Вино из одуванчиков

           "Oh,butyouare,Lavinia;you’retheloveliestladyintown,nowthatElizabethis—"Francinestopped."Youkeepmenoffatadistance.Ifyou’donlyrelax,you’dbeenmarriedyearsago!"

           "Stopsniveling,Francine!Here’sthetheaterboxoffice,I’mpayingforty-onecentstoseeCharlieChaplin.Ifyoutwowantataxi,goon.I’llsitaloneandgohomealone."

           "Lavinia,you’recrazy;wecan’tletyoudothat—"

           Theyenteredthetheater.

           Thefirstshowingwasover,intermissionwason,andthedimauditoriumwassparselypopulated.Thethreeladiessathalfwaydownfront,inthesmellofancientbrasspolish,andwatchedthemanagerstepthroughthewornredvelvetcurtainstomakeanannouncement.

           "Thepolicehaveaskedustocloseearlytonightsoeveryonecanbeoutatadecenthour.Thereforewearecuttingourshortsubjectsandrunningourfeatureagainimmediately.Theshowwillbeoverateleven.Everyoneisadvisedtogostraighthome.Don’tlingeronthestreets."

           "Thatmeansus,Lavinia!"whisperedFrancine.

           Thelightswentout.Thescreenleapedtolife.

           "Lavinia,"whisperedHelen.

           "What?"

           "Aswecamein,amaninadarksuit,acrossthestreet,crossedover.Hejustwalkeddowntheaisleandissittingintherowbehindus."

           "Oh,Helen!"

           "Rightbehindus?"

           Onebyonethethreewomenturnedtolook.

           Theysawawhitefacethere,flickeringwithunholylightfromthesilverscreen.Itseemedtobeallmen’sfaceshoveringthereinthedark."