Зима тревоги нашей

           "Willweseeyouinchurchtomorrow?"

           "No.I’mgoinguptoMontauktonight."

           "Butit’stoocoldandwet."

           "Ilovethemorningsontheseaupthere.Goodnight."ShewasoutbeforeIcouldevenholdthedoorforher,outasthoughsomethingwasafterher.

           Marysaid,"Ididn’tknowshewasgoinguptheretonight."

           AndIcouldn’ttellher:Neitherdidshe.

           "Ethan—whatdoyoumakeofthatfortunetonight?"

           "Shedidn’ttellone."

           "Youforget,shesaidtherewouldbemoney.Butwhatdoyoumakeofit?Ithinkshesawsomethingshedidn’twanttotell.Somethingthatscaredher."

           "Maybesheoncesawthesnakeanditstayedinhermind."

           "Youdon’tthinkithada—meaning?"

           "Honeyroll,you’rethefortuneexpert.HowwouldIknow?"

           "Well,anyway.I’mgladyoudon’thateher.Ithoughtyoudid."

           "I’mtricky,"Isaid."Iconcealmythoughts."

           "Notfrommeyoudon’t.They’llstayrightthroughthesecondshow."

           "Comeagain?"

           "Thechildren.Theyalwaysdo.Ithoughtyouwerewonderfulaboutthedishes."

           "I’mdevious,"Isaid."And,induecourse,Ihavedesignsonyourhonor."