Веснянки
Chapter V
”
“SoMr.McLeansaid,”answeredFreckles.
Beforetheydroveaway,theBirdWomanthankedhimforhiskindnesstotheAngelandtoher.Shegavehimherhandatparting,andFrecklesjoyfullyrealizedthatthiswasgoingtobeanotherpersonforhimtolove.Hecouldnotremember,aftertheyhaddrivenaway,thattheyevenhadnoticedhismissinghand,andforthefirsttimeinhislifehehadforgottenit.
WhentheBirdWomanandtheAngelwereonthehomeroad,shetoldofthelittlecornerofparadiseintowhichshehadstrayedandofhernewname.TheBirdWomanlookedatthegirlandguesseditsappropriateness.
“DidyouknowMr.McLeanhadason?”askedtheAngel.“Isn’tthelittleaccenthehas,andthewayhetwistsasentence,toodear?Andisn’tittooold-fashionedandfunnytohearhimcallhisfather’mister’?”
“Itsoundstoogoodtobetrue,”saidtheBirdWoman,answeringthelastquestionfirst.“Iamsotiredofthesepresent-dayyoungmenwhopatronizinglycalltheirfathers’Dad,’’Governor,’’OldMan’and’OldChap,’thattheboy’sattitudeofrespectanddeferenceappealedtomeasbeingfineassilk.Theremustbesomethingrareaboutthatyoungman.”
ShedidnotfinditnecessarytotelltheAngelthatforseveralyearsshehadknownthemanwhosoproudlyproclaimedhimselfFreckles’fathertobeabachelorandaScotchman.TheBirdWomanhadafinewayofattendingstrictlytoherownbusiness.
Frecklesturnedtothetrail,buthestoppedateverywildbriertostudythepinksatinofthepetals.
