Вино из одуванчиков

           MissHelenLoomishadfinishedtheadventureandtheywerehomeagain,veryfamiliartoeachother,onthebestofterms,inthegarden,theteacoldinthesilverpourer,thebiscuitsdriedinthelatenedsun.Hesighedandstretchedandsighedagain.

           "I’veneverbeensocomfortableinmylife."

           "NorI."

           "I’vekeptyoulate.Ishouldhavegoneanhourago."

           "YouknowIloveeveryminuteofit.Butwhatyoushouldseeinanoldsillywoman..."

           Helaybackinhischairandhalfclosedhiseyesandlookedather.Hesquintedhiseyessothemerestfilamentoflightcamethrough.Hetiltedhisheadeversolittlethisway,thenthat.

           "Whatareyoudoing?"sheaskeduncomfortably.

           Hesaidnothing,butcontinuedlooking.

           "Ifyoudothisjustright,"hemurmured,"youcanadjust,makeallowances..."Tohimselfhewasthinking,Youcaneraselines,adjustthetimefactor,turnbacktheyears.

           Suddenlyhestarted.

           "What’swrong?"sheasked.

           Butthenitwasgone.Heopenedhiseyestocatchit.Thatwasamistake.Heshouldhavestayedback,idling,erasing,hiseyesgentlyhalfclosed.

           "Forjustamoment,"hesaid,"Isawit."

           "Sawwhat?"

           "Theswan,ofcourse,"hethought.Hismouthmusthavepantomimedthewords.

           Thenextinstantshewassittingverystraightinherchair.Herhandswereinherlap,rigid.Hereyeswerefixeduponhimandashewatched,feelinghelpless,eachofhereyescuppedandbrimmeditselffull.

           "I’msorry,"hesaid,"terriblysorry."

           "No,don’tbe."