Веснянки
Chapter XII
Doyouride?”
“Yes,”saidJack,andhiseyeswereburningontheAngelasifhewouldfathomthedepthsofhersoul.
“Well,”saidtheAngelwinsomely,“IknowwhatIjustwishyou’ddo.Iwishyouwouldletyourhairgrowalittlelonger.Thenwearablueflannelshirtalittleopenatthethroat,aredtie,andabroad-brimmedfelthat,andridepastmyhouseofevenings.I’malwaysathomethen,andalmostalwaysontheveranda,and,oh!butIwouldliketoseeyou!Willyoudothatforme?”ItisimpossibletodescribetheartwithwhichtheAngelaskedthequestion.ShewaslookingstraightintoJack’sface,coarseandhardenedwithsinandcarelessliving,whichwasnowtakingonawhollydifferentexpression.Theevillinesofitweresofteningandfadingunderhercleargaze.Adullredflamedintohisbronzecheeks,whilehiseyesweregrowingbrightlytender.
“Yes,”hesaid,andtheglancehegavethemenwasofsuchanaturethatnoonesawfiteventochangecountenance.
“Oh,goody!”shecried,tiltingonhertoes.“I’llaskallthegirlstocomesee,buttheyneedn’tstickin!Wecangetalongwithoutthem,can’twe?”
Jackleanedtowardher.Hewasthecharmedflutteringbird,whiletheAngelwasthesnake.
“Well,Iratherguess!”hecried.
TheAngeldrewadeepbreathandsurveyedhimrapturously.
“My,butyou’retall!”shecommented.“DoyousupposeIeverwillgrowtoreachyourshoulders?”
Shestoodontiptoeandmeasuredthedistancewithhereyes.Thenshedevelopedtimidconfusion,whileherglancesoughttheground.
