreadygivenatingletotheair.

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