Любимые повести на английском / Best Short Novels. Оскар Уайльд

they look tempting? I always think that food tastes better outdoors.’

      ‘With that remark,’ remarked Kismine, ‘Jasmine enters the middle class.’

      ‘Now,’ said John eagerly, ‘turn out your pocket and let’s see what jewels you brought along. If you made a good selection we three ought to live comfortably all the rest of our lives.’

      Obediently Kismine put her hand in her pocket and tossed two handfuls of glittering stones before him.

      ‘Not so bad,’ cried John, enthusiastically. ‘They aren’t very big, but – Hello!’ His expression changed as he held one of them up to the declining sun. ‘Why, these aren’t diamonds! There’s something the matter!’

      ‘By golly!’[48] exclaimed Kismine, with a startled look. ‘What an idiot I am!’

      ‘Why, these are rhinestones![49]’ cried John.

      ‘I know.’ She broke into a laugh. ‘I opened the wrong drawer. They belonged on the dress of a girl who visited Jasmine. I got her to give them to me in exchange for diamonds. I’d never seen anything but precious stones before.’

      ‘And this is what you brought?’

      ‘I’m afraid so.’ She fingered the brilliants wistfully. ‘I think I like these better. I’m a little tired of diamonds.’

      ‘Very well,’ said John gloomily. ‘We’ll have to live in Hades. And you will grow old telling incredulous women that you got the wrong drawer. Unfortunately your father’s bank-books were consumed with him.’

      ‘Well, what’s the matter with Hades?’

      ‘If I come home with a wife at my age my father is just as liable as not to cut me off with a hot coal,[50] as they say down there.’

      Jasmine spoke up.

      ‘I love washing,’ she said quietly. ‘I have always washed my own handkerchiefs. I’ll take in laundry and support you both.’

      ‘Do they have washwomen in Hades?’ asked Kismine innocently.