"Anthony Piers - Incarnations 3 - With a Tangled Skien" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

youЧ"

"If I were a tree, I would not like it any, either," Niobe
said carefully. "Eliminate the double negative."

"Were, ma'am?"

"That's the subjunctive mood, used to show supposi-
tion. I'm not a tree and never could be, but I'm trying to
put myself in the tree's place, so I signal this by saying
'If I were a tree.' To say 'If I was a tree' would be to
suggest I might have been a tree^ in the past, and that
would be a misrepresentation."

"It sure would!" He caught himself. "Certainly would.
It certainly makes sense the way you tell it, ma'am."

"Cedric, you really don't need to call me 'ma'am,'"
she said gently.




With a Tangled Skein

10

"Well, it's a term of respect for an olderЧ" He broke

off.

Niobe smiled again. "Now we're even, Cedric. I mis-
spoke myself outside, and perhaps you did the same, now.
We are in a difficult situation, but we must make the
best of it. In time we shall not notice the five-year differ-
ence in our ages; it is little enough, really. Were it re-
versedЧ"

"Yeah, the men figure sixteen is prime for a girl," he
agreed. "Funny, isn't it!"

"Perhaps it is a prime ageЧif a person is not interested
in getting a genuine education."

He turned serious again. "You know, all my family
have been smart inЧyou sure about the school?"
"I am if you are, Cedric."
"I certainly am! I want to get smart."
"Lots of luck," she murmured.