Риф, або Там, де розбивається щастя

VII

           

           Hehadthefeelingthatthewordswerebeingutteredinspiteofhimbysomemaliciouswitnessofthescene,andyetthathewasnotsorrytohavethemspoken.

           Thegirlhadlistenedtohiminsilence.Sheremainedmotionlessforamomentafterhehadceasedtospeak;thenshesnatchedawayherhand.

           “Youdidn’tpostmyletter?Youkeptitbackonpurpose?Andyoutellmesonow,toprovetomethatI’dbetterputmyselfunderyourprotection?”SheburstintoalaughthathadinitallthepiercingechoesofherMurrettpast,andherface,atthesamemoment,underwentthesamechange,shrinkingintoasmallmalevolentwhitemaskinwhichtheeyesburnedblack.“Thankyou—thankyoumostawfullyfortellingme!Andforallyourotherkindintentions!Theplan’sdelightful—reallyquitedelightful,andI’mextremelyflatteredandobliged.”

           Shedroppedintoaseatbesideherdressing-table,restingherchinonherliftedhands,andlaughingoutathimundertheelf-lockwhichhadshakenitselfdownoverhereyes.

           Heroutburstdidnotoffendtheyoungman;itsimmediateeffectwasthatofallayinghisagitation.Thetheatricaltouchinhermannermadehisoffenseseemmorevenialthanhehadthoughtitamomentbefore.

           Hedrewupachairandsatdownbesideher.“Afterall,”hesaid,inatoneofgood-humouredprotest,“Ineedn’thavetoldyouI’dkeptbackyourletter;andmytellingyouseemsratherstrongproofthatIhadn’tanyverynefariousdesignsonyou.”

           Shemetthiswithashrug,buthedidnotgivehertimetoanswer.

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