Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter II
Isn’tthatenough?Pshaw,Hilma,I’Mnomarryingman.”
Shelookedathimamoment,bewildered,thenslowlyshetookhismeaning.Sherosetoherfeet,hereyeswide,herfacepalingwithterror.Hedidnotlookather,buthecouldhearthecatchinherthroat.
“Oh!”sheexclaimed,withalong,deepbreath,andagain“Oh!”thebackofherhandagainstherlips.
Itwasaquickgaspofaveritablephysicalanguish.Hereyesbrimmedover.Annixterrose,lookingather.
“Well?”hesaid,awkwardly,“Well?”
Hilmaleapedbackfromhimwithaninstinctiverecoilofherwholebeing,throwingoutherhandsinagestureofdefence,fearingsheknewnotwhat.Therewasasyetnosenseofinsultinhermind,nooutragedmodesty.Shewasonlyterrified.Itwasasthoughsearchingforwildflowersshehadcomesuddenlyuponasnake.
Shestoodforaninstant,spellbound,hereyeswide,herbosomswelling;then,allatonce,turnedandfled,dartingacrosstheplankthatservedforafootbridgeoverthecreek,gainingtheoppositebankanddisappearingwithabriskrustleofunderbrush,suchasmighthavebeenmadebytheflightofafrightenedfawn.
AbruptlyAnnixterfoundhimselfalone.Foramomenthedidnotmove,thenhepickeduphiscampaignhat,carefullycreaseditslimpcrownandputitonhisheadandstoodforamoment,lookingvaguelyatthegroundonbothsidesofhim.Hewentawaywithoututteringaword,withoutchangeofcountenance,hishandsinhispockets,hisfeettakinggreatstridesalongthetrailinthedirectionoftheranchhouse.
