Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
The Giant Again
Couldshebehappywiththisjunglewaif?CouldshefindanythingincommonwithahusbandwhoselifehadbeenspentinthetreetopsofanAfricanwilderness,frolickingandfightingwithfierceanthropoids;tearinghisfoodfromthequiveringflankoffresh-killedprey,sinkinghisstrongteethintorawflesh,andtearingawayhisportionwhilehismatesgrowledandfoughtabouthimfortheirshare?
Couldheeverrisetohersocialsphere?Couldshebeartothinkofsinkingtohis?Wouldeitherbehappyinsuchahorriblemisalliance?
"Youdonotanswer,"hesaid."Doyoushrinkfromwoundingme?"
"Idonotknowwhatanswertomake,"saidJanesadly."Idonotknowmyownmind."
"Youdonotloveme,then?"heasked,inaleveltone.
"Donotaskme.Youwillbehappierwithoutme.Youwerenevermeantfortheformalrestrictionsandconventionalitiesofsociety—civilizationwouldbecomeirksometoyou,andinalittlewhileyouwouldlongforthefreedomofyouroldlife—alifetowhichIamastotallyunfittedasyoutomine."
"IthinkIunderstandyou,"herepliedquietly."Ishallnoturgeyou,forIwouldratherseeyouhappythantobehappymyself.Iseenowthatyoucouldnotbehappywith—anape."
Therewasjustthefaintesttingeofbitternessinhisvoice.
"Don’t,"sheremonstrated."Don’tsaythat.Youdonotunderstand