Коллекционер

           Whydoyoukeeponusingthesestupidwords—nasty,nice,proper,right?Whyareyousoworriedaboutwhat’sproper?You’relikealittleoldmaidwhothinksmarriageisdirtyandeverythingexceptcupsofweakteainastuffyoldroomisdirty.Whydoyoutakeallthelifeoutoflife?Whydoyoukillallthebeauty?"

           Ineverhadyouradvantages.That’swhy.

           "Youcanchange,you’reyoung,you’vegotmoney.Youcanlearn.Andwhathaveyoudone?You’vehadalittledream,thesortofdreamIsupposelittleboyshaveandmasturbateabout,andyoufalloveryourselfbeingnicetomesothatyouwon’thavetoadmittoyourselfthatthewholebusinessofmybeinghereisnasty,nasty,nasty—"

           Shestoppedsuddenthen."Thisisnogood,"shesaid."ImightbetalkingGreek."

           Iunderstand,Isaid.I’mnoteducated.

           Shealmostshouted."You’resostupid.Perverse."

           "Youhavemoney—asamatteroffact,youaren’tstupid,youcouldbecomewhateveryouliked.Onlyyou’vegottoshakeoffthepast.You’vegottokillyourauntandthehouseyoulivedinandthepeopleyoulivedwith.You’vegottobeanewhumanbeing."

           Shesortofpushedoutherfaceatme,asifitwassomethingeasyIcoulddo,butwouldn’t.

           Somehope,Isaid.

           "Lookwhatyoucoulddo.Youcould...youcouldcollectpictures.I’dtellyouwhattolookfor,I’dintroduceyoutopeoplewhowouldtellyouaboutart-collecting.Thinkofallthepoorartistsyoucouldhelp.