Поющие в терновнике

           Ithadtobedinnerattheirfavoriterestaurant.Hehadn’tsuggestedhisParkLanehouse,whichdisappointedbutdidn’tsurpriseher.NodoubtheintendedsayingevenhisfinalgoodbyesunderthebenigngazeofFritz.Certainlyhewasn’ttakinganychances.

           Foronceinherlifeshetookcarethatherappearanceshouldpleasehim;theimpwhichusuallyproddedherintoorangefrillsseemedtohaveretiredcursing.SinceRainlikedunadornedstyles,sheputonafloor-lengthsilkjerseydressofdullburgundyred,hightotheneck,longtightsleeves.Sheaddedabigflatcollaroftortuousgoldstuddedwithgarnetsandpearls,andmatchingbraceletsoneachwrist.Whathorrible,horriblehair.Itwasneverdisciplinedenoughtosuithim.Moremakeupthannormal,toconcealtheevidenceofherdepression.There.Shewoulddoifhedidn’tlooktooclosely.

           Hedidn’tseemto;atleasthedidn’tcommentuponwearinessorpossibleillness,evenmadenoreferencetotheexigenciesofpacking.Whichwasn’tabitlikehim.Andafterawhileshebegantoexperienceasensationthattheworldmustbeending,sodifferentwashefromhisusualself.

           Hewouldn’thelphermakethedinnerasuccess,thesortofaffairtheycouldrefertoinletterswithreminiscentpleasureandamusement.Ifshecouldonlyhavepersuadedherselfthathewassimplyupsetathergoing,itmighthavebeenallright.Butshecouldn’t.Hismoodjustwasn’tthatsort.