Tender is the night / Ночь нежна. Книга для чтения на английском языке

“Then where was it?” demanded McKisco, not content to let well enough alone.

“Why, I think —” Abe got tired of the game, “I can’t remember.”

The interchange filled a pause and Rosemary’s instinct was that something tactful should be said by somebody, but Dick made no attempt to break up the grouping formed by these late arrivals, not even to disarm Mrs. McKisco of her air of supercilious amusement. He did not solve this social problem because he knew it was not of importance at the moment and would solve itself.

Rosemary stood beside Tommy Barban – he was in a particularly scornful mood and there seemed to be some special stimulus working upon him. He was leaving in the morning.

“Going home?”

“Home? I have no home. I am going to a war.” “What war?”

“What war? Any war. I haven’t seen a paper lately but I suppose there’s a war – there always is.

“Don’t you care what you fight for?”

“Not at all – so long as I’m well treated. When I’m in a rut[62 - to be in a rut – двигаться по накатанной колее, погрязнуть в рутине] I come to see the Divers, because then I know that in a few weeks I’ll want to go to war.”

Rosemary stiffened.

“You like the Divers,” she reminded him.

“Of course – especially her – but they make me want to go to war.

She considered this, to no avail[63 - to no avail – безрезультатно]. The Divers made her want to stay near them forever.

“You’re half American,” she said, as if that should solve the problem.

“Also I’m half French, and I was educated in England and since I was eighteen I’ve worn the uniforms of eight countries. But I hope I did not give you the impression that I am not fond of the Divers – I am, especially of Nicole.

“How could any one help it?” she said simply.

She felt far from him. The undertone of his words repelled her and she withdrew her adoration for the Divers from the profanity of his bitterness. She was glad he was not next to her at dinner and she was still thinking of his words “especially her” as they moved toward the table in the garden.

For a moment now she was beside Dick Diver on the path.