Веснушки
Chapter XX
“Idon’tknowasIoughttobeaskingyou,andyetIcan’tseeareasongoodenoughtokeepmefromit.It’sathingI’vehadonmemindeveryhoursinceI’vehadtimetostraightenthingsoutalittle.MayIbeaskingyouaquestion?”
McLeanreachedoverandtookFreckles’hand.Hisvoicewasshakenwithfeelingashereplied:“Freckles,youalmosthurtme.Willyouneverlearnhowmuchyouaretome—howhappyyoumakemeincomingtomewithanything,nomatterwhat?”
“Thenit’sthis,”saidFreckles,grippingthehandofMcLeanstrongly.“Ifthisaccident,andallthat’scometomesince,hadneverhappened,wherewasityouhadplannedtosendmetoschool?Whatwasityoumeantformetodo?”
“Why,Freckles,”answeredMcLean,“I’mscarcelypreparedtostatedefinitely.Myideaswereratherhazy.Ithoughtwewouldmakeabeginningandseewhichwaythingswent.IfiguredontakingyoutoGrandRapidsfirst,andputtingyouinthecareofmymother.Ihadanideaitwouldbebesttosecureaprivatetutortocoachyouforayearortwo,untilyouwerereadytoenterAnnArborortheChicagoUniversityingoodshape.ThenIthoughtwe’dfinishinthiscountryatYaleorHarvard,andendwithOxford,togetagood,all-roundflavor.”
“Isthatall?”askedFreckles.
“No;that’sleavingthemusicout,”saidMcLean.“Iintendedtohaveyourvoicetestedbysomemaster,andifyoureallywereendowedforacareerasagreatmusician,andhadinclinationsthatway,Iwishedtohaveyoudropsomeofthecollegeworkandmakemusicyourchiefstudy.
