Поворот гвинта

           “Lookhere,mydear,youknow,”hecharminglysaid,“whenintheworld,please,amIgoingbacktoschool?”

           Transcribedherethespeechsoundsharmlessenough,particularlyasutteredinthesweet,high,casualpipewithwhich,atallinterlocutors,butaboveallathiseternalgoverness,hethrewoffintonationsasifheweretossingroses.Therewassomethinginthemthatalwaysmadeone“catch,”andIcaught,atanyrate,nowsoeffectuallythatIstoppedasshortasifoneofthetreesoftheparkhadfallenacrosstheroad.Therewassomethingnew,onthespot,betweenus,andhewasperfectlyawarethatIrecognizedit,though,toenablemetodoso,hehadnoneedtolookawhitlesscandidandcharmingthanusual.Icouldfeelinhimhowhealready,frommyatfirstfindingnothingtoreply,perceivedtheadvantagehehadgained.Iwassoslowtofindanythingthathehadplentyoftime,afteraminute,tocontinuewithhissuggestivebutinconclusivesmile:“Youknow,mydear,thatforafellowtobewithaladyalways—!”His“mydear”wasconstantlyonhislipsforme,andnothingcouldhaveexpressedmoretheexactshadeofthesentimentwithwhichIdesiredtoinspiremypupilsthanitsfondfamiliarity.Itwassorespectfullyeasy.

           But,oh,howIfeltthatatpresentImustpickmyownphrases!Irememberthat,togaintime,Itriedtolaugh,andIseemedtoseeinthebeautifulfacewithwhichhewatchedmehowuglyandqueerIlooked.“Andalwayswiththesamelady?”Ireturned.

           Heneitherblanchednorwinked.