Любимые повести на английском / Best Short Novels

�You’re not a corpse! I won’t have you saying that I kissed a corpse!’

�I said nothing of the sort!’

�You did! You said I kissed a corpse!’

�I didn’t!’

Their voices had risen, but upon a sudden interruption they both subsided into immediate silence. Footsteps were coming along the path in their direction, and a moment later the rose bushes were parted displaying Braddock Washington, whose intelligent eyes set in his good-looking vacuous face were peering in at them.

�Who kissed a corpse?’ he demanded in obvious disapproval.

�Nobody,’ answered Kismine quickly. �We were just joking.’

�What are you two doing here, anyhow?’ he demanded gruffly. �Kismine, you ought to be – to be reading or playing golf with your sister. Go read! Go play golf! Don’t let me find you here when I come back!’

Then he bowed at John and went up the path.

�See?’ said Kismine crossly, when he was out of hearing. �You’ve spoiled it all. We can never meet any more.

He won’t let me meet you. He’d have you poisoned if he thought we were in love.’

�We’re not, any more!’ cried John fiercely, �So he can set his mind at rest upon that. Moreover, don’t fool yourself that I’m going to stay around here. Inside of six hours I’ll be over those mountains, if I have to gnaw a passage through them, and on my way East.’

They had both got to their feet, and at this remark Kismine came close and put her arm through his.

�I’m going, too.’

�You must be crazy – ’

�Of course I’m going,’ she interrupted impatiently.

�You most certainly are not. You – ’

�Very well,’ she said quietly, �we’ll catch up with father now and talk it over with him.’

Defeated, John mustered a sickly smile.

�Very well, dearest,’ he agreed, with pale and unconvincing affection, �we’ll go together.’

His love for her returned and settled placidly on his heart. She was his – she would go with him to share his dangers.

He put his arms about her and kissed her fervently. After all she loved him; she had saved him, in fact.

Discussing the matter, they walked slowly back toward the château. They decided that since Braddock Washington had seen them together they had best depart the next night. Nevertheless, John’s lips were unusually dry at dinner, and he nervously emptied a great spoonful of peacock soup into his left lung.