Зима тревоги нашей

           "Hewas,hewas."Mr.Bakerpaused."I’vebeenwantingtotalktoyou,Ethan.Thatmoneyyourwifegotbyherbrother’swill—overfivethousand,isn’tit?"

           "Sixty-fivehundredaftertaxes,"Ethansaid.

           "Well,it’sjustlyinginthebank.Oughttobeinvested.Liketotalktoyouaboutthat.Yourmoneyshouldbeworking."

           "Sixty-fivehundreddollarscan’tdomuchwork,sir.Itcanonlystandbyforemergencies."

           "I’mnotabelieverinidlemoney,Ethan."

           "Well,thisalsoserves—juststandingandwaiting."

           Thebanker’svoicebecamefrosty."Idon’tunderstand."Hisinflectionsaidhedidunderstandandfounditstupid,andhistonetwistedabitternessinEthan,andthebitternessspawnedalie.

           Thebroomtracedadelicatecurveagainstthepavement."It’sthisway,sir.ThatmoneyisMary’stemporarysecurityifanythingshouldhappentome."

           "Thenyoushouldusepartofittoinsureyourlife."

           "Butit’sonlytemporary,sir.ThatmoneywasMary’sbrother’sestate.Hermotherisstillliving.Shemaylivemanyyears."

           "Iunderstand.Oldpeoplecanbeaburden."

           "Theycanalsositontheirmoney."EthanglancedatMr.Baker’sfaceashesaidhislie,andhesawatraceofcolorriseoutofthebanker’scollar."Yousee,sir,ifIinvestedMary’smoneyImightloseit,thewayIlostmyown,thewaymyfatherlostthepot."