Вино из одуванчиков

           Goodnight.""Lavinia,Helen,stayheretonight.It’slate,almostmidnightnow.Youcansleepintheparlor.I’llmakehotchocolate—it’llbesuchfun!"Francinewasholdingthembothnow,closetoher.

           "No,thanks,"saidLavinia.

           AndFrancinebegantocry.

           "Oh,notagain,Francine,"saidLavinia.

           "Idon’twantyoudead,"sobbedFrancine,thetearsrunningstraightdownhercheeks."You’resofineandnice,Iwantyoualive.Please,oh,please!"

           "Francine,Ididn’tknowhowmuchthishasdonetoyou.IpromiseI’llphonewhenIgethome."

           "Oh,willyou?"

           "AndtellyouI’msafe,yes.Andtomorrowwe’llhaveapicniclunchatElectricPark.WithhamsandwichesI’llmakemyself,how’sthat?You’llsee,I’llliveforever!"

           "You’llphone,then?"

           "Ipromised,didn’tI?"

           "Goodnight,goodnight!"Rushingupstairs,Francinewhiskedbehindadoor,whichslammedtobesnap-boltedtightontheinstant.

           "Now,"saidLaviniatoHelen,"I’llwalkyouhome."

           Thecourthouseclockstruckthehour.Thesoundsblewacrossatownthatwasempty,emptierthanithadeverbeen.Overemptystreetsandemptylotsandemptylawnsthesoundfaded.

           "Nine,ten,eleven,twelve,"countedLavinia,withHelenonherarm.

           "Don’tyoufeelfunny?"askedHelen.

           "Howdoyoumean?"

           "Whenyouthinkofusbeingouthereonthesidewalks,underthetrees,andallthosepeoplesafebehindlockeddoors,lyingintheirbeds.We’repracticallytheonlywalkingpeopleoutintheopeninathousandmiles,Ibet."