Веснянки
Chapter VI
ThensheturnedandstaredatFrecklesasshehadathishandiwork.
“Whatareyouplanningtobe?”sheaskedwonderingly.
“WhateverMr.McLeanwantsmeto,”hereplied.
“Whatdoyoudomost?”sheasked.
“Watchmelines.”
“Idon’tmeanwork!”
“Oh,inmesparetimeIkeepmeroomandstudyinmebooks.”
“Doyouworkontheroomorthebooksmost?”
“Ontheroomonlywhatittakestokeepitup,andtherestofthetimeonmebooks.”
TheAngelstudiedhimclosely.“Well,maybeyouaregoingtobeagreatscholar,”shesaid,“butyoudon’tlookit.Yourfaceisn’trightforthat,butit’sgotsomethingbiginit—somethingreallygreat.Imustfindoutwhatitisandthenyoumustworkonit.Yourfatherisexpectingyoutodosomething.Onecantellbythewayhetalks.Youshouldbeginrightaway.You’vewastedtoomuchtimealready.”
PoorFreckleshunghishead.Heneverhadwastedanhourinhislife.Thereneverhadbeenonethatwashistowaste.
TheAngel,studyinghimintently,readthethoughtinhisface.“Oh,Idon’tmeanthat!”shecried,withthefrankdismayofsixteen.“Ofcourse,you’renotlazy!Nooneeverwouldthinkthatfromyourappearance.It’sthisImean:thereissomethingfine,strong,andfullofpowerinyourface.Thereissomethingyouaretodointhisworld,andnomatterhowyouworkatalltheseotherthings,orhowsuccessfullyyoudothem,itisallwasteduntilyoufindtheONETHINGthatyoucandobest.
