Мхи старой усадьбы
Mrs. Bullfrog
TherewouldhavebeenacomfortingivingherChristianburial.
"Come,sir,bestiryourself!Helpthisrascaltosetupthecoach,"saidthehobgoblintome;then,withaterrificscreechatthreecountrymenatadistance,"Here,youfellows,ain’tyouashamedtostandoffwhenapoorwomanisindistress?"
Thecountrymen,insteadoffleeingfortheirlives,camerunningatfullspeed,andlaidholdofthetopsy-turvycoach.I,also,thoughasmall-sizedman,wenttoworklikeasonofAnak.Thecoachman,too,withthebloodstillstreamingfromhisnose,tuggedandtoiledmostmanfully,dreading,doubtless,thatthenextblowmightbreakhishead.Andyet,bemauledasthepoorfellowhadbeen,heseemedtoglanceatmewithaneyeofpity,asifmycaseweremoredeplorablethanhis.ButIcherishedahopethatallwouldturnoutadream,andseizedtheopportunity,asweraisedthecoach,tojamtwoofmyfingersunderthewheel,trustingthatthepainwouldawakenme.
"Why,hereweare,alltorightsagain!"exclaimedasweetvoicebehind."Thankyouforyourassistance,gentlemen.MydearMr.Bullfrog,howyouperspire!Doletmewipeyourface.Don’ttakethislittleaccidenttoomuchtoheart,gooddriver.Weoughttobethankfulthatnoneofournecksarebroken."
"Wemighthavesparedoneneckoutofthethree,"mutteredthedriver,rubbinghisearandpullinghisnose,toascertainwhetherhehadbeencuffedornot."Why,thewoman’sawitch!"
Ifearthatthereaderwillnotbelieve,yetitispositivelyafact,thattherestoodMrs.
