Зима тревоги нашей

           "Can’tdoit,"shesaid."Happenssometimes."

           Marysaidbreathlessly,"Didyouseesomethingyoudon’twanttotell?"

           "Oh,I’lltellallright!OncewhenIwasalittlegirlIsawasnakechangeitsskin,aRockyMountainrattler.Iwatchedthewholething.Well,lookingatthecards,theydisappearedandIsawthatsnakechangingitsskin,partdustyandraggedandpartfreshandnew.Youfigureitout."

           Isaid,"Soundslikeatrancestate.Everhaveithappenbefore?"

           "Threetimesbefore."

           "Makeanysensetheothertimes?"

           "NotthatIknowof."

           "Alwaysthesnake?"

           "Oh,no!Otherthings,butjustascrazy."

           Marysaidenthusiastically,"Maybeit’sasymbolofthechangeinfortunethat’scomingtoEthan."

           "Ishearattlesnake?"

           "Oh!Iseewhatyoumean."

           "Makesmefeelcrawly,"Margiesaid."OnceIkindoflikedsnakesandthenwhenIgrewupIhatedthem.Theygivemethewillies.I’dbetterbegoing."

           "Ethancanseeyouhome."

           "Wouldn’tthinkofit."

           "I’dbegladto."

           MargiesmiledatMary."Youkeephimrightherewithyou,"shesaid."Youdon’tknowwhatit’sliketobewithoutone."

           "Nonsense,"saidMary."Youcouldgetahusbandbycrookingyourfinger."

           "That’swhatIdidbefore.It’snogood.Iftheycomethateasy,they’renotworthhaving.Keephimhome.Someonemightgrabhim."Shegotintohercoatasshetalked—afastscrammer."Lovelydinner.Ihopeyou’llaskmeback.Sorryaboutthefortune,Ethan."