"Colin Wilson - The Glass Cage" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wilson Colin)

repainting the outside of the cottage when he fell asleep.
In the dawn he woke up to find her putting on her nightdress, standing beside the bed. She bent
over to kiss him, then went out. He fell asleep again.


He woke up again at eight o'clock; she was placing a tea tray on the bedside table. She was
wearing her green school uniform. He massaged his eyes and looked at her. She sat on the bed and
smiled.
It was difficult to associate this schoolgirl with the night before, until she leaned forward and
kissed him. They were the same soft, searching lips.
She said, "I'm afraid I've bad news. I think Uncle Hugh knows we slept together last night."
"What!" He was wide awake instantly. "How?"
"I'm not sure. I left my light on. If he went into the kitchen, he could see the reflection on the
wall."
"Does he look furious?"
"I don't know. He's odd. He hasn't even kissed me this morning. That means there's something
on his mind."
He said, "Hmmm!" then reached for the tea and took a large sip.
She said, "It doesn't matter, anyway, does it?"
"No, of course not."
"You still want to marry me?"
"This morning, if you like."
"They wouldn't like that at school. Are you going home this morning?"
"I expect so."
"When shall I see you again?"
"That depends largely on your uncle. I suppose he might try forbidding us to meet at all."
"Could I come over at the weekend, if it's all right?"
 "Of course, if he'll let you."
"Look, I've written down the number of the telephone box outside our school. I'll be waiting
there at half past twelve today, so can you ring me? I'd better go down now."
When she was gone, he ate the buttered toast and finished his tea, staring out of the window.
Below, he could hear the occasional rattle of crockery. She would leave for school at half past eight. He
felt no desire to see Lewis until she had left. Now that he thought back on the night, he had no regret. It
seemed as if he had promised to marry her years before and that nothing could prevent it. To pass the
time he began to work out figures on the back of an envelope. If they married when she was seventeen,
and he reinvested his money at eight percent. . . The prospect seemed reasonable. When he had finished
making plans, he regretted that Sarah was not there to discuss them with. Soon after half past eight he
heard the door slam. He went into the bathroom and washed, then returned his pajamas to the cupboard,
wondering if this would be for the last time. He felt no nervousness about seeing Lewis; it would be
necessary to explain the position clearly. He finished dressing carefully, combed his hair, and went
downstairs, carrying his tray.
Lewis was still drinking coffee; the room smelled of eggs and bacon.
Reade said, "Morning, Hugh."
"Good morning, Damon. Coffee?" The greeting sounded heavy with overtones.
"Thanks."
He thought it would be a temptation to avoid Lewis's eyes; but in fact, there was no difficulty. He
had never been afraid of Lewis, and he knew Lewis respected him. He poured the coffee and added
cream.
Lewis said, "Would you like egg and bacon?"
"No, thanks. I've just had toast. I'll have a meal when I get home."