Поворот гвинта
Chapter 17
”
“Well,then—?”
“Oh,youknowwhataboywants!”
IfeltthatIdidn’tknowsowellasMiles,andItooktemporaryrefuge.“Youwanttogotoyouruncle?”
Again,atthis,withhissweetironicface,hemadeamovementonthepillow.“Ah,youcan’tgetoffwiththat!”
Iwassilentalittle,anditwasI,now,Ithink,whochangedcolor.“Mydear,Idon’twanttogetoff!”
“Youcan’t,evenifyoudo.Youcan’t,youcan’t!”—helaybeautifullystaring.“Myunclemustcomedown,andyoumustcompletelysettlethings.”
“Ifwedo,”Ireturnedwithsomespirit,“youmaybesureitwillbetotakeyouquiteaway.”
“Well,don’tyouunderstandthatthat’sexactlywhatI’mworkingfor?You’llhavetotellhim—aboutthewayyou’veletitalldrop:you’llhavetotellhimatremendouslot!”
Theexultationwithwhichheutteredthishelpedmesomehow,fortheinstant,tomeethimrathermore.“Andhowmuchwillyou,Miles,havetotellhim?Therearethingshe’llaskyou!”
Heturneditover.“Verylikely.Butwhatthings?”
“Thethingsyou’venevertoldme.Tomakeuphismindwhattodowithyou.Hecan’tsendyouback—”
“Oh,Idon’twanttogoback!”hebrokein.“Iwantanewfield.”
Hesaiditwithadmirableserenity,withpositiveunimpeachablegaiety;anddoubtlessitwasthatverynotethatmostevokedformethepoignancy,theunnaturalchildishtragedy,ofhisprobablereappearanceattheendofthreemonthswithallthisbravadoandstillmoredishonor.
