Дні мрій
Mutabile Semper
“Youmust!I’llnevertellanyoneelseatall,IvowanddeclareIwon’t!”
Hersmallframewriggledwithemotion,andwithimploringeyesshejiggedimpatientlyjustinfrontofme.Herhairwastumbledbewitchinglyonhershoulders,andeventhelossofafronttooth—alossincidentaltoherage—seemedbuttoaddapiquancytoherface.
“Youwon’tcaretohearaboutit,”Isaid,wavering.“Besides,Ican’texplainexactly.IthinkIwon’ttellyou.”ButallthetimeIknewIshouldhaveto.
“ButIDOcare,”shewailedplaintively.“Ididn’tthinkyou’dbesounkind!”
Thiswouldneverdo.Thatlittledownwardtugateithercornerofthemouth—Iknewthesymptomonlytoowell!
“It’slikethis,”Ibeganstammeringly.“Thisbitofroadhere—upasfarasthatcorner—youknowit’sahorriddullbitofroad.I’malwayshavingtogoupanddownit,andIknowitsowell,andI’msosickofit.SowheneverIgettothatcorner,Ijust—well,Igorightofftoanotherplace!”
“Whatsortofaplace?”sheasked,lookingroundhergravely.
“Ofcourseit’sjustaplaceIimagine,”Iwentonhurriedlyandrathershamefacedly:“butit’sanawfullyniceplace—thenicestplaceyoueversaw.AndIalwaysgooffthereinchurch,orduringjoggraphylessons.”
“I’msureit’snotnicerthanmyhome,”shecriedpatriotically.“Oh,yououghttoseemyhome—it’slovely!We’vegot—”
“Yesitis,eversomuchnicer,”Iinterrupted.“Imean”—Iwentonapologetically—“ofcourseIknowyourhome’sbeautifulandallthat.
