Вдалині від божевільного натовпу

XX. Perplexity—Grinding the Shears—A Quarrel

           OakstoodsomewhatasErosisrepresentedwhenintheactofsharpeninghisarrows:hisfigureslightlybent,theweightofhisbodythrownoverontheshears,andhisheadbalancedside-ways,withacriticalcompressionofthelipsandcontractionoftheeyelidstocrowntheattitude.

           Hismistresscameupandlookedupontheminsilenceforaminuteortwo;thenshesaid

           "Cain,gotothelowermeadandcatchthebaymare.I’llturnthewinchofthegrindstone.Iwanttospeaktoyou,Gabriel."

           Caindeparted,andBathshebatookthehandle.Gabrielhadglancedupinintensesurprise,quelleditsexpression,andlookeddownagain.Bathshebaturnedthewinch,andGabrielappliedtheshears.

           Thepeculiarmotioninvolvedinturningawheelhasawonderfultendencytobenumbthemind.ItisasortofattenuatedvarietyofIxion’spunishment,andcontributesadismalchaptertothehistoryofgaols.Thebraingetsmuddled,theheadgrowsheavy,andthebody’scentreofgravityseemstosettlebydegreesinaleadenlumpsomewherebetweentheeyebrowsandthecrown.Bathshebafelttheunpleasantsymptomsaftertwoorthreedozenturns.

           "Willyouturn,Gabriel,andletmeholdtheshears?"shesaid."Myheadisinawhirl,andIcan’ttalk."

           Gabrielturned.Bathshebathenbegan,withsomeawkwardness,allowingherthoughtstostrayoccasionallyfromherstorytoattendtotheshears,whichrequiredalittlenicetyinsharpening.

           "IwantedtoaskyouifthemenmadeanyobservationsonmygoingbehindthesedgewithMr.Boldwoodyesterday?"

           "Yes,theydid,"saidGabriel.

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Roboto Lora
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