Милий друг
First Attempts
Hesaidyoucouldhelpmebetterthanhe—but—Idarednot—Ididnotliketo."
Sherose.
"Itwillbedelightfultoworktogetherthatway.Iamcharmedwithyouridea.Wait,takemychair,fortheyknowmyhandwritingonthepaper—wewillwriteasuccessfularticle."
Shetookacigarettefromthemantelpieceandlightedit."Icannotworkwithoutsmoking,"shesaid;"whatareyougoingtosay?"
Helookedatherinastonishment."Idonotknow;Icameheretofindthatout."
Shereplied:"Iwillmanageitallright.IwillmakethesaucebutImusthavethedish."Shequestionedhimindetailandfinallysaid:
"Now,wewillbegin.Firstofallwewillsupposethatyouareaddressingafriend,whichwillallowusscopeforremarksofallkinds.Beginthisway:‘MydearHenry,youwishtoknowsomethingaboutAlgeria;youshall.’"
ThenfollowedabrilliantlywordeddescriptionofAlgeriaandoftheportofAlgiers,anexcursiontotheprovinceofOran,avisittoSaida,andanadventurewithaprettySpanishmaidemployedinafactory.
Whenthearticlewasconcluded,hecouldfindnowordsofthanks;hewashappytobenearher,gratefulforanddelightedwiththeirgrowingintimacy.Itseemedtohimthateverythingabouthimwasapartofher,eventothebooksupontheshelves.Thechairs,thefurniture,theair—allwerepermeatedwiththatdelightfulfragrancepeculiartoher.
