Цветы для Элджернона

           Joenodded,turningtoemphasizethepointtoGimpywhohadjustcomeupbehindhim.

           "I’mnotaskingyoutobemyfriends,"Isaid,"orhaveanythingtodowithme.Justletmekeepmyjob.Mr.Donnersaysit’suptoyou."

           Gimpyglaredatmeandthenshookhisheadindis­gust."Yougotanerve,"heshouted."Youcangotohell!"Thenheturnedandlimpedoffheavily.

           Andsoitwent.MostofthemfeltthewayJoeandFrankandGimpydid.Ithadbeenallrightaslongtheycouldlaughatmeandappearcleveratmyexpense,butnowtheywerefeelinginferiortothemoron.IbegantoseethatbymyastonishinggrowthIhadmadethemshrinkandemphasizedtheirinadequacies.Ihadbetrayedthem,andtheyhatedmeforit.

           FannyBirdenwastheonlyonewhodidn’tthinkIshouldbeforcedtoleave,anddespitetheirpressureandthreats,shehadbeentheonlyonenottosignthepetition.

           "Whichdon’tmeantosay,"sheremarked,"thatIdon’tthinkthere’ssomethingmightystrangeaboutyou,Charlie.Thewayyou’vechanged!Idon’tknow.Youusedtobeagood,dependableman—ordinary,nottoobrightmaybe,buthonest—andwhoknowswhatyoudonetoyourselftogetsosmartallofasudden.Likeeverybody’sbeensaying—itain’tright."

           "Butwhat’swrongwithapersonwantingtobemoreintelligent,toacquireknowledge,andunderstandhimselfandtheworld?"

           "Ifyou’dreadyourBible,Charlie,you’dknowthatit’snotmeantformantoknowmorethanwasgiventohimtoknowbytheLordinthefirstplace.