Коллекционер
Chapter 1
HeevensuggestedImightinvestintheCouncil5%Loan!SomeofthematTownHallloseallsenseofproportion.
Ididwhatthepoolspeoplesuggested,movedstraightuptoLondonwithAuntAnnieandMabeltillthefussdieddown.IsentoldTomachequefor£500andaskedhimtosharewithCrutchleyandtheothers.Ididn’tanswertheirthank-youletters.YoucouldseetheythoughtIwasmean.
TheonlyflyintheointmentwasMiranda.Shewasathomeatthetimeofwinning,onholidaysfromherartschool,andIsawheronlytheSaturdaymorningofthegreatday.AllthetimewewereupinLondonspendingandspendingIwasthinkingIwasn’tgoingtoseeheranymore;thenthatIwasrich,agoodspecasahusbandnow;thenagainIknewitwasridiculous,peopleonlymarriedforlove,especiallygirlslikeMiranda.TherewereeventimesIthoughtIwouldforgether.Butforgetting’snotsomethingyoudo,ithappenstoyou.Onlyitdidn’thappentome.
Ifyouareonthegrabandimmorallikemostnowadays,Isupposeyoucanhaveagoodtimewithalotofmoneywhenitcomestoyou.ButImaysayIhaveneverbeenlikethat,Iwasneveroncepunishedatschool.AuntAnnieisaNoncon-formist,sheneverforcedmetogotochapelorsuchlike,butIwasbroughtupintheatmosphere,thoughUncleDickusedtogotothepubontheq.t.sometimes.AuntAnnieletmesmokecigarettesafteralotofrowswhenIcameoutofthearmy,butsheneverlikedit.Evenwithallthatmoney,shehadtokeeponsayingspendingitwasagainstherprinciples.ButMabelwentatherbehindthescenes,Iheardherdoingitoneday,andanywayIsaiditwasmymoneyandmyconscience,shewaswelcometoallshewantedandnoneifshedidn’t,andtherewasnothingaboutacceptinggiftsinNonconformism.
