Веснянки

           Insteadoflaughing,hesaid:“Ithinkyou’llhavetoletmeinonthat,too.Youmustn’tbeselfish,youknow.I’lltellyouwhatwe’lldo.SenditforChristmas.I’llbehomethen,andwecanfillabox.Yougetthehat.I’lladdadressandwrap.YoubuyDuncanahatandgloves.I’llsendhimabigovercoat,andwe’llputinalotoflittlestuffforthebabies.Won’tthatbefun?”

           Frecklesfairlyshiveredwithdelight.

           “Thatwouldbeawaytooseriousforfun,”hesaid.“Thatwouldbeheavenly.Howlongwillitbe?”

           Hebegancountingthetime,andMcLeandeliberatelysethimselftoencourageFrecklesandkeephisthoughtsfromthetroubleofthepastfewdays,forhehadbeenoverwroughtandneededquietandrest.