Останній лист

           "They’refallingfasternow. Threedaysagotherewerealmostahundred. Itmademyheadachetocountthem. Butnowit’seasy. Theregoesanotherone. Thereareonlyfiveleftnow." 

           "Fivewhat,dear. TellyourSudie." 

           "Leaves. Ontheivyvine. WhenthelastonefallsImustgo,too. I’veknownthatforthreedays. Didn’tthedoctortellyou?" 

           "Oh,Ineverheardofsuchnonsense,"complainedSue,withmagnificentscorn. "Whathaveoldivyleavestodowithyourgettingwell? Andyouusedtolovethatvineso,younaughtygirl. Don’tbeagoosey. Why,thedoctortoldmethismorningthatyourchancesforgettingwellrealsoonwere—let’sseeexactlywhathesaid—hesaidthechancesweretentoone! Why,that’salmostasgoodachanceaswehaveinNewYorkwhenwerideonthestreetcarsorwalkpastanewbuilding. Trytotakesomebrothnow,andletSudiegobacktoherdrawing,soshecanselltheeditormanwithit,andbuyportwineforhersickchild,andporkchopsforhergreedyself." 

           "Youneedn’tgetanymorewine,"saidJohnsy,keepinghereyesfixedoutthewindow. "Theregoesanother. No,Idon’twantanybroth. Thatleavesjustfour. Iwanttoseethelastonefallbeforeitgetsdark. ThenI’llgo,too." 

           "Johnsy,dear,"saidSue,bendingoverher,"willyoupromisemetokeepyoureyesclosed,andnotlookoutthewindowuntilIamdoneworking? Imusthandthosedrawingsinbytomorrow. Ineedthelight,orIwoulddrawtheshadedown." 

           "Couldn’tyoudrawintheotherroom? "askedJohnsy,coldly.