Веснянки
Chapter XVIII
Thenshedrewadeepbreathandreadthecardagain.
“ALord-man!”shegroaneddespairingly.“ALord-man!Betmyhoecake’sscorched!HereI’vegoneandpledgedmywordtoFrecklesI’dfindhimsomedecentrelatives,thathecouldbeproudof,andnowthereisn’tachanceoutofadozenthathe’llhavetobeashamedofthemafterall.It’stoomean!”
Thetearsofvexationrolleddownthetired,nerve-rackedAngel’scheeks.
“Thisisn’tgoingtodo,”shesaid,resolutelywipinghereyeswiththepalmofherhandandgulpingdownthenervousspasminherthroat.“ImustreadthispaperbeforeImeetLordO’More.”
Sheblinkedbackthetearsandspreadingthepaperonherknee,read:“Afterthreemonths’fruitlesssearch,LordO’Moregivesupthequestofhislostnephew,andleavesChicagotodayforhishomeinIreland.”
Shereadon,andrealizedeveryword.Thelikenesssettledanydoubt.ItwasFrecklesoveragain,onlyolderandwelldressed.
“Well,ImustcatchyouifIcan,”mutteredtheAngel.“ButwhenIdo,ifyouareagentlemaninnameonly,youshan’thaveFreckles;that’sflat.You’renothisfatherandheistwenty.Anyway,ifthelawwillgivehimtoyouforoneyear,youcan’tspoilhim,becausenobodycould,and,”sheadded,brightening,“he’llprobablydoyoualotofgood.FrecklesandIbothmuststudyyearsyet,andyoushouldbesomethingthatwillsavehim.Iguessitwillcomeoutallright.Atleast,Idon’tbelieveyoucantakehimawayifIsayno.”
“Thankyou;andwait,nomatterhowlong,”shesaidtoherdriver.
