Поворот гвинта

           AssoonasIhaddonesoIusedtosaytomyself:“Whatwilltheythinkofthat?Doesn’titbetraytoomuch?”Itwouldhavebeeneasytogetintoasad,wildtangleabouthowmuchImightbetray;buttherealaccount,Ifeel,ofthehoursofpeacethatIcouldstillenjoywasthattheimmediatecharmofmycompanionswasabeguilementstilleffectiveevenundertheshadowofthepossibilitythatitwasstudied.ForifitoccurredtomethatImightoccasionallyexcitesuspicionbythelittleoutbreaksofmysharperpassionforthem,sotooIrememberwonderingifImightn’tseeaqueernessinthetraceableincreaseoftheirowndemonstrations.

           Theywereatthisperiodextravagantlyandpreternaturallyfondofme;which,afterall,Icouldreflect,wasnomorethanagracefulresponseinchildrenperpetuallybowedoverandhugged.Thehomageofwhichtheyweresolavishsucceeded,intruth,formynerves,quiteaswellasifIneverappearedtomyself,asImaysay,literallytocatchthematapurposeinit.Theyhadnever,Ithink,wantedtodosomanythingsfortheirpoorprotectress;Imean—thoughtheygottheirlessonsbetterandbetter,whichwasnaturallywhatwouldpleasehermost—inthewayofdiverting,entertaining,surprisingher;readingherpassages,tellingherstories,actinghercharades,pouncingoutather,indisguises,asanimalsandhistoricalcharacters,andaboveallastonishingherbythe“pieces”theyhadsecretlygotbyheartandcouldinterminablyrecite.