Вино из одуванчиков

           Realizingthis,shewassmugallthewaytoTom’shousewherehewaitedforherinhiswhitesummersuitasshehadinstructed.

           "Phew!"saidTom."Whatyougotinthatbox?"

           "Destiny,"saidElmira.

           "Isurehopeso,"saidTom,walkingabouttwopacesaheadofher.

           TheHoneysuckleLadiesLodgewasfullofladieslookingineachother’smirrorsandtuggingattheirskirtsandaskingtobesuretheirslipsweren’tshowing.

           Atoneo’clockMrs.ElmiraBrowncameupthestepswith’aboyinwhiteclothes.Hewasholdinghisnoseandscrewing!uponeeyesohecouldonlyhalfseewherehewasgoing.Mrs.BrownlookedatthecrowdandthenattheQuakerOatsboxandopenedthetopandlookedinandgasped,andputthetopbackonwithoutdrinkinganyofthatstuffinthere.Shemovedinsidethehallandwithhermovedarustlingasoftaffeta,alltheladieswhisperinginatideafterher.

           ShesatdowninbackwithTom,andTomlookedmore,miserablethanever.Theoneeyehehadopenlookedatthecrowdofladiesandshutupforgood.Sittingthere,Elmiragotthepotionoutanddrankitslowlydown.

           Atone-thirty,thepresident,Mrs.Goodwater,bangedthegavelandallbuttwodozenoftheladiesquittalking.

           "Ladies,"shecalledoutoverthesummerseaofsilksandlaces,cappedhereandtherewithwhiteorgray,"it’selectiontime.Butbeforewestart,IbelieveMrs.ElmiraBrown,wifeofoureminentgraphologist—"

           Atitterranthroughtheroom.

           "What’sgraphologist?"ElmiraelbowedTomtwice.