Веснушки
Chapter XVII
Hehasnonameorknowledgeoflegalbirth.TheAngel—wehavetalkedofher.Youseewhatsheis,physicallyandmentally.ShehasancestorsreachingbacktoPlymouthRock,andacrosstheseaforgenerationsbeforethat.Sheisanidolized,pettedonlychild,andthereisgreatwealth.Lifeholdseverythingforher,nothingforhim.Heseesitmoreplainlythananyoneelsecould.Thereisnothingfortheboybutdeath,ifitistheAngelthatisrequiredtosavehim.”
TheAngelstoodbetweenthem.
“Well,Ijustguessnot!”shecried.“IfFreckleswantsme,allhehastodoistosayso,andhecanhaveme!”
Theamazedmensteppedback,staringather.
“Thathewillneversay,”saidMcLeanatlast,“andyoudon’tunderstand,Angel.Idon’tknowhowyoucamehere.Iwouldn’thavehadyouhearthatfortheworld,butsinceyouhave,deargirl,youmustbetoldthatitisn’tyourfriendshiporyourkindnessFreckleswants;itisyourlove.”
TheAngellookedstraightintothegreatsurgeon’seyeswithherclear,steadyorbsofblue,andthenintoMcLean’swithunwaveringfrankness.
“Well,Idolovehim,”shesaidsimply.
McLean’sarmsdroppedhelplessly.
“Youdon’tunderstand,”hereiteratedpatiently.“Itisn’ttheloveofafriend,oracomrade,orasister,thatFreckleswantsfromyou;itistheloveofasweetheart.
