Девять рассказов
Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut
Anyway,allofasuddenhesaidmystomachwassobeautifulhewishedsomeofficerwouldcomeupandorderhimtostickhisotherhandthroughthewindow.Hesaidhewantedtodowhatwasfair.Thenhetookhishandawayandtoldtheconductortothrowhisshouldersback.Hetoldhimiftherewasonethinghecouldn’tstanditwasamanwhodidn’tlookproudofhisuniform.Theconductorjusttoldhimtogobacktosleep."Eloisereflectedamoment,thensaid,"Itwasn’talwayswhathesaid,buthowhesaidit.Youknow."
"HaveyouevertoldLewabouthim—Imean,atall?"
"Oh,"Eloisesaid,"Istartedto,once.Butthefirstthingheaskedmewaswhathisrankwas."
"Whatwashisrank?"
"Ha!"saidEloise.
"No,Ijustmeant—"
Eloiselaughedsuddenly,fromherdiaphragm."Youknowwhathesaidonce?HesaidhefelthewasadvancingintheArmy,butinadifferentdirectionfromeverybodyelse.Hesaidthatwhenhe’dgethisfirstpromotion,insteadofgettingstripeshe’dhavehissleevestakenawayfromhim.Hesaidwhenhe’dgettobeageneral,he’dbestarknaked.Allhe’dbewearingwouldbealittleinfantrybuttoninhisnavel."EloiselookedoveratMaryJane,whowasn’tlaughing."Don’tyouthinkthat’sfunny?"
"Yes.Only,whydon’tyoutellLewabouthimsometime,though?"
"Why?Becausehe’stoodamnunintelligent,that’swhy,"Eloisesaid."Besides.Listentome,careergirl.Ifyouevergetmarriedagain,don’ttellyourhusbandanything.Doyouhearme?"
"Why?"saidMaryJane.
"BecauseIsayso,that’swhy,"saidEloise.
