Коллекционер

           "It’salovelyroom.It’swickedtofillitwithallthisshoddystuff.Suchmuck!"Sheactuallykickedoneofthechairs.IsupposeIlookedlikeIfelt(offended)becauseshesaid,"Butyoumustseeit’swrong!Thoseterriblechichiwall-lampsand"—shesuddenlycaughtsightofthem—"notchinawildduck!"Shelookedatmewithrealanger,thenbackattheducks.

           "Myarmsache.Wouldyoumindtyingmyhandsinfrontofmeforachange?"

           Ididn’twanttospoilthemood,astheysay,Icouldn’tseeanyharm,assoonasIhadthecordsoffherhands(Iwasallreadyfortrouble)sheturnedandheldherhandsoutinfrontformetotie,whichIdid.Thensheshockedme.Shewentuptothefireplacewherethewildduckwere,therewerethreehungup,thirty-bobeachandbeforeyoucouldsayJackKnifeshehadthemoffthehookandbangcrashonthehearth.Insmithereens.

           Thankyouverymuch,Isaid,verysarcastic.

           "Ahouseasoldasthishasasoul.Andyoucan’tdothingslikethattobeautifulthingslikethisold,oldroomsomanypeoplehavelivedin.Can’tyoufeelthat?"

           Ihaven’tanyexperienceinfurnishing,Isaid.

           Shejustgavemeafunnylookandwentpastmeintotheroomopposite,whatIcalledthedining-room,thoughthefurniturepeoplecalleditthedual-purposeroom,itwashalffittedoutformetoworkin.Thereweremythreecabinets,whichshesawatonce.

           "Aren’tyougoingtoshowmemyfellow-victims?"