Війна світів
The Exodus From London
Yetakindofeddyofpeopledroveintoitsmouth; weaklingselbowedoutofthestream,whoforthemostpartrestedbutamomentbeforeplungingintoitagain. Alittlewaydownthelane,withtwofriendsbendingoverhim,layamanwithabareleg,wrappedaboutwithbloodyrags. Hewasaluckymantohavefriends.
Alittleoldman,withagreymilitarymoustacheandafilthyblackfrockcoat,limpedoutandsatdownbesidethetrap,removedhisboot—hissockwasblood-stained—shookoutapebble,andhobbledonagain; andthenalittlegirlofeightornine,allalone,threwherselfunderthehedgeclosebymybrother,weeping.
"Ican’tgoon!Ican’tgoon!"
Mybrotherwokefromhistorporofastonishmentandliftedherup,speakinggentlytoher,andcarriedhertoMissElphinstone. Sosoonasmybrothertouchedhershebecamequitestill,asiffrightened.
"Ellen!"shriekedawomaninthecrowd,withtearsinhervoice—"Ellen!" Andthechildsuddenlydartedawayfrommybrother,crying"Mother!"
"Theyarecoming,"saidamanonhorseback,ridingpastalongthelane.
"Outoftheway,there!"bawledacoachman,toweringhigh; andmybrothersawaclosedcarriageturningintothelane.
Thepeoplecrushedbackononeanothertoavoidthehorse. Mybrotherpushedtheponyandchaisebackintothehedge,andthemandrovebyandstoppedattheturnoftheway. Itwasacarriage,withapoleforapairofhorses,butonlyonewasinthetraces.
