Зима тревоги нашей

           PorlockStreethaskeptitsgasstreetlamps,onlythereareelectricglobesinthemnow.Inthesummertouristscometoseethearchitectureandwhattheycall"theold-worldcharm"ofourtown.Whydoescharmhavetobeold-world?

           IforgethowtheVermontAllensgotmixedupwiththeHawleys.IthappenedprettysoonaftertheRevolution.Icouldfindout,ofcourse.Upintheatticsomewheretherewillbearecord.Bythetimefatherdied,myMarywasprettytiredofHawleyfamilyhistory,sowhenshesuggestedthatwestoreallthethingsintheattic,Iunderstoodhowshefelt.Youcangetprettytiredofotherpeople’sfamilyhistory.Maryisn’tevenNewBaytownborn.ShecamefromafamilyofIrishextractionbutnotCatholic.Shealwaysmakesapointofthat.Ulsterfamily,shecallsthem.ShecamefromBoston.

           Noshedidn’t,either.IgotherinBoston.Icanseebothofus,maybemoreclearlynowthanthen,anervous,frightenedSecondLieutenantHawleywithaweekendpass,andthesoft,petal-cheeked,sweet-smellingdarlingofagirl,andtriplyallofthosebecauseofwarandtextbooks.Howseriouswewere,howdeadlyserious.Iwasgoingtobekilledandshewaspreparedtodevoteherlifetomyheroicmemory.Itwasoneofamillionidenticaldreamsofamillionoliveuniformsandcottonprints.AnditmightwellhaveendedwiththetraditionalDearJohnletterexceptthatshedevotedherlifetoherwarrior.