Риф, або Там, де розбивається щастя

XV

           Theroomwasafriendlyheterogeneousplace,theonerepository,inthewell-orderedandamply-servantedhouse,ofallitsunclassifiedoddsandends:Effie’scroquet-boxandfishingrods,Owen’sgunsandgolf-sticksandracquets,hisstep-mother’sflower-basketsandgardeningimplements,evenMadamedeChantelle’sembroideryframe,andthebacknumbersoftheCatholicWeekly.Theearlytwilighthadbeguntofall,andpresentlyaslantingrayacrossthedeskshowedDarrowthataservantwascomingacrossthehallwithalamp.Hepulledoutasheetofnote-paperandbegantowriteatrandom,whiletheman,entering,putthelampathiselbowandvaguely“straightened”theheapofnewspaperstossedonthedivan.ThenhisstepsdiedawayandDarrowsatleaninghisheadonhislockedhands.

           Presentlyanotherstepsoundedonthestairs,waveredamomentandthenmovedpastthethresholdofthestudy.Darrowgotupandwalkedintothehall,whichwasstillunlighted.InthedimnesshesawSophyVinerstandingbythehalldoorinherhatandjacket.Shestoppedatsightofhim,herhandonthedoor-bolt,andtheystoodforasecondwithoutspeaking.

           “HaveyouseenEffie?”shesuddenlyasked.“Shewentouttomeetyou.”

           “Shedidmeetme,justnow,inthecourt.She’sgoneontojoinherbrother.”

           Darrowspokeasnaturallyashecould,buthisvoicesoundedtohisownearslikeanamateuractor’sina“light”part.

           MissViner,withoutanswering,drewbackthebolt.Hewatchedherinsilenceasthedoorswungopen;thenhesaid:“Shehashernursewithher.Shewon’tbelong.

Налаштування
Фон сторінки
Розмір шрифту
Міжрядковий інтервал
Фразові дієслова
Показати / Приховати меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Сторінка 153 з 369