Коллекционер

           WhatIthoughtIwoulddo(Ialready,inpreparation,boughtthebestequipmentinLondon)wastogotosomeofthelocalitieswheretherewererarespeciesandaberrationsandgetproperseries.ImeanturnupandstaysomewhereforaslongasIliked,andgooutandcollectandphotograph.IhaddrivinglessonsbeforetheywentandIgotaspecialvan.TherewerealotofspeciesIwanted—theSwallowtailforinstance,theBlackHairstreakandtheLargeBlue,rareFritil-lariesliketheHeathandtheGlanville.Thingsmostcollectorsonlygetagoatoncealifetime.Thereweremothstoo.IthoughtImighttakethemup.

           WhatI’mtryingtosayisthathavingherasmyguesthappenedsuddenly,itwasn’tsomethingIplannedthemomentthemoneycame.

           Well,ofcoursewithAuntAnnieandMabeloutofthewayIboughtallthebooksIwanted,someofthemIdidn’tknowsuchthingsexisted,asamatteroffactIwasdisgusted,IthoughthereIamstuckinahotelroomwiththisstuffandit’salotdifferentfromwhatIusedtodreamofaboutMirandaandme.SuddenlyIsawI’dthoughtmyselfintothinkinghercompletelygoneoutofmylife,asifwedidn’tlivewithinafewmilesofeachother(IwasmovedintothehotelinPaddingtonthen)andIhadn’tanyhowgotallthetimeintheworldtofindoutwhereshelived.Itwaseasy,IlookeduptheSladeSchoolofArtinthetelephonedirectory,andIwaitedoutsideonemorninginthevan.ThevanwastheonereallybigluxuryIgavemyself.Ithadaspecialfittinginthebackcompartment,acampbedyoucouldletdownandsleepin;IboughtittocarryallmyequipmentforwhenImovedroundthecountry,andalsoIthoughtifIgotavanIwouldn’talwayshavetobetakingAuntAnnieandMabelaroundwhentheycameback.Ididn’tbuyitforthereasonIdiduseitfor.Thewholeideawassudden,likeastrokeofgeniusalmost.