Коллекционер

           "Imightbecomeaverycleverartist,butIshan’teverbeagreatone.AtleastIdon’tthinkso."

           Youcan’ttell,Isaid.

           "I’mnotegocentricenough.I’mawoman.Ihavetoleanonsomething."Idon’tknowwhybutshesuddenlychangedthesubjectandsaid,"Areyouaqueer?"

           Certainlynot,Isaid.Iblushed,ofcourse.

           "It’snothingtobeashamedof.Lotsofgoodmenare."Thenshesaid,"Youwanttoleanonme.Icanfeelit.Iexpectit’syourmother.You’relookingforyourmother."

           Idon’tbelieveinallthatstuff,Isaid.

           "We’dneverbeanygoodtogether.Webothwanttolean."

           Youcouldleanonmefinancially,Isaid.

           "Andyouonmeforeverythingelse?Godforbid."

           Then,here,shesaidandheldoutthedrawing.Itwasreallygood,itreallyamazedme,thelikeness.Itseemedtomakememoredignified,better-lookingthanIreallywas.

           Wouldyouconsidersellingthis,Iasked?

           "Ihadn’t,butIwill.Twohundredguineas?"

           Allright,Isaid.

           Shegavemeanothersharplook.

           "You’dgivemetwohundredguineasforthat?"

           Yes,Isaid.Becauseyoudidit.

           "Giveittome."IhandeditbackandbeforeIknewwhat,shewastearingitacross.

           Pleasedon’t,Isaid.Shestopped,butitwastornhalfacross.

           "Butit’sbad,bad,bad."Thensuddenlyshesortofthrewitatme."Hereyouare.Putitinadrawerwiththebutterflies."

           ThenexttimeIwasinLewesIboughthersomemorerecords,allIcouldfindbyMozart,becauseshelikedhim,itseemed.