Веснянки
Chapter XVII
Ifhecan’t,thenhaveaspecialreadyatthestationandanotheronthePittsburghatFortWayne,sowecangostraightthrough.Youneedn’tmindleavingus.TheBirdWomanwillbeheresoon.Wewillrestawhile.”
ShedroppedintothemuckbesideFrecklesandbeganstrokinghishairandhand.Helaywithhisfaceofagonyturnedtohers,andfoughttosmotherthegroansthatwouldtellherwhathewassuffering.
Whentheystoodreadytolifthim,theAngelbentoverhiminapassionoftenderness.
“DearoldLimberlostguard,we’regoingtoliftyounow,”shesaid.“Isuspectyouwillfaintfromthepainofit,butwewillbeaseasyaseverwecan,anddon’tyoudareforgetyourpromise!”
Awhimsicalhalf-smiletouchedFreckles’quiveringlips.
“Angel,canamanberememberingapromisewhenheain’tknowing?”heasked.
“Youcan,”saidtheAngelstoutly,“becauseapromisemeanssomuchmoretoyouthanitdoestomostmen.”
AlookofstrengthflashedintoFreckles’faceatherwords.
“Iamready,”hesaid.
Withthefirsttouchhiseyesclosed,amightygroanwaswrenchedfromhim,andhelaysenseless.TheAngelgaveDuncanonepanic-strickenlook.Thenshesetherlipsandgatheredherforcesagain.
“Iguessthat’sagoodthing,”shesaid.“Maybehewon’tfeelhowwearehurtinghim.Ohboys,areyoubeingquickandgentle?”
ShesteppedtothesideofthecotandbathedFreckles’face.Takinghishandinhers,shegavethewordtostart.Shetoldthementoaskeveryable-bodiedmantheymettojointhemsothattheycouldchangecarriersoftenandmakegoodtime.
