Останній лист

           Inonecornerwasablankcanvasonaneaselthathadbeenwaitingtherefortwenty-fiveyearstoreceivethefirstlineofthemasterpiece. ShetoldhimofJohnsy’sfancy,andhowshefearedshewould,indeed,lightandfragileasaleafherself,floatawaywhenherslightholdupontheworldgrewweaker. 

           OldBehrman,withhisredeyes,plainlystreaming,shoutedhiscontemptandderisionforsuchidioticimaginings. 

           "Vass! "hecried. "Isderepeopleindeworldmitderfoolishnesstodiebecauseleafsdeydropofffromaconfoundedvine? Ihafnotheardofsuchathing. No,Iwillnotboseasamodelforyourfoolhermit-dunderhead. Vydoyouallowdotsillypusinesstocomeinderprainofher? Ach,dotpoorlettleMissJohnsy." 

           "Sheisveryillandweak,"saidSue,"andthefeverhaslefthermindmorbidandfullofstrangefancies. Verywell,Mr.Behrman,ifyoudonotcaretoposeforme,youneedn’t. ButIthinkyouareahorridold—oldflibbertigibbet." 

           "Youarejustlikeawoman! "yelledBehrman. "WhosaidIwillnotbose? Goon. Icomemityou. ForhalfanhourIhafpeentryingtosaydotIamreadytobose. Gott! disisnotanyblaceinwhichonesogootasMissYohnsyshallliesick. SomedayIvillbaintamasterpiece,andveshallallgoaway. Gott!yes." 

           Johnsywassleepingwhentheywentupstairs. Suepulledtheshadedowntothewindow-sill,andmotionedBehrmanintotheotherroom. Intheretheypeeredoutthewindowfearfullyattheivyvine.