Тяжёлые времена

Fading Away

           

           ‘Then,bytheprejudicesofhisownclass,andbytheprejudicesoftheother,heissacrificedalike?Arethetwosodeeplyseparatedinthistown,thatthereisnoplacewhateverforanhonestworkmanbetweenthem?’

           Rachaelshookherheadinsilence.

           ‘Hefellintosuspicion,’saidLouisa,‘withhisfellow-weavers,becausehehadmadeapromisenottobeoneofthem.Ithinkitmusthavebeentoyouthathemadethatpromise.MightIaskyouwhyhemadeit?’

           Rachaelburstintotears.‘Ididn’tseekitofhim,poorlad.Iprayedhimtoavoidtroubleforhisowngood,littlethinkinghe’dcometoitthroughme.ButIknowhe’ddieahundreddeaths,ereeverhe’dbreakhisword.Iknowthatofhimwell.’

           Stephenhadremainedquietlyattentive,inhisusualthoughtfulattitude,withhishandathischin.Henowspokeinavoiceratherlesssteadythanusual.

           ‘Noone,exceptingmyseln,caneverknowwhathonour,an’whatlove,an’respect,IbeartoRachael,orwi’whatcause.WhenIpassedthatpromess,Itowdhertrue,shewereth’Angelo’mylife.’Twereasolemnpromess.’Tisgonefro’me,forever.’

           Louisaturnedherheadtohim,andbentitwithadeferencethatwasnewinher.ShelookedfromhimtoRachael,andherfeaturessoftened.‘Whatwillyoudo?’sheaskedhim.Andhervoicehadsoftenedtoo.

           ‘Weel,ma’am,’saidStephen,makingthebestofit,withasmile;‘whenIhafinishedoff,Imunquitthispart,andtryanother.

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