Вдалині від божевільного натовпу

VI. The Fair—The Journey—The Fire

           Heatoncesatastridetheveryapex,andbeganwithhiscrooktobeatoffthefieryfragmentswhichhadlodgedthereon,shoutingtotheotherstogethimaboughandaladder,andsomewater.

           BillySmallburyoneofthemenwhohadbeenonthewaggonbythistimehadfoundaladder,whichMarkClarkascended,holdingonbesideOakuponthethatch.Thesmokeatthiscornerwasstifling,andClark,animblefellow,havingbeenhandedabucketofwater,bathedOak’sfaceandsprinkledhimgenerally,whilstGabriel,nowwithalongbeech-boughinonehand,inadditiontohiscrookintheother,keptsweepingthestackanddislodgingallfieryparticles.

           Onthegroundthegroupsofvillagerswerestilloccupiedindoingalltheycouldtokeepdowntheconflagration,whichwasnotmuch.Theywerealltingedorange,andbackedupbyshadowsofvaryingpattern.Roundthecornerofthelargeststack,outofthedirectraysofthefire,stoodapony,bearingayoungwomanonitsback.Byhersidewasanotherwoman,onfoot.Thesetwoseemedtokeepatadistancefromthefire,thatthehorsemightnotbecomerestive.

           "He’sashepherd,"saidthewomanonfoot."Yesheis.Seehowhiscrookshinesashebeatstherickwithit.Andhissmock-frockisburntintwoholes,Ideclare!Afineyoungshepherdheistoo,ma’am."

           "Whoseshepherdishe?"saidtheequestrianinaclearvoice.

           "Don’tknow,ma’am."

           "Don’tanyoftheothersknow?"

           "NobodyatallI’veasked’em.Quiteastranger,theysay."

           Theyoungwomanontheponyrodeoutfromtheshadeandlookedanxiouslyaround.

Налаштування
Фон сторінки
Розмір шрифту
Міжрядковий інтервал
Фразові дієслова
Показати / Приховати меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Сторінка 62 з 522