Літо
IX
”Shepointedtoagoldlily-of-the-valleywithwhiteflowers.
“Don’tyouthinkthebluepin’sbetter?”hesuggested,andimmediatelyshesawthatthelilyofthevalleywasmeretrumperycomparedtothesmallroundstone,blueasamountainlake,withlittlesparksoflightallroundit.Shecolouredatherwantofdiscrimination.
“It’ssolovelyIguessIwasafraidtolookatit,”shesaid.
Helaughed,andtheywentoutoftheshop;butafewstepsawayheexclaimed:“Oh,byJove,Iforgotsomething,”andturnedbackandleftherinthecrowd.Shestoodstaringdownarowofpinkgramophonethroatstillherejoinedherandslippedhisarmthroughhers.
“Youmustn’tbeafraidoflookingatthebluepinanylonger,becauseitbelongstoyou,”hesaid;andshefeltalittleboxbeingpressedintoherhand.Herheartgavealeapofjoy,butitreachedherlipsonlyinashystammer.Sherememberedothergirlswhomshehadheardplanningtoextractpresentsfromtheirfellows,andwasseizedwithasuddendreadlestHarneyshouldhaveimaginedthatshehadleanedovertheprettythingsintheglasscaseinthehopeofhavingonegiventoher....
Alittlefartherdownthestreettheyturnedinataglassdoorwayopeningonashininghallwithamahoganystaircase,andbrasscagesinitscorners.“Wemusthavesomethingtoeat,”Harneysaid;andthenextmomentCharityfoundherselfinadressing-roomalllooking-glassandlustroussurfaces,whereapartyofshowy-lookinggirlsweredabbingonpowderandstraighteningimmenseplumedhats.
