Коллекционер

           OfcourseIwantednothingbetter.Ipulledoutoneortwoofthemostattractivedrawers—membersofthesamegenusdrawers,nothingserious,justforshow,really.

           "Didyoubuythem?"

           Ofcoursenot,Isaid.Allcaughtorbredbymeandsetandarrangedbyme.Thelot.

           "They’rebeautifullydone."

           IshowedheradrawerofChalkhillandAdonisBlues,Ihaveabeautifulvar.ceroneusAdonisandsomevar.tithonusChalkhills,andIpointedthemout.Thevar.ceroneusisbetterthananytheygotintheN.H.Museum.Iwasproudtobeabletotellhersomething.Shehadneverheardofaberrations.

           "They’rebeautiful.Butsad."

           Everything’ssadifyoumakeitso,Isaid.

           "Butit’syouwhomakeitso!"Shewasstaringatmeacrossthedrawer."Howmanybutterflieshaveyoukilled?"

           Youcansee.

           "No,Ican’t.I’mthinkingofallthebutterfliesthatwouldhavecomefromtheseifyou’dletthemlive.I’mthinkingofallthelivingbeautyyou’veended."

           Youcan’ttell.