Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VIII
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“Ach,Gott,leedlegirl,”exclaimedMrs.Hooven,holdingherclosetohershoulder,thetearsstartingfromhereyes.“Ach,leedletochter.Doand,doand,doand.Youpraikmyhairt.Icen’tvindanysubber.Wegotnoddingstoeat,noddings,noddings.”
“Whendowehavethosebread’nmilkagain,Mammy?”
“To-morrow—soon—py-and-py,Hilda.Idoandknowwhatpecomeoafusnow,whatpecomeoafmyleedlebabby.”
Shewenton,holdingHildaagainsthershoulderwithonearmasbestshemight,onehandsteadyingherselfagainstthefencerailingsalongthesidewalk.Atlast,asolitarypedestriancameintoview,ayoungmaninatophatandovercoat,walkingrapidly.Mrs.Hoovenheldoutaquiveringhandashepassedher.
“Say,say,den,Meest’r,bleasehellupaboorwomun.”
Theotherhurriedon.
Thefishcoursewasgrenadinsofbassandsmallsalmon,thelatterstuffed,andcookedinwhitewineandmushroomliquor.
“Ihavereadyourpoem,ofcourse,Mr.Presley,”observedMrs.Gerard.“’TheToilers,’Imean.Whatasermonyoureadus,youdreadfulyoungman.IfeltthatIoughtatonceto’sellallthatIhaveandgivetothepoor.’Positively,itdidstirmeup.Youmaycongratulateyourselfuponmakingatleastoneconvert.JustbecauseofthatpoemMrs.CedarquistandIhavestartedamovementtosendawholeshiploadofwheattothestarvingpeopleinIndia.Now,youhorridreactionnaire,areyousatisfied?”
“Iamveryglad,”murmuredPresley.
“ButIamafraid,”observedMrs.Cedarquist,“thatwemaybetoolate.Theyaredyingsofast,thosepoorpeople.
