Лавка древностей

Chapter 55

           

           Hewouldfollowherupanddown,waitingtillsheshouldtireandleanuponhisarm—hewouldsitoppositetoherinthechimney-corner,contenttowatch,andlook,untilsheraisedherheadandsmileduponhimasofold—hewoulddischargebystealth,thosehouseholddutieswhichtaskedherpowerstooheavily—hewouldrise,inthecolddarknights,tolistentoherbreathinginhersleep,andsometimescrouchforhoursbyherbedsideonlytotouchherhand.Hewhoknowsall,canonlyknowwhathopes,andfears,andthoughtsofdeepaffection,wereinthatonedisorderedbrain,andwhatachangehadfallenonthepooroldman.Sometimes—weekshadcrepton,then—thechild,exhausted,thoughwithlittlefatigue,wouldpasswholeeveningsonacouchbesidethefire.Atsuchtimes,theschoolmasterwouldbringinbooks,andreadtoheraloud;andseldomaneveningpassed,butthebachelorcamein,andtookhisturnofreading.Theoldmansatandlistened—withlittleunderstandingforthewords,butwithhiseyesfixeduponthechild—andifshesmiledorbrightenedwiththestory,hewouldsayitwasagoodone,andconceiveafondnessfortheverybook.When,intheireveningtalk,thebachelortoldsometalethatpleasedher(ashistalesweresuretodo),theoldmanwouldpainfullytrytostoreitinhismind;nay,whenthebachelorleftthem,hewouldsometimesslipoutafterhim,andhumblybegthathewouldtellhimsuchapartagain,thathemightlearntowinasmilefromNell.

           Butthesewererareoccasions,happily;forthechildyearnedtobeoutofdoors,andwalkinginhersolemngarden.

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