Місяць і гріш

Chapter VIII

           SheaskedmewhatIhadbeendoingwithmyselfduringthesummer,andwiththishelpImanagedtomakesomeconversationtillteawasbroughtin.TheColonelaskedforawhisky-and-soda.

           "You’dbetterhaveonetoo,Amy,"hesaid.

           "No;Iprefertea."

           Thiswasthefirstsuggestionthatanythinguntowardhadhappened.Itooknonotice,anddidmybesttoengageMrs.Stricklandintalk.TheColonel,stillstandinginfrontofthefireplace,utterednoword.IwonderedhowsoonIcoulddecentlytakemyleave,andIaskedmyselfwhyonearthMrs.Stricklandhadallowedmetocome.Therewerenoflowers,andvariousknick-knacks,putawayduringthesummer,hadnotbeenreplaced;therewassomethingcheerlessandstiffabouttheroomwhichhadalwaysseemedsofriendly;itgaveyouanoddfeeling,asthoughsomeonewerelyingdeadontheothersideofthewall.Ifinishedtea.

           "Willyouhaveacigarette?"askedMrs.Strickland.

           Shelookedaboutforthebox,butitwasnottobeseen.

           "I’mafraidtherearenone."

           Suddenlysheburstintotears,andhurriedfromtheroom.

           Iwasstartled.Isupposenowthatthelackofcigarettes,broughtasarulebyherhusband,forcedhimbackuponherrecollection,andthenewfeelingthatthesmallcomfortsshewasusedtoweremissinggaveherasuddenpang.Sherealisedthattheoldlifewasgoneanddonewith.Itwasimpossibletokeepupoursocialpretencesanylonger.

           "Idaresayyou’dlikemetogo,"IsaidtotheColonel,gettingup.

           "Isupposeyou’veheardthatblackguardhasdesertedher,"hecriedexplosively.

           Ihesitated.

           "Youknowhowpeoplegossip,"Ianswered.

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