Веснянки

           Sheanalyzedacardinal-flowerandshowedhimwhathehadwantedtoknowallsummer—whythebeesbuzzedineffectuallyarounditwhilethehumming-birdsfoundinitanever-readyfeast.Someofhisspecimensweresorarethatshewasunfamiliarwiththem,andwiththeflowerbookbetweenthemtheyknelt,studyingthedifferentvarieties.Shewanderedthelengthofthecathedralaislewithhim,anditwasathersuggestionthathelightedhisaltarwitharowofflamingfoxfire.

           AsFrecklescametothecabinfromhislongdayattheswamphesawMrs.Chickensweepingtothesouthandwonderedwhereshewasgoing.Hesteppedintothebright,cosylittlekitchen,andashereacheddownthewash-basinheaskedMrs.Duncanaquestion.

           “MotherDuncan,dokisseswashoff?”

           Sowarmawavesweptherheartthatahalf-flushmantledherface.Shestraightenedhershouldersandglancedatherhandstenderly.

           “Lord,na!Freckles,”shecried.“Atleast,theanesyegetfrompeopleyelovedinna.Theydinnastayontheoutside.Theystrikeinuntiltheyfindthecenterofyourheartandmaketheirstopping-placethere,andnaethingcantakethemfromye—Idoubtifevendeath——Na,lad,yecanbereetsurekissesdinnawashoff!”

           Frecklessetthebasindownandmutteredasheplungedhishot,tiredfaceintothewater,“Ineedn’tbeafraidtobewashing,then,forthatonestruckin.”