Загадочная история Бенджамина Баттона

           Theypulledupbehindahandsomebroughamwhosepassengersweredisembarkingatthedoor.Aladygotout,thenanelderlygentleman,thenanotheryounglady,beautifulassin.Benjaminstarted;analmostchemicalchangeseemedtodissolveandrecomposetheveryelementsofhisbody.Arigourpassedoverhim,bloodroseintohischeeks,hisforehead,andtherewasasteadythumpinginhisears.Itwasfirstlove.

           Thegirlwasslenderandfrail,withhairthatwasashenunderthemoonandhoney-colouredunderthesputteringgas-lampsoftheporch.OverhershoulderswasthrownaSpanishmantillaofsoftestyellow,butterfliedinblack;herfeetwereglitteringbuttonsatthehemofherbustleddress.

           RogerButtonleanedovertohisson."That,"hesaid,"isyoungHildegardeMoncrief,thedaughterofGeneralMoncrief."

           Benjaminnoddedcoldly."Prettylittlething,"hesaidindifferently.Butwhenthenegroboyhadledthebuggyaway,headded:"Dad,youmightintroducemetoher."

           Theyapproachedagroup,ofwhichMissMoncriefwasthecentre.Rearedintheoldtradition,shecurtsiedlowbeforeBenjamin.Yes,hemighthaveadance.Hethankedherandwalkedaway—staggeredaway.

           Theintervaluntilthetimeforhisturnshouldarrivedraggeditselfoutinterminably.Hestoodclosetothewall,silent,inscrutable,watchingwithmurderouseyestheyoungbloodsofBaltimoreastheyeddiedaroundHildegardeMoncrief,passionateadmirationintheirfaces.HowobnoxioustheyseemedtoBenjamin;howintolerablyrosy!Theircurlingbrownwhiskersarousedinhimafeelingequivalenttoindigestion.