Веснянки
Chapter XI
“IamafraidIdo,”shesaidruefully.“It’stoobad!ButthereisathingIwantforyoumorethantocometomyparty,andthatistohangonandwinwithyourwork.Ithinkofyoueveryday,andIjustpraythatthosethievesarenotgettingaheadofyou.Oh,Freckles,dowatchclosely!”
Shewassolovelyapictureasshestoodbeforehim,ardentinhiscause,thatFrecklescouldnottakehiseyesfromhertonoticewhatherfriendswerethinking.Ifshedidnotmind,whyshouldhe?Anyway,iftheyreallyweretheAngel’sfriends,probablytheywerebetteraccustomedtoherwaysthanhe.
Herfaceandbaredneckandarmswerelikethewildrosebloom.Hersoftfrockofwhitetulleliftedandstirredaroundherwiththegentleeveningair.Thebeautifulgoldenhair,thatcreptaroundhertemplesandearsasifitlovedtoclingthere,wascaughtbackandboundwithbroadbluesatinribbon.Therewasasashofblueatherwaist,andknotsofitcatchingupherdraperies.
“MustIgoaftertheBirdWoman?”shepleaded.
“Indade,youmust,”answeredFrecklesfirmly.
TheAngelwentaway,butreturnedtosaythattheBirdWomanwastellingastorytothoseinsideandshecouldnotcomeforashorttime.
“Youwon’tcomein?”shepleaded.
“Imustnot,”saidFreckles.“Iamnotdressedtobeamongyourfriends,andImightbeforgettingmeselfandstaytoolong.”
“Then,”saidtheAngel,“wemustn’tgothroughthehouse,becauseitwoulddisturbthestory;butIwantyoutocometheoutsidewaytotheconservatoryandhavesomeofmybirthdaylunchandsomecaketotaketoMrs.
