Коллекционер

           IrealizeI’matyourmercy,IrealizeI’mveryluckyyou’resodecentaboutthisparticularthing."

           Itwon’thappenagain,Isaid.

           "That’swhatIwantedtosay.Ifitdoeshappenagain—andworse.Andyouhavetogivewaytoit.Iwantyoutopromisesomething."

           Itwon’thappenagain.

           "Nottodoitinameanway.Imeandon’tknockmeunconsciousorchloroformmeagainoranything.Ishan’tstruggle,I’llletyoudowhatyoulike."

           Itwon’thappenagain,Isaid.Iforgotmyself.Ican’texplain.

           "Theonlythingis,ifyoueverdoanythinglikethatIshallneverneverrespectyou,Ishallnever,neverspeaktoyouagain.Youunderstand?"

           Iwouldn’texpectanythingelse,Isaid.Iwasredasabeetrootbythen.

           Sheheldoutherhand.Ishookit.Idon’tknowhowIgot.outoftheroom.Shehadmeallatsixesandsevensthatevening.

           Well,everydayitwasthesame:Iwentdownbetweeneightandnine,Igotherbreakfast,emptiedthebuckets,sometimeswetalkedabit,shegavemeanyshoppingshewanteddone(sometimesIstayedhomebutIwentoutmostdaysonaccountofthefreshvegetablesandmilksheliked),mostmorningsIcleanedupthehouseafterIgotbackfromLewes,thenherlunch,thenusuallywesatandtalkedforabitorsheplayedtherecordsIbroughtbackorIsatandwatchedherdraw;shegotherowntea,Idon’tknowwhy,wesortofcametoanagreementnottobetogetherthen.Thentherewassupperandaftersupperweoftentalkedabitmore.