Веснянки
Chapter VII
I’lljustbegettingwindofthem,andthenmaketracksforyou.I’llneedtocomelikelightning,andDuncanhasnoextrahorse,soI’mthinkingyou’dbestgetmeone—orperhapsawheelwouldbebetter.IusedtodoextraworkfortheHomedoctor,andhewouldletmetakehisbicycletoridearoundtheplace.Andattimestheheadnursewouldloanmehisforanhour.Awheelwouldcostlessandbefasterthanahorse,andwouldtakelesscare.Ibelieve,ifyouaregoingtotownsoon,youhadbestpickupanykindofanoldoneatsomesecond-handstore,forifI’mevercalledtouseitinahurrytherewon’tbethehandlebarsleftaftercrossingthecorduroy.”
“Yes,”saidMcLean;“andifyoudidn’thaveafirst-classwheel,younevercouldcrossthecorduroyonitatall.”
Astheywalkedtothecabin,McLeaninsistedonanotherguard,butFreckleswasstubbornlysetonfightinghisbattlealone.Hemadeonementalcondition.IftheBirdWomanwasgoingtogiveuptheLittleChickenseries,hewouldyieldtothesecondguard,solelyforthesakeofherworkandthepresenceoftheAngelintheLimberlost.Hedidnotproposetohaveasecondmanunlessitwereabsolutelynecessary,forhehadbeenalonesolongthathelovedthesolitude,hischickens,andflowers.Thethoughtofhavingastrangertoallhiswayscomeandmeddlewithhisarrangements,frightenhispets,pullhisflowers,andinterrupthimwhenhewantedtostudy,soannoyedhimthathewasblindedtohisrealneedforhelp.
