Crooked House / Скрюченный домишко. Книга для чтения на английском языке

I began to feel, uneasily, that something was the matter—something, I mean, other than the first natural awkwardness of meeting again. There was something wrong, definitely wrong, with Sophia herself. Was she, perhaps, going to tell me that she had found some other man whom she cared for more than she did for me? That her feeling for me had been �all a mistake’?

Somehow I didn’t think it was that—I didn’t know what it was. Meanwhile we continued our artificial talk.

Then, quite suddenly, as the waiter placed coffee on the table and retired bowing, everything swung into focus[11 - swing into focus (Р·Рґ.

)– встать на свои места]. Here were Sophia and I sitting together as so often before at a small table in a restaurant. The years of our separation might never have been.

�Sophia’ I said.

And immediately she said, �Charles!’

I drew a deep breath[12 - to draw breath – выдохнуть] of relief.

�Thank goodness that’s over,’ I said. �What’s been the matter with us?’

�Probably my fault.

I was stupid.’

�But it’s all right now?’

�Yes, it’s all right now.’

We smiled at each other.

�Darling!’ I said. And then: �How soon will you marry me?’

Her smile died. The something, whatever it was, was back.

�I don’t know,’ she said. �I’m not sure, Charles, that I can ever marry you.’

�But, Sophia! Why not? Is it because you feel I’m a stranger? Do you want time to get used to me again? Is there someone else? No—’ I broke off.

�I’m a fool. It’s none of those things.’

�No, it isn’t.’ She shook her head. I waited. She said in a low voice:

�It’s my grandfather’s death.’

�Your grandfather’s death? But why? What earthly difference can that make? You don’t mean—surely you can’t imagine—is it money? Hasn’t he left any? But surely, dearest—’

�It isn’t money.’ She gave a fleeting smile. I think you’d be quite willing[13 - to be willing to – быть добровольно готовым (сделать ч.

-л.)] to “take me in my shift[14 - in one's shirt – в одной рубахе]”, as the old saying goes. And grandfather never lost any money in his life.’

�Then what is it?’

�It’s just his death—you see, I think, Charles, that he didn’t just—die. I think he may have been—killed…’

I stared at her.

�But—what a fantastic idea.