Риф, или Там, где разбивается счастье

XXVI

           “It’sratherhardonOwen,isn’tit,thatyoushouldhavewaiteduntilnowtotellhim?”

           Shereflectedamomentbeforeanswering.“ItoldhimassoonasIknew.”

           “Knewthatyoucouldn’tmarryhim?”

           “KnewthatIcouldneverliveherewithhim.”Shelookedabouttheroom,asthoughtheverywallsmustspeakforher.

           ForamomentDarrowcontinuedtosearchherfaceperplexedly;thentheireyesmetinalongdisastrousgaze.

           “Yes——”shesaid,andstoodup.

           BelowthewindowtheyheardEffiewhistlingforherdogs,andthen,fromtheterrace,hermothercallingher.

           “There—thatforinstance,”SophyVinersaid.

           Darrowbrokeout:“It’sIwhooughttogo!”

           Shekepthersmallpalesmile.“Whatgoodwouldthatdoanyofus—now?”

           Hecoveredhisfacewithhishands.“GoodGod!”hegroaned.“HowcouldItell?”

           “Youcouldn’ttell.Weneitherofuscould.”Sheseemedtoturntheproblemovercritically.“Afterall,itmighthavebeenyouinsteadofme!”

           Hetookanotherdistractedturnabouttheroomandcomingbacktohersatdowninachairatherside.Amockinghandseemedtodashthewordsfromhislips.Therewasnothingonearththathecouldsaytoherthatwasn’tfoolishorcruelorcontemptible...

           “Mydear,”hebeganatlast,“oughtn’tyou,atanyrate,totry?”

           Hergazegrewgrave.“Trytoforgetyou?”

           Heflushedtotheforehead.“Imeant,trytogiveOwenmoretime;togivehimachance.He’smadlyinlovewithyou;allthegoodthat’sinhimisinyourhands.Hisstep-motherfeltthatfromthefirst.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 260 из 369