Лавка древностей

Chapter 44

           

           Hemoved,andglancingfromhertotheplaceshehadlatelyoccupied,asiftoassurehimselfthatitwasreallythechildsonearhim,lookedinquiringlyintoherface.

           ‘Ifearedyouwereill,’shesaid.‘Theothermenareallinmotion,andyouaresoveryquiet.’

           ‘Theyleavemetomyself,’hereplied.‘Theyknowmyhumour.Theylaughatme,butdon’tharmmeinit.Seeyondertherethat’smyfriend.’

           ‘Thefire?’saidthechild.

           ‘IthasbeenaliveaslongasIhave,’themanmadeanswer.‘Wetalkandthinktogetherallnightlong.’

           Thechildglancedquicklyathiminhersurprise,buthehadturnedhiseyesintheirformerdirection,andwasmusingasbefore.

           ‘It’slikeabooktome,’hesaid‘theonlybookIeverlearnedtoread;andmanyanoldstoryittellsme.It’smusic,forIshouldknowitsvoiceamongathousand,andthereareothervoicesinitsroar.Ithasitspicturestoo.Youdon’tknowhowmanystrangefacesanddifferentscenesItraceinthered-hotcoals.It’smymemory,thatfire,andshowsmeallmylife.’

           Thechild,bendingdowntolistentohiswords,couldnothelpremarkingwithwhatbrightenedeyeshecontinuedtospeakandmuse.

           ‘Yes,’hesaid,withafaintsmile,‘itwasthesamewhenIwasquiteababy,andcrawledaboutit,tillIfellasleep.Myfatherwatcheditthen.’

           ‘Hadyounomother?’askedthechild.

           ‘No,shewasdead.Womenworkhardintheseparts.Sheworkedherselftodeaththeytoldme,and,astheysaidsothen,thefirehasgoneonsayingthesamethingeversince.Isupposeitwastrue.

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