Милий друг
Death and a Proposal
LunchashastilyasyoucanwithMadeleine,becausewearegoingtotakeadrive."
WhenMme.ForestierwasalonewithDuroy,shesaidtohim:"Yousee,to-dayhethinksheisbetter!Heismakingplansforto-morrow.WearenowgoingtoGulfJuantobuypotteryforourroomsinParis.Heisdeterminedtogo,buthecannotstandthejoltingontheroad."
Thecarriagearrived,Forestierdescendedthestairs,stepbystep,supportedbyhisservant.Whenhesawtheclosedlandau,hewantedituncovered.Hiswifeopposedhim:"Itissheermadness!Youwilltakecold."
Hepersisted:"No,Iamgoingtobebetter,Iknowit."
Theyfirstdrovealongashadyroadandthentooktheroadbythesea.Forestierexplainedthedifferentpointsofinterest.Finallytheyarrivedatapavilionoverwhichwerethesewords:"GulfJuanArtPottery,"andthecarriagedrewupatthedoor.Forestierwantedtobuyavasetoputonhisbookcase.Ashecouldnotleavethecarriage,theybroughtthepiecestohimonebyone.Ittookhimalongtimetochoose,consultinghiswifeandDuroy:"Youknowitisformystudy.Frommyeasy-chairIcanseeitconstantly.Iprefertheancientform—theGreek."
Atlengthhemadehischoice."IshallreturntoParisinafewdays,"saidhe.
Ontheirwayhomealongthegulfacoolbreezesuddenlysprangup,andtheinvalidbegantocough.
