Зима тревоги нашей

           ButI’mnottakingupoldscoresfortalk.Frankly,Mr.Baker,Iwantto—torehabilitatemyfortunes."

           "That’sthespirit,Ethan.ForatimeIthoughtyou’dlosttheoldHawleytouch."

           "Ihad;ormaybeI’dnotdevelopedit.You’veofferedhelp.WheredoIstart?"

           "Thetroubleis,youneedcapitaltostart."

           "Iknowthat.ButifIhadsomecapital,wherewouldIstart?"

           "Thismustbetiresomefortheladies,"hesaid."Maybeweshouldgointothelibrary.Businessisdulltoladies."

           Mrs.Bakerstoodup."IwasjustabouttoaskMarytohelpmeselectsomewallpaperforthebigbedroom.Thesamplesareupstairs,Mary."

           "I’dlikeMarytohear—"

           Butshewentalongwiththem,asIknewshewould."Idon’tknowathingaboutbusiness,"shesaid."ButIdoknowaboutwallpaper."

           "Butyou’reconcerned,darling."

           "Ijustgetmixedup,Ethan.YouknowIdo."

           "MaybeI’llgetmoremixedupwithoutyou,darling."

           Mr.Bakerhadprobablysuggestedthewallpaperbit.Ithinkhiswifedoesnotchoosethepaper.Surelynowomanpickedthedarkandgeometricpaperintheroomwherewesat.

           "Now,"hesaidwhentheyweregone,"yourproblemiscapital,Ethan.Yourhouseisclear.Youcanmortgageit."

           "Iwon’tdothat."

           "Well,Icanrespectthat,butit’stheonlycollateralyouhave.ThereisalsoMary’smoney.It’snotmuch,butwithsomemoneyyoucangetmoremoney."

           "Idon’twanttotouchhermoney.That’shersafety."

           "It’sinajointaccountandit’snotearninganything."