Ходячий замок
Chapter 11
“MissAngorian,”hesaidpleadingly,followinghercontoursasshestretchedforthebook,“wouldyouconsidercomingoutforsomesupperwithmetonight?”
MissAngorianturnedroundwithalargebookinherhands,lookingmoreseverethanever.“Iwouldnot,”shesaid.“Mr.Jenkins,Idon’tknowwhatyou’veheardaboutme,butyoumusthaveheardthatIstillconsidermyselfengagedtoBenSullivan—”
“Neverheardofhim,”saidHowl.
“Myfiancé,”saidMissAngorian.“Hedisappearedsomeyearsback.Now,doyouwishmetoreadthispoemtoyou?”
“Dothat,”Howlsaid,quiteunrepentant.“Youhavesuchalovelyvoice.”
“ThenI’llstartwiththesecondverse,”MissAngoriansaid,“sinceyouhavethefirstversethereinyourhand.”Shereadverywell,notonlymelodiously,butinawaywhichmadethesecondversefittherhythmofthefirst,whichinSophie’sopinionitdidnotdoatall:
“Ifthoubeestborntostrangesights,
Thingsinvisibletosee,
Ridetenthousanddaysandnights
Tillagesnowwhitehairsonthee.
Thou,whenthoureturnest,wilttellme
Allstrangewondersthatbefellthee,
Andswear
Nowhere
Livesawomantrue,andfair.
Ifthou—”
Howlhadgoneaterriblewhite.Sophiecouldseesweatstandingonhisface.“Thankyou,”hesaid.“Stopthere.Iwon’ttroubleyoufortherest.Eventhegoodwomanisuntrueinthelastverse,isn’tshe?Iremembernow.Sillyofme.JohnDonne,ofcourse.”MissAngorianloweredthebookandstaredathim.Heforcedupasmile.“Wemustbegoingnow.
