Лавка древностей

Chapter 71

           Ifearedthelightmightdazzlehereyesandwakeher,soIbroughtithere.’

           Hespokerathertohimselfthantothevisitor,butwhenhehadputthelampuponthetable,hetookitup,asifimpelledbysomemomentaryrecollectionorcuriosity,andhelditnearhisface.Then,asifforgettinghismotiveintheveryaction,heturnedawayandputitdownagain.

           ‘Sheissleepingsoundly,’hesaid;‘butnowonder.Angelhandshavestrewnthegrounddeepwithsnow,thatthelightestfootstepmaybelighteryet;andtheverybirdsaredead,thattheymaynotwakeher.Sheusedtofeedthem,Sir.Thoughneversocoldandhungry,thetimidthingswouldflyfromus.Theyneverflewfromher!’

           Againhestoppedtolisten,andscarcelydrawingbreath,listenedforalong,longtime.Thatfancypast,heopenedanoldchest,tookoutsomeclothesasfondlyasiftheyhadbeenlivingthings,andbegantosmoothandbrushthemwithhishand.

           ‘Whydostthouliesoidlethere,dearNell,’hemurmured,‘whentherearebrightredberriesoutofdoorswaitingfortheetopluckthem!Whydostthouliesoidlethere,whenthylittlefriendscomecreepingtothedoor,crying“whereisNellsweetNell?”andsob,andweep,becausetheydonotseethee.Shewasalwaysgentlewithchildren.Thewildestwoulddoherbiddingshehadatenderwaywiththem,indeedshehad!’

           Kithadnopowertospeak.Hiseyeswerefilledwithtears.

           ‘Herlittlehomelydress,herfavourite!’criedtheoldman,pressingittohisbreast,andpattingitwithhisshrivelledhand.‘Shewillmissitwhenshewakes.

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