Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter V
Beneaththesweetmodulationofherchin,thereflectedlightfromtheburnishedcoppervesselshewascarryingsetavibrationofpalegold.Overlayingtheflushofroseinhercheeks,seenonlywhenshestoodagainstthesunlight,wasafaintsheenofdown,alustrousfloss,delicateasthepollenofaflower,ortheimpalpablepowderofamoth’swing.Shewasmovingtoandfroaboutherwork,alert,joyous,robust;andfromallthefine,fullamplitudeofherfigure,fromherthickwhiteneck,slopingdownwardtohershoulders,fromthedeep,feminineswellofherbreast,thevigorousmaturityofherhips,therewasdisengagedavibrantnoteofgayety,ofexuberantanimallife,sane,honest,strong.Sheworeaskirtofplainbluecalicoandashirtwaistofpinklinen,clean,trim;whilehersleevesturnedbacktohershoulders,showedherlarge,whitearms,wetwithmilk,redolentandfragrantwithmilk,glowingandresplendentintheearlymorninglight.
Onthethreshold,Annixtertookoffhishat.
“Goodmorning,MissHilma.”
Hilma,whohadsetdownthecoppercanontopofthevat,turnedaboutquickly.
“Oh,GOODmorning,sir;”and,unconsciously,shemadealittlegestureofsalutationwithherhand,raisingitpartwaytowardherhead,asamanwouldhavedone.
“Well,”beganAnnixtervaguely,“howareyougettingalongdownhere?”
“Oh,veryfine.To-day,thereisnotsomuchtodo.Wedrewthewheyhoursago,andnowwearejustdoneputtingthecurdtopress.Ihavebeencleaning.Seemypans.Wouldn’ttheydoformirrors,sir?Andthecopperthings.Ihavescrubbedandscrubbed.
