Кошка под дождем

           ‘Acat?’

           ‘Si,ilgatto.’

           ‘Acat?’themaidlaughed.‘Acatintherain?’

           ‘Yes,–’shesaid,‘underthetable.’Then,‘Oh,Iwanteditsomuch.Iwantedakitty.’

           WhenshetalkedEnglishthemaid’sfacetightened.

           ‘Come,Signora,’shesaid.‘Wemustgetbackinside.Youwillbewet.’

           ‘Isupposeso,’saidtheAmericangirl.

           Theywentbackalongthegravelpathandpassedinthedoor.Themaidstayedoutsidetoclosetheumbrella.AstheAmericangirlpassedtheoffice,thepadronebowedfromhisdesk.Somethingfeltverysmallandtightinsidethegirl.Thepadronemadeherfeelverysmallandatthesametimereallyimportant.Shehadamomentaryfeelingofbeingofsupremeimportance.Shewentonupthestairs.

           Sheopenedthedooroftheroom.

           Georgewasonthebed,reading.

           ‘Didyougetthecat?’heasked,puttingthebookdown.

           ‘Itwasgone.’

           ‘Wonderwhereitwentto,’hesaid,restinghiseyesfromreading.

           Shesatdownonthebed.