Луна и грош

Chapter LIV

           Heleftitonhismarriage,andsettleddownonasmallpropertyhehadnearQuimpertolivefortherestofhisdaysinpeace;butthefailureofanattorneylefthimsuddenlypenniless,andneitherhenorhiswifewaswillingtoliveinpenurywheretheyhadenjoyedconsideration.DuringhisseafaringdayshehadcruisedtheSouthSeas,andhedeterminednowtoseekhisfortunethere.HespentsomemonthsinPapeetetomakehisplansandgainexperience;then,onmoneyborrowedfromafriendinFrance,heboughtanislandinthePaumotus.Itwasaringoflandroundadeeplagoon,uninhabited,andcoveredonlywithscrubandwildguava.Withtheintrepidwomanwhowashiswife,andafewnatives,helandedthere,andsetaboutbuildingahouse,andclearingthescrubsothathecouldplantcocoa-nuts.Thatwastwentyyearsbefore,andnowwhathadbeenabarrenislandwasagarden.

           "Itwashardandanxiousworkatfirst,andweworkedstrenuously,bothofus.EverydayIwasupatdawn,clearing,planting,workingonmyhouse,andatnightwhenIthrewmyselfonmybeditwastosleeplikealogtillmorning.MywifeworkedashardasIdid.Thenchildrenwereborntous,firstasonandthenadaughter.MywifeandIhavetaughtthemalltheyknow.WehadapianosentoutfromFrance,andshehastaughtthemtoplayandtospeakEnglish,andIhavetaughtthemLatinandmathematics,andwereadhistorytogether.Theycansailaboat.Theycanswimaswellasthenatives.Thereisnothingaboutthelandofwhichtheyareignorant.Ourtreeshaveprospered,andthereisshellonmyreef.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 255 из 284