Лавка древностей

Chapter 52

           

           ‘Iwouldratherseeherdancingonthegreenatnights,’saidtheoldgentleman,layinghishanduponherhead,andsmilingsadly,‘thanhavehersittingintheshadowofourmoulderingarches.Youmustlooktothis,andseethatherheartdoesnotgrowheavyamongthesesolemnruins.Yourrequestisgranted,friend.’

           Aftermorekindwords,theywithdrew,andrepairedtothechild’shouse;wheretheywereyetinconversationontheirhappyfortune,whenanotherfriendappeared.

           Thiswasalittleoldgentleman,wholivedintheparsonage-house,andhadresidedthere(sotheylearntsoonafterwards)eversincethedeathoftheclergyman’swife,whichhadhappenedfifteenyearsbefore.Hehadbeenhiscollegefriendandalwayshisclosecompanion;inthefirstshockofhisgriefhehadcometoconsoleandcomforthim;andfromthattimetheyhadneverpartedcompany.Thelittleoldgentlemanwastheactivespiritoftheplace,theadjusterofalldifferences,thepromoterofallmerry-makings,thedispenserofhisfriend’sbounty,andofnosmallcharityofhisownbesides;theuniversalmediator,comforter,andfriend.Noneofthesimplevillagershadcaredtoaskhisname,or,whentheyknewit,tostoreitintheirmemory.Perhapsfromsomevaguerumourofhiscollegehonourswhichhadbeenwhisperedabroadonhisfirstarrival,perhapsbecausehewasanunmarried,unencumberedgentleman,hehadbeencalledthebachelor.Thenamepleasedhim,orsuitedhimaswellasanyother,andtheBachelorhehadeversinceremained.

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