Пробный камень
III
Thenhecamebackandpausedbeforeher.“Onthealternativeofmarryingme.”
Theslowcolor—evenherblushesseemeddeliberate—rosetoherlowerlids;herlipsstirred,butthewordsresolvedthemselvesintoasmileandshewaited.
Hetookanotherturn,withthethwartedstepofthemanwhosenervousexasperationescapesthroughhismuscles.
“AndtothinkthatinfifteenyearsIshallhaveabigpractice!”
Hereyestriumphedforhim.“Inless!”
“Thecursedironyofit!WhatdoIcareforthemanIshallbethen?It’sslavingone’slifeawayforastranger!”Hetookherhandsabruptly.“You’llgotoCannes,Isuppose,orMonteCarlo?IheardHollingsworthsayto-daythathemeanttotakehisyachtovertotheMediterranean—”
Shereleasedherself.“Ifyouthinkthat—”
“Idon’t.IalmostwishIdid.Itwouldbeeasier,Imean.”Hebrokeoffincoherently.“IbelieveyourAuntVirginiadoes,though.ShesomehowconnotesHollingsworthandtheMediterranean.”Hecaughtherhandsagain.“Alexa—ifwecouldmanagealittleholesomewhereoutoftown?”
“Couldwe?”shesighed,halfyielding.
“Inoneofthoseplaceswheretheymakejokesaboutthemosquitoes,”hepressedher.“Couldyougetonwithoneservant?”
“Couldyougetonwithoutvarnishedboots?”
“Promisemeyouwon’tgo,then!”
“Whatareyouthinkingof,Stephen?”
“Idon’tknow,”hestammered,thequestiongivingunexpectedformtohisintention
