Веснянки
Chapter XV
Youngmuskratsfollowedtheirparentsacrossthelagoons.
Ifyoucouldcomeuponafamilyoffoxesthathadnotyetdisbanded,andseetheyoungplayingwithawildduck’scarcassthattheirmotherhadbrought,andnotetheprideandsatisfactioninhereyesasshelayatonesideguardingthem,itwouldbeapicturenottobeforgotten.Frecklesnevertiredofstudyingthedevotionofafoxmothertoherbabies.Tohim,whoseearlylifehadbeensoembitteredbycontinualproofofneglectandcrueltyinhumanparentstowardtheirchildren,theloveofthesefurredandfeatheredfolkoftheLimberlostwasevenmoreofamiraclethantotheBirdWomanandtheAngel.
TheAngellikedthebabyrabbitsandsquirrels.Earlierintheseason,whentheyoungwereyetverysmall,itsohappenedthatattimesFrecklescouldgiveintoherhandsoneoftheselittleones.Thenitwaspurejoytostandbackandwatchherheavingbreast,flushedcheek,andshiningeyes.Hersweresuchlovelyeyes.Freckleshaddiscoveredlatelythattheywerenotsodarkashehadthoughtthematfirst,butthatthelengthandthicknessoflash,bywhichtheywereshaded,madethemappeardarkerthantheyreallywere.Theywereforeverchanging.Nowsparklinganddarklingwithwit,nowhumidwithsympathy,nowburningwiththefireofcourage,nowtakingonstrengthofcolorwithambition,nowflashingindignantlyattheabuseofanycreature.
Shehadcarriedseveralofthesquirrelandbunnybabieshome,andhadlitteredtheconservatorywiththem.Hercareofthemwasperfect.
