Всадник без головы

Chapter 84

           TheonceproudPoindexter—beforewhomtwohundredslaveshadtrembledeveryday,everyhouroftheirlives,nowstoodinthepresenceofhismaster!

           True,itwashisownnephew,whohadthepowertohumiliatehim—hissister’sson.

           Buttherewasnotmuchinthat,consideringthecharacteroftheman.

           "IwanttotalktoyouaboutLoo,"wastherejoinderofCalhoun.

           ItwastheverysubjectWoodleyPoindexterwouldhaveshunned.Itwassomethinghedreadedtothinkabout,muchlessmakethetopicofdiscourse;andlessstillwithhimwhonowchallengedit.

           Nevertheless,hedidnotbetraysurprise.Hescarcefeltit.Somethingsaidordoneonthedaybeforehadledhimtoanticipatethisrequestforaconversation—asalsothenatureofthesubject.

           ThemannerinwhichCalhounintroducedit,didnotdiminishhisuneasiness.Itsoundedmorelikeademandthanarequest.

           "AboutLoo?Whatofher?"heinquired,withassumedcalmness.

           "Well,"saidCalhoun,apparentlyinreluctantutterance,asifshyaboutenteringuponthesubject,orpretendingtobeso,"I—I—wanted—"

           "I’drather,"putintheplanter,takingadvantageoftheother’shesitancy,"I’drathernotspeakofhernow."

           Thiswassaidalmostsupplicatingly.

           "Andwhynotnow,uncle?"askedCalhoun,emboldenedbytheshowofopposition.

           "Youknowmyreasons,nephew?"

           "Well,Iknowthetimeisnotpleasant.PoorHenrymissing—supposedtobe—Afterall,hemayturnupyet,andeverythingberightagain."

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 734 из 857