Веснянки

           ThenherememberedthatMcLeanhadsaidhewouldcomethatmorning.Frecklesneverhadforgottenbefore.Hehurriedontheeasttrailasfastashistotteringlegswouldcarryhim.

           Hestoppedwhenhecametothefirstguard,andtellinghimofhisluck,askedhimtogettheotterandcarryittothecabin,ashewasanxioustomeetMcLean.

           Frecklespassedthesecondguardwithoutseeinghim,andhurriedtotheBoss.Hetookoffhishat,wipedhisforehead,andstoodsilentundertheeyesofMcLean.

           TheBosswasdumbfounded.Mrs.DuncanhadledhimtoexpectthathewouldfindachangeinFreckles,butthiswasalmostdeathly.Thefactwasapparentthattheboyscarcelyknewwhathewasdoing.Hiseyeshadaglazed,far-sightedappearance,thatwrungtheheartofthemanwholovedhim.Withoutathoughtofpreliminaries,McLeanleanedinthesaddleanddrewFrecklestohim.

           “Mypoorlad!”hesaid.“Mypoor,dearlad!tellme,andwewilltrytorightit!”

           FreckleshadtwistedhisfingersinNellie’smane.AtthekindwordshisfacedroppedonMcLean’sthighandheshookwithanervouschill.McLeangatheredhimcloserandwaited.

           Whentheguardcamewiththeotter,McLeanwithoutawordmotionedhimtolayitdownandleavethem.

           “Freckles,”saidMcLeanatlast,“willyoutellme,ormustIsettoworkinthedarkandtrytofindthetrouble?”

           “Oh,Iwanttotellyou!Imusttellyou,sir,”shudderedFreckles.“Icannotbebearingitthedayoutalone.IwascomingtoyouwhenIremimberedyouwouldbehere.