Читать книгу Modern Swedish Masterpieces: Short Stories онлайн
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He listened. Whispering voices were audible outside the door, but they grew silent all at once and remained so.
He had a strange sensation at his heart, he felt that in a couple of seconds he would lie stretched on the carpet, unconscious, but he held himself upright, and suddenly he heard from the entry where the young men were smoking their cigarettes a very clear voice which said: “Well, after all it’s only natural. One can’t expect her to be in love with someone who has a blue anchor tattooed on his hand.”
V
The coffin stood in the middle of the room. The black-clad woman walked back and forth, back and forth.
“No, he’s not coming——”
When he finally did come, he said, “Pardon me, beloved. I was delayed by someone who came to call——”
She nodded stiffly. She did not believe him, because he had not kissed her.
When he felt that they had stood too long silent, he said, “I must be off tomorrow. I’ve had a telegram from the minister.—But I swear to you that I’ll come back,” he added in a somewhat lowered voice as if he did not wish that the dead man should hear.