Веснянки
Chapter XVIII
BythetimeyouhavecompletedyoureducationIwillhavefinishedcollege,andthenIwant,”shechokedasecond,“Iwantyoutobemyrealknight,Freckles,andcometomeandtellmethatyou—likeme—alittle.Ihavebeencountingonyouformysweetheartfromtheveryfirst,Freckles.Ican’tgiveyouup,unlessyoudon’tlikeme.Butyoudolikeme—justalittle—don’tyou,Freckles?”
Freckleslaywhiterthanthecoverlet,hisstaringeyesontheceilingandhisbreathwheezingbetweendrylips.TheAngelawaitedhisanswerasecond,andwhennonecame,shedroppedhercrimsoningfacebesidehimonthepillowandwhisperedinhisear:
“Freckles,I—I’mtryingtomakelovetoyou.Oh,can’tyouhelpmeonlyalittlebit?It’sawfulhardallalone!Idon’tknowhow,whenIreallymeanit,butFreckles,Iloveyou.Imusthaveyou,andnowIguess—IguessmaybeI’dbetterkissyounext.”
Sheliftedhershamedfaceandbravelylaidherfeverish,quiveringlipsonhis.Herbreath,likeclover-bloom,wasinhisnostrils,andherhairtouchedhisface.Thenshelookedintohiseyeswithreproach.
“Freckles,”shepanted,“Freckles!Ididn’tthinkitwasinyoutobemean!”
“Mean,Angel!Meantoyou?”gaspedFreckles.
“Yes,”saidtheAngel.“Downrightmean.WhenIkissyou,ifyouhadanymercyatallyou’dkissback,justalittlebit.”
Freckles’sinewyfistknottedintothecoverlet.Hischinpointedceilingwardwhilehisheadrockedonthepillow.
“Oh,Jesus!”burstfromhiminagony.
