Поющие в терновнике

           Iwonderwhathe’dthinkofthis?Hemightsay…"

           Shetookthepacketoffhim,openedit,removedacigaretteandlititherselfwithoutgivinghimtimetofindhismatches."Well?"

           "He’dthinkyoulikedtokeepmembranoussubstancesintact,wouldn’the?"

           Herlaughtergurgledthroughthesmokyair,causedseveralmaleheadstoturncuriously."Wouldhenow?IsthataroundaboutwayofaskingmeifI’mstillavirgin,Arthur?"

           Heclickedhistonque,exasperated."Justine!IcanseethatamongotherthingsI’llhavetoteachyouthefineartofprevarication."

           "Amongwhatotherthings,Arthur?"Sheleanedherelbowsonthetable,eyesgleaminginthedimness.

           "Well,whatdoyouneedtolearn?"

           "I’mprettywelleducated,actually."

           "Ineverything?"

           "Heavens,youdoknowhowtoemphasizewords,don’tyou?Verygood,Imustrememberhowyousaidthat."

           "Therearethingswhichcanonlybelearnedfromfirsthandexperience,"hesaidsoftly,reachingoutahandtotuckacurlbehindherear.

           "Really?I’vealwaysfoundobservationadequate."

           "Ah,butwhataboutwhenitcomestolove?"Heputadelicatedeepnessintotheword."HowcanyouplayJulietwithoutknowingwhatloveis?"

           "Agoodpoint.Iagreewithyou."

           "Haveyoueverbeeninlove?"

           "No."

           "Doyouknowanythingaboutlove?"Thistimeheputthevocalforceon"anything,"ratherthan"love."

           "Nothingatall."