Лавка древностей

Chapter 46

           Shehadratherperhapsthathewouldhavesaidatoncethathedidn’tchoosetobecommunicative,becausethatwouldhavebeenplainandintelligible.However,shehadnorighttobeoffendedofcourse.Hewasthebestjudge,andhadaperfectrighttosaywhathepleased;nobodycoulddisputethatforamoment.Ohdear,no!

           ‘Iassureyou,mygoodlady,’saidthemildschoolmaster,‘thatIhavetoldyoutheplaintruth.AsIhopetobesaved,Ihavetoldyouthetruth.’

           ‘Whythen,Idobelieveyouareinearnest,’rejoinedthelandlady,withreadygood-humour,‘andI’mverysorryIhaveteazedyou.Butcuriosityyouknowisthecurseofoursex,andthat’sthefact.’

           Thelandlordscratchedhishead,asifhethoughtthecursesometimesinvolvedtheothersexlikewise;buthewaspreventedfrommakinganyremarktothateffect,ifhehaditincontemplationtodoso,bytheschoolmaster’srejoinder.

           ‘Youshouldquestionmeforhalf-a-dozenhoursatasitting,andwelcome,andIwouldansweryoupatientlyforthekindnessofheartyouhaveshownto-night,ifIcould,’hesaid.‘Asitis,pleasetotakecareofherinthemorning,andletmeknowearlyhowsheis;andtounderstandthatIampaymasterforthethree.’

           So,partingwiththemonmostfriendlyterms(notthelesscordialperhapsforthislastdirection),theschoolmasterwenttohisbed,andthehostandhostesstotheirs.

           Thereportinthemorningwas,thatthechildwasbetter,butwasextremelyweak,andwouldatleastrequireaday’srest,andcarefulnursing,beforeshecouldproceeduponherjourney.

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