Веснянки
Chapter VIII
I’mgladpasttellingifyouwillbecomingafewmoretimes,atleastuntilthegangarrives.PastthattimeIdon’tallowmesilftobethinking.”
“Come,haveacooldrinkbeforeyoustartback,”saidtheAngel.
“Icouldn’tpossibly,”saidFreckles.“IleftMrs.Duncanonthetrail,andshe’sterriblyafraidofalotofthings.Ifsheevenseesabigsnake,Idon’tknowwhatshe’lldo.”
“Itwon’ttakebutaminute,andyoucanridefastenoughtomakeupforit.Please.Iwanttothinkofsomethingfineforyou,tomakeupalittleforwhatyoudidformethatfirstday.”
FreckleslookedinsheerwondermentintothebeautifulfaceoftheAngel.Didshetrulymeanit?Wouldshewalkdownthatstreetwithhim,crippled,homely,inmeanclothing,withthetoolsofhisoccupationonhim,andsharewithhimthetreatshewasoffering?Hecouldnotbelieveit,evenoftheAngel.Still,injusticetothecandorofherpure,sweetface,hewouldnotthinkthatshewouldmaketheofferandnotmeanit.Shereallydidmeanjustwhatshesaid,butwhenitcametocarryingoutherofferandhesawthestaresofherfriends,thesneersofherenemies—ifsuchasshecouldhaveenemies—andheardthewhisperedjeersofthecurious,thenshewouldseehermistakeandbesorry.Itwouldbeonlyamanlythingforhimtothinkthisout,andsaveherfromtheresultsofherownblessedbignessofheart.
“Iraillymustbeoff,”saidFrecklesearnestly,“butI’mthankingyoumorethanyou’lleverknowforyourkindness.
