Риф, или Там, где разбивается счастье

           Andshethought—shebelieved——”

           “ShethoughtIcouldmakehimhappy.Wouldshethinksonow?”

           “Now...?Idon’tsaynow.Butlater?Timemodifies...rubsout...morequicklythanyouthink....Goaway,butlethimhope....I’mgoingtoo—we’regoing—”hestumbledontheplural—“inaveryfewweeks:goingforalongtime,probably.Whatyou’rethinkingofnowmayneverhappen.Wemaynotallbeheretogetheragainforyears.”

           Sheheardhimoutinsilence,herhandsclaspedonherknee,hereyesbentonthem.“Forme,”shesaid,“you’llalwaysbehere.”

           “Don’tsaythat—oh,don’t!Thingschange...peoplechange....You’llsee!”

           “Youdon’tunderstand.Idon’twantanythingtochange.Idon’twanttoforget—torubout.AtfirstIimaginedIdid;butthatwasafoolishmistake.AssoonasIsawyouagainIknewit....It’snotbeingherewithyouthatI’mafraidof—inthesenseyouthink.It’sbeinghere,oranywhere,withOwen.”Shestoodupandbenthertragicsmileonhim.“Iwanttokeepyoualltomyself.”

           Theonlywordsthatcametohimwerefutiledenunciationsofhisfolly;butthesenseoftheirfutilitycheckedthemonhislips.“Poorchild—youpoorchild!”heheardhimselfvainlyrepeating.

           Suddenlyhefeltthestrongreactionofrealityanditsimpetusbroughthimtohisfeet.“Whateverhappens,Iintendtogo—togoforgood,”heexclaimed.“Iwantyoutounderstandthat.Oh,don’tbeafraid—I’llfindareason.Butit’sperfectlyclearthatImustgo.”

           Sheutteredaprotestingcry.