Поющие в терновнике

           "Ah!ThenFreudwouldhavebeenright,eh?"

           Shepickeduphercigarettesandlookedattheirsheathedbox,smiling."Insomethings,perhaps."

           Quicklyhegraspedthebottomofthecellophane,pulleditoffandhelditinhishand,dramaticallycrusheditanddroppeditintheashtray,whereitsqueakedandwrithed,expanded."I’dliketoteachyouwhatbeingawomanis,ifImay."

           Foramomentshesaidnothing,intentontheanticsofthecellophaneintheashtray,thenshestruckamatchandcarefullysetfiretoit."Whynot?"sheaskedthebriefflare."Yes,whynot?"

           "Shallitbeadivinethingofmoonlightandroses,passionatewooing,orshallitbeshortandsharp,likeanarrow?"hedeclaimed,handonheart.

           Shelaughed."Really,Arthur!Ihopeit’slongandsharp,myself.Butnomoonlightandroses,please.Mystomach’snotbuiltforpassionatewooing."

           Hestaredatheralittlesadly,shookhishead."Oh,Justine!Everyone’sstomachisbuiltforpassionatewooing—evenyours,youcold-bloodedyoungvestal.Oneday,youwaitandsee.You’lllongforit."

           "Pooh!"Shegotup."Comeon,Arthur,let’sgetthedeedoveranddonewithbeforeIchangemymind."

           "Now?Tonight?"

           "Whyonearthnot?I’vegotplentyofmoneyforahotelroom,ifyou’reshort."

           TheHotelMetropolewasn’tfaraway;theywalkedthroughthedrowsingstreetswithherarmtuckedcozilyinhis,laughing.