Веснянки

           Andiftosavethelifehehasofferedforyou,youarethinkingofbeinggenerousandimpulsiveenoughtosacrificeyourfuture—intheabsenceofyourfather,itwillbecomemyplainduty,astheprotectorinwhosehandshehasplacedyou,topreventsuchrashness.Theverywordsyouspeak,andthemannerinwhichyousaythem,provethatyouareamerechild,andhavenotdreamedwhatloveis.”

           ThentheAngelgrewsplendid.Arosyflushsweptthepalloroffearfromherface.Herbigeyeswidenedanddilatedwithintenselights.Sheseemedtoleaptotheheightandthedignityofsuperbwomanhoodbeforetheirwonderinggaze.

           “Ineverhavehadtodreamoflove,”shesaidproudly.“Ineverhaveknownanythingelse,inallmylife,buttoloveeveryoneandtohaveeveryoneloveme.AndthereneverhasbeenanyonesodearasFreckles.Ifyouwillremember,wehavebeenthroughagooddealtogether.IdoloveFreckles,justasIsayIdo.Idon’tknowanythingabouttheloveofsweethearts,butIlovehimwithalltheloveinmyheart,andIthinkthatwillsatisfyhim.”

           “Surelyitshould!”mutteredthemanofknivesandlancets.

           McLeanreachedtotakeholdoftheAngel,butshesawthemovementandswiftlysteppedback.

           “Asformyfather,”shecontinued,“heatoncetoldmewhathelearnedfromyouaboutFreckles.I’veknownallyouknowforseveralweeks.Thatknowledgedidn’tchangeyourloveforhimaparticle.IthinktheBirdWomanlovedhimmore