Веснушки

           Thentheyloadedthecarriage,andtheBirdWomanandtheAngelstartedfortheirhomes.Ithadbeenadifficulttimeforallofthem,sotheywereverytired,buttheywerejoyful.Freckleswassohappyitseemedtohimthatlifecouldholdlittlemore.AstheBirdWomanwasreadytodriveawayhelaidhishandonthelinesandlookedintoherface.

           “Doyousupposewegotit?”heasked,soeagerlythatshewouldhavegivenmuchtobeabletosayyeswithconviction.

           “Why,mydear,Idon’tknow,”shesaid.“I’venowaytojudge.Ifyoumadetheexposurejustbeforeyoucametome,therewasyetafinelight.IfyouwaiteduntilLittleChickenwasclosetheentrance,youshouldhavesomethinggood,evenifyoudidn’tcatchjustthefleetingexpressionforwhichyouhoped.Ofcourse,Ican’tsaysurely,butIthinkthereiseveryreasontobelievethatyouhaveitallright.Iwilldeveloptheplatetonight,makeyouaprooffromitearlyinthemorning,andbringitwhenwecome.It’sonlyaquestionofadayortwonowuntilthegangarrives.IwanttoworkinallthestudiesIcanbeforethattime,fortheyareboundtodisturbthebirds.Mr.McLeanwillneedyouthen,andIscarcelyseehowwearetodowithoutyou.”

           Movedbyanimpulsesheneverafterwardregretted,shebentandlaidherlipsonFreckles’forehead,kissinghimgentlyandthankinghimforhismanykindnessestoherinherlovedwork.Frecklesstartedawaysohappythathefeltinclinedtokeepwatchingbehindtoseeifthetrailwerenotcurlingupandrollingdownthelineafterhim.