Жовті шпалери

           Itwasmoonlight.Themoonshinesinallaroundjustasthesundoes. 

           Ihatetoseeitsometimes,itcreepssoslowly,andalwayscomesinbyonewindoworanother. 

           JohnwasasleepandIhatedtowakenhim,soIkeptstillandwatchedthemoonlightonthatundulatingwall-papertillIfeltcreepy. 

           Thefaintfigurebehindseemedtoshakethepattern,justasifshewantedtogetout. 

           IgotupsoftlyandwenttofeelandseeifthepaperDIDmove,andwhenIcamebackJohnwasawake. 

           "Whatisit,littlegirl?"hesaid."Don’tgowalkingaboutlikethat—you’llgetcold." 

           Ithoughitwasagoodtimetotalk,soItoldhimthatIreallywasnotgaininghere,andthatIwishedhewouldtakemeaway. 

           "Whydarling!"saidhe,"ourleasewillbeupinthreeweeks,andIcan’tseehowtoleavebefore. 

           "Therepairsarenotdoneathome,andIcannotpossiblyleavetownjustnow.Ofcourseifyouwereinanydanger,Icouldandwould,butyoureallyarebetter,dear,whetheryoucanseeitornot. Iamadoctor,dear,andIknow.Youaregainingfleshandcolor,yourappetiteisbetter,Ifeelreallymucheasieraboutyou." 

           "Idon’tweighabitmore,"saidI,"norasmuch;andmyappetitemaybebetterintheeveningwhenyouarehere,butitisworseinthemorningwhenyouareaway!"