Зима тревоги нашей

           Iguesshe’sasgoodapolicemanasyouarelikelytofind,tallandquietandwitheyeslikelittlegleamsofmetal.Ifyouweregoinginforcrime,thechiefwouldbeamantoavoid.

           AllthiscamefrommygoingovertoPorlockStreettoavoidtalkingtoWeeWillie.It’sonPorlockthatthebeautifulhousesofNewBaytownare.Youseeintheearlyeighteenhundredswehadoverahundredwhalingbottoms.WhentheshipscamebackfromayearortwooutasfarastheAntarcticortheChinaSea,theywouldbeloadedwithoilandveryrich.Buttheywouldhavetouchedatforeignportsandpickedupthingsaswellasideas.That’swhyyouseesomanyChinesethingsinthehousesonPorlockStreet.Someofthoseoldcaptain-ownershadgoodtastetoo.Withalltheirmoney,theybroughtinEnglisharchitectstobuildtheirhouses.That’swhyyouseesomuchAdaminfluenceandGreekrevivalarchitectureonPorlockStreet.ItwasthatperiodinEngland.ButwithallthefanlightsandflutedcolumnsandGreekkeys,theyneverneglectedtoputawidow’swalkontheroof.Theideawasthatthefaithfulhome-boundwivescouldgouptheretowatchforreturningships,andmaybesomeofthemdid.Myfamily,theHawleys,andthePhillipsesandtheElgarsandtheBakerswereolder.TheystayedputonElmStreetandtheirhouseswerewhatiscalledEarlyAmerican,peakroofsandshiplapsiding.That’sthewaymyhouse,theoldHawleyhouse,is.Andthegiantelmsareasoldasthehouses.