Поворот гвинта
Chapter 17
“Whathappened?”
Itmademe,thesoundofthewords,inwhichitseemedtomethatIcaughtfortheveryfirsttimeasmallfaintquaverofconsentingconsciousness—itmademedroponmykneesbesidethebedandseizeoncemorethechanceofpossessinghim.“DearlittleMiles,dearlittleMiles,ifyouknewhowIwanttohelpyou!It’sonlythat,it’snothingbutthat,andI’dratherdiethangiveyouapainordoyouawrong—I’dratherdiethanhurtahairofyou.DearlittleMiles”—oh,IbroughtitoutnowevenifIshouldgotoofar—“Ijustwantyoutohelpmetosaveyou!”ButIknewinamomentafterthisthatIhadgonetoofar.Theanswertomyappealwasinstantaneous,butitcameintheformofanextraordinaryblastandchill,agustoffrozenair,andashakeoftheroomasgreatasif,inthewildwind,thecasementhadcrashedin.Theboygavealoud,highshriek,which,lostintherestoftheshockofsound,mighthaveseemed,indistinctly,thoughIwassoclosetohim,anoteeitherofjubilationorofterror.Ijumpedtomyfeetagainandwasconsciousofdarkness.Soforamomentweremained,whileIstaredaboutmeandsawthatthedrawncurtainswereunstirredandthewindowtight.“Why,thecandle’sout!”Ithencried.
“ItwasIwhoblewit,dear!”saidMiles.
