Дванадцять років рабства

Chapter 16

           Hewouldchasemeuntiloutofbreath,thenstopuntilitwasrecovered,swear,andrenewthechaseagain. Nowhewouldcommandmetocometohim,nowendeavortocoaxme,butIwascarefultokeepatarespectfuldistance. Inthismannerwemadethecircuitofthefieldseveraltimes,hemakingdesperateplunges,andIalwaysdodgingthem,moreamusedthanfrightened,wellknowingthatwhenhissobersensesreturned,hewouldlaughathisowndrunkenfolly. AtlengthIobservedthemistressstandingbytheyardfence,watchingourhalf-serious,half-comicalmanœuvres. Shootingpasthim,Irandirectlytoher. Epps,ondiscoveringher,didnotfollow. Heremainedaboutthefieldanhourormore,duringwhichtimeIstoodbythemistress,havingrelatedtheparticularsofwhathadtakenplace. Now,shewasarousedagain,denouncingherhusbandandPatseyaboutequally. Finally,Eppscametowardsthehouse,bythistimenearlysober,walkingdemurely,withhishandsbehindhisback,andattemptingtolookasinnocentasachild. 

           Asheapproached,nevertheless,MistressEppsbegantoberatehimroundly,heapinguponhimmanyratherdisrespectfulepithets,anddemandingforwhatreasonhehadattemptedtocutmythroat. Eppsmadewondrousstrangeofitall,andtomysurprise,sworebyallthesaintsinthecalendarhehadnotspokentomethatday. 

           "Platt,youlyingnigger,haveI?"washisbrazenappealtome. 

           Itisnotsafetocontradictamaster,evenbytheassertionofatruth. SoIwassilent,andwhenheenteredthehouseIreturnedtothefield,andtheaffairwasneverafteralludedto. 

Налаштування
Фон сторінки
Розмір шрифту
Міжрядковий інтервал
Фразові дієслова
Показати / Приховати меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Сторінка 192 з 280