Веснянки
Chapter XII
Shecamethroughwithoutapparentlygivinghimaglance,andthefirstwordsshesaidwere:“Whyhavethegangcomesosoon?Ididn’tknowyouexpectedthemforthreeweeksyet.OristhissomeespecialtreethatMr.McLeanneedstofillanorderrightnow?”
Freckleshesitated.Wouldamandarelietosavehimself?No.ButtosavetheAngel—surelythatwasdifferent.Heopenedhislips,buttheAngelwascapableofsavingherself.Shewalkedamongthem,exactlyasifshehadbeenrearedinalumbercamp,andneverwaitedforananswer.
“Why,yourspecimencase!”shecried.“Look!Haven’tyounoticedthatit’stippedover?Setitstraight,quickly!”
Acoupleofthemensteppedoutandcarefullyrightedthecase.
“There!That’sbetter,”shesaid.“Freckles,I’msurprisedatyourbeingsocareless.Itwouldbeashametobreakthoselovelybutterfliesforoneoldtree!Isthatavaluabletree?Whydidn’tyoutelluslastnightyouweregoingtotakeoutatreethismorning?Oh,say,didyouputyourcasetheretoprotectthattreefromthatstealingoldBlackJackandhisgang?Ibetyoudid!Well,ifthatwasn’tbright!Whatkindofatreeisit?”
“It’sawhiteoak,”saidFreckles.
“Likethosetheymakedining-tablesandsideboardsfrom?”
“Yes.”
“My!Howinteresting!”shecried.“Idon’tknowathingabouttimber,butmyfatherwantsmetolearnjusteverythingIcan.IamgoingtoaskhimtoletmecomehereandwatchyouuntilIknowenoughtobossagangmyself.Doyouliketocuttrees,gentlemen?”sheaskedwithangelicsweetnessofthemen.
