Чужак в чужой стране

           Paiwonskiclutchedathermouthandgasped.Jillatonceputherarmsaroundher."There,there,dear!It’sallright,nobody’shurt."Sheturnedherheadandsaid,"Mike,youdidit,you’llsimplyhavetotellher."

           "Yes,Jill.Pat-"

           "Yes,Smitty?’

           "YousaidawhileagothatIwasn’tarealmagician,thatmytrickswerejustsleight-of-hand.Youweregoingtotakeoffyourcostumeanyhow–soItookitoffforyou."

           "Buthow?Andwhereisit?"

           "SameplaceJill’swrapperis–andmyrobe.Gone."

           "Butdon’tworryaboutit,Patty,"putinJill."We’llreplaceit.Twomore–andtwiceaspretty.Mike,youshouldn’thavedoneit."

           "I’msorry,Jill.Igrokkeditwasallright."

           "Well?Isupposeitis."JilldecidedthatAuntPattywasn’ttooupset–andcertainlyshewouldnevertell;shewascarney.

           Mrs.Paiwonskiwasnotworriedbythelossoftwoscrapsofcostume,norbyherownnudity.Norbythenakednessoftheothertwo.Butshewasgreatlytroubledbyatheologicalproblemthatshefeltwasoutofherdepth."Smitty?Thatwasrealmagic?"

           "Iguessyouwouldcallitthat,"heagreed,usingthewordsmostexactly.

           "I’drathercallitamiracle,"shesaidbluntly.

           "Youcancallitthat,too,ifyouwantto.Butitwasn’tsleight-of-hand."

           "Iknowthat.Youweren’tevennearme."She,whodailyhandledlivecobrasandwhohadmorethanoncehandledobnoxiousdrunkswithherbarehands(totheirsorrow),wasnotafraid.