Веснянки
Chapter XIX
Shetoldallaboutthelittlebabythatshecouldremember:whenitwasborn,howitwasnamedfortheman’selderbrother,thatitshandhadbeencutoffinthefire,andwhereshehadputittobedoctoredandtakencareof.Shetoldthemthatitsmotherandfatherwerebothburned,andshebeggedandimploredthemtocomeafterit.
“You’dthinkthatwouldhavemeltedaheartofice,butthatoldmanhadn’tanyhearttomelt,forhegotthatletterandreadit.Hehiditawayamonghispapersandnevertoldasoul.Afewmonthsagohedied.Whenhiseldersonwenttosettlehisbusiness,hefoundtheletteralmostthefirstthing.Hedroppedeverything,andcame,withhiswife,tohuntthatbaby,becausehealwayshadlovedhisbrotherdearly,andwantedhimback.Hehadhuntedforhimallhedaredalltheseyears,butwhenhegothereyouweregone—Imeanthebabywasgone,andIhadtotellyou,Freckles,foryousee,itmighthavehappenedtoyoulikethatjustaseasyastothatotherlostboy.”
FrecklesreachedupandturnedtheAngel’sfaceuntilhecompelledhereyestomeethis.
“Angel,”heaskedquietly,“whydon’tyoulookatmewhenyouaretellingaboutthatlostboy?”
“I—Ididn’tknowIwasn’t,”falteredtheAngel.
“Itseemstome,”saidFreckles,hisbreathbeginningtocomeinsharpwheezes,“thatyougotusrathermixed,anditain’tlikeyoutobemixingthingstillonecan’tbeknowing.Iftheyweretellingyousomuch,didtheysaywhichhandwasforbeingoffthatlostboy?”
TheAngel’seyesescapedagain.
