Веснянки
Chapter XVIII
“WheredidyoufindthecouragetogointotheLimberlostandfaceitsterrors?Youinheriteditfromthebloodofabravefather,dearheart.Wheredidyougettheplucktoholdforoverayearajobthatfewmenwouldhavetakenatall?Yougotitfromapluckymother,youbravestofboys.Youattackedsingle-handedamanalmosttwiceyoursize,andfoughtasademon,merelyatthesuggestionthatyoubedeceptiveanddishonest.Couldyourmotheroryourfatherhavebeenuntruthful?Hereyouare,sohungryandstarvedthatyouaredyingforlove.Wheredidyougetallthatcapacityforloving?Youdidn’tinherititfromhardened,heartlesspeople,whowoulddisfigureyouandpurposelyleaveyoutodie,that’sonesurething.Youoncetoldmeofsavingyourbigbullfrogfromarattlesnake.Youknewyouriskedahorribledeathwhenyoudidit.Yetyouwillspendmiserableyearstorturingyourselfwiththeideathatyourownmothermighthavecutoffthathand.Shameonyou,Freckles!Yourmotherwouldhavedonethis——”
TheAngeldeliberatelyturnedbackthecover,slippedupthesleeve,andlaidherlipsonthescars.
“Freckles!Wakeup!”shecried,almostshakinghim.“Cometoyoursenses!Beathinking,reasoningman!Youhavebroodedtoomuch,andbeenallyourlifetoomuchalone.It’sallasplainasplaincanbetome.Youmustseeit!Likebreedslikeinthisworld!Youmustbesomesortofareproductionofyourparents,andIamnotafraidtovouchforthem,notforaminute!
“Andthen,too,ifmoreproofisneeded,hereitis:Mr.
