Коллекционер

           "Yououghttoknowbetter,"shesaid,makingfunofme.Thenshesaid,"PleasecomeroundthissideandthenIcangetatthosebeautifulplatesbehindyou."Thereweretwobythedoor."Unlessyou’dliketosmashthemyourself."

           Stopit,Isaidagain,that’senough.

           Butsuddenlyshecamebehindthesofa,goingfortheplates.Igotbetweenherandthedoor,shetriedtododgeundermyarm;however,Icaughthers.

           Thenshesuddenlychanged.

           "Letgo,"shesaid,allquiet.OfcourseIdidn’t,Ithoughtshemightbejokingstill.

           Butthensuddenlyshesaid,"Letgo,"inanastyvoicethatIdidatonce.Thenshewentandsatdownbythefire.

           Afterawhileshesaid,"Getabroom.I’llsweepup."

           I’lldoittomorrow.

           "Iwanttoclearup."Verymy-lady.

           I’lldoit.

           "It’syourfault."

           Ofcourse.

           "You’rethemostperfectspecimenofpetitbourgeoissquarenessI’veevermet."

           AmI?

           "Yesyouare.Youdespisetherealbourgeoisclassesforalltheirsnobbishnessandtheirsnobbishvoicesandways.Youdo,don’tyou?Yetallyouputintheirplaceisahorridlittlerefusaltohavenastythoughtsordonastythingsorbenastyinanyway.Doyouknowthateverygreatthinginthehistoryofartandeverybeautifulthinginlifeisactuallywhatyoucallnastyorhasbeencausedbyfeelingsthatyouwouldcallnasty?Bypassion,bylove,byhatred,bytruth.Doyouknowthat?"

           Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout,Isaid.

           "Yesyoudo.