Королі та капуста
Caught
"Youforcemydoor,"shesaid,"andyoufollowyourruffianlybehaviourwiththebasestaccusations;andyet"—shehesitated,asiftoreconsiderwhatshewasabouttosay—"andyet—itisapuzzlingthing—Iamsuretherehasbeensomemistake."
Shetookasteptowardthedoor,butGoodwinstayedherbyalighttouchuponherarm.Ihavesaidbeforethatwomenturnedtolookathiminthestreets.Hewasthevikingsortofman,big,good-looking,andwithanairofkindlytruculence.Shewasdarkandproud,glowingorpaleashermoodmovedher.IdonotknowifEvewerelightordark,butifsuchawomanhadstoodinthegardenIknowthattheapplewouldhavebeeneaten.ThiswomanwastobeGoodwin’sfate,andhedidnotknowit;buthemusthavefeltthefirstthroesofdestiny,for,ashefacedher,theknowledgeofwhatreportnamedherturnedbitterinhisthroat.
"Iftherehasbeenanymistake,"hesaid,hotly,"itwasyours.Idonotblamethemanwhohaslosthiscountry,hishonour,andisabouttolosethepoorconsolationofhisstolenrichesasmuchasIblameyou,for,byHeaven!Icanverywellseehowhewasbroughttoit.Icanunderstand,andpityhim.Itissuchwomenasyouthatstrewthisdegradedcoastwithwretchedexiles,thatmakemenforgettheirtrusts,thatdrag—"
Theladyinterruptedhimwithawearygesture.
"Thereisnoneedtocontinueyourinsults,"shesaid,coldly.
