Веснушки

           Inhishearthewascompelledtoadmitthathewasgladtohavethemthere.Closenoon,McLeanplacedhismeninchargeofDuncan,andtakingFreckles,drovetotowntoseehowtheAngelfared.McLeanvisitedagreenhouseandboughtanarmloadofitsfinestproducts;butFreckleswouldhavenoneofthem.HewouldcarryhismessageinaglowingmassoftheLimberlost’sfirstgoldenrod.

           TheBirdWomanreceivedthem,andinanswertotheireagerinquiries,saidthattheAngelwasinnowayseriouslyinjured,onlysobruisedandshakenthattheirdoctorhadorderedhertoliequietlyfortheday.Thoughshewassoreandstiff,theywerehavingworktokeepherinbed.Hercallerssentuptheirflowerswiththeirgratefulregards,andtheAngelpromptlyreturnedwordthatshewantedtoseethem.

           ShereachedbothhandstoMcLean.“Whatifoneoldtreeisgone?Youdon’tcare,sir?YoufeelthatFreckleshaskepthistrustasnobodyeverdidbefore,don’tyou?Youwon’tforgetallthoselongfirstdaysoffrightthatyoutoldusof,thefearfulcoldofwinter,therain,heat,andlonesomeness,andthebravedays,andlately,nights,too,andlethimfeelthathistrustisbroken?Oh,Mr.McLean,”shebegged,“saysomethingtohim!Dosomethingtomakehimfeelthatitisn’tfornothinghehaswatchedandsuffereditoutwiththatoldLimberlost.Makehimseehowgreatandfineitis,andhowfar,farbetterhehasdonethanyouoranyofusexpected!What’soneoldtree,anyway?”shecriedpassionately.

           “Iwasthinkingbeforeyoucame.Thoseothermenwererankbigcowards.Theywerescaredfortheirlives.