Чужак в чужой стране

           Youhaven’tseenthealterations,haveyou?Anewwingonthenorth,whichgivesustwomorebedroomsandanotherbathdownstairs–anduphere,mygallery."

           "Enoughstatuestofillagraveyard!"

           "Please,Ben.‘Statues’aredeadpoliticiansatboulevardintersections.Whatyouseeis‘sculpture.’Andpleasespeakinalow,reverenttonelestIbecomeviolent?forherewehaveexactreplicasofsomeofthegreatestsculpturethisnaughtyglobehasproduced."

           "Well,thathideousthingI’veseenbefore?butwhendidyouacquiretherestofthisballast?"

           JubalignoredhimandspokequietlytothereplicaofLaBelleHeaulmire."Donotlistentohim,mapetitechre–heisabarbarianandknowsnobetter."Heputhishandtoherbeautifulravagedcheek,thengentlytouchedoneempty,shrunkendug."Iknowjusthowyoufeelbutitcan’tbeverymuchlonger.Patience,mylovely."

           HeturnedbacktoCaxtonandsaidbriskly,"Ben,Idon’tknowwhatyouhaveonyourmindbutitwillhavetowaitwhileIgiveyoualessoninhowtolookatsculpture–thoughit’sprobablyasuselessastryingtoteachadogtoappreciatetheviolin.Butyou’vejustbeenrudetoaladyandIdon’ttoleratethat."

           "Huh?Don’tbesilly,Jubal;you’rerudetoladies–liveones–adozentimesaday.AndyouknowwhichonesImean."

           Jubalshouted,"Anne!Upstairs!Wearyourcloak!"

           "YouknowIwouldn’tberudetotheoldwomanwhoposedforthat.Never.