Різдвяна історія
Chapter 4
Therewasaremarkableexpressioninitnow;akindofseriousdelightofwhichhefeltashamed,andwhichhestruggledtorepress.
Hesatdowntothedinnerthathadbeenboardingforhimbythefire;andwhensheaskedhimfaintlywhatnews(whichwasnotuntilafteralongsilence),heappearedembarrassedhowtoanswer.
‘Isitgood?’shesaid,‘orbad?’—tohelphim.
‘Bad,’heanswered.
‘Wearequiteruined!’
‘No.Thereishopeyet,Caroline.’
‘Ifherelents,’shesaid,amazed,‘thereis.Nothingispasthope,ifsuchamiraclehashappened!’
‘Heispastrelenting,’saidherhusband.‘Heisdead.’
Shewasamildandpatientcreatureifherfacespoketruth;butshewasthankfulinhersoultohearit,andshesaidso,withclaspedhands.Sheprayedforgivenessthenextmoment,andwassorry;butthefirstwastheemotionofherheart.
‘Whatthehalf-drunkenwomanwhomItoldyouoflastnight,saidtome,whenItriedtoseehimandobtainaweek’sdelay;andwhatIthoughtwasamereexcusetoavoidme;turnsouttohavebeenquitetrue.Hewasnotonlyveryill,butdying,then.’
‘Towhomwillourdebtbetransferred?’
‘Idon’tknow.Butbeforethattimeweshallbereadywiththemoney;andeventhoughwewerenot,itwouldbeabadfortuneindeedtofindsomercilessacreditorinhissuccessor.Wemaysleepto-nightwithlighthearts,Caroline.’
Yes.Softenitastheywould,theirheartswerelighter.
