Театр
Chapter 24
("Theskunk,thedirtyskunk.Coddingmealltheseyears.")
Shedidtheonlythingpossible.Shecontinuedthegesture.Countingsothatsheshouldnotgotoofast,shedrewherhandstowardsoneanother,tillshecouldclaspthem,andthenthrowingbackherhead,raisedthem,veryslowly,toonesideofherneck.Theattitudeshereachedwasaslovelyastheother,anditwastheattitudethatsuggestedtoherwhatshehadtosay.Herdeeprichvoicetrembledalittlewithemotion.
"I’msogladwhenIlookbacktothinkthatwehavenothingtoreproachourselveswith.Thebitternessoflifeisnotdeath,thebitternessoflifeisthatlovedies.(She’dheardsomethinglikethatsaidinaplay.)Ifwe’dbeenloversyou’dhavegrowntiredofmelongago,andwhatshouldwehavenowtolookbackonbutregretforourownweakness?WhatwasthatlineofShelley’sthatyousaidjustnowaboutfading?"
"Keats,"hecorrected."’Shecannotfadethoughthouhastnotthybliss.’"
"That’sit.Goon."
Shewasplayingfortime.
’"Foreverwiltthoulove,andshebefair.’"
Shethrewherarmswideinagreatopengestureandtossedhercurlyhead.She’dgotit.
"It’strue,isn’tit?’ForeverwiltthouloveandIbefair.’Whatfoolsweshouldhavebeenifforafewmoments’madnesswehadthrownawaythewonderfulhappinessourfriendshiphasbroughtus.Wehavenothingtobeashamedof.We’reclean.Wecanwalkwithourheadsheldhighandlookthewholeworldintheface."
