Вдалині від божевільного натовпу

XXIV. The Same Night—The Fir Plantation

           

           Thisbitofthepathwasalwaysthecruxofthenight’sramble,though,beforestarting,herapprehensionsofdangerwerenotvividenoughtoleadhertotakeacompanion.SlippingalongherecovertlyasTime,Bathshebafanciedshecouldhearfootstepsenteringthetrackattheoppositeend.Itwascertainlyarustleoffootsteps.Herowninstantlyfellasgentlyassnowflakes.Shereassuredherselfbyaremembrancethatthepathwaspublic,andthatthetravellerwasprobablysomevillagerreturninghome;regretting,atthesametime,thatthemeetingshouldbeabouttooccurinthedarkestpointofherroute,eventhoughonlyjustoutsideherowndoor.

           Thenoiseapproached,cameclose,andafigurewasapparentlyonthepointofglidingpastherwhensomethingtuggedatherskirtandpinneditforciblytotheground.TheinstantaneouschecknearlythrewBathshebaoffherbalance.Inrecoveringshestruckagainstwarmclothesandbuttons.

           "Arumstart,uponmysoul!"saidamasculinevoice,afootorsoaboveherhead."HaveIhurtyou,mate?"

           "No,"saidBathsheba,attemptingtoshrinkaway.

           "Wehavegothitchedtogethersomehow,Ithink."

           "Yes."

           "Areyouawoman?"

           "Yes."

           "Alady,Ishouldhavesaid."

           "Itdoesn’tmatter."

           "Iamaman."

           "Oh!"

           Bathshebasoftlytuggedagain,buttonopurpose.

           "Isthatadarklanternyouhave?Ifancyso,"saidtheman.

           "Yes."

           "Ifyou’llallowmeI’llopenit,andsetyoufree."

           Ahandseizedthelantern,thedoorwasopened,theraysburstoutfromtheirprison,andBathshebabeheldherpositionwithastonishment.

           Themantowhomshewashookedwasbrilliantinbrassandscarlet.

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