Веснянки

           Duncanforadoublelunchandanespeciallyniceonethedayofhernextcoming,sothatiftheBirdWomanhappenedtobelate,theAngelmightnotsufferfromthirstandhunger.Hewouldtellhertobringheavyleatherleggings,sothathemighttakeheronatriparoundthetrail.Sheshouldmakefriendswithallofhischickensandseetheirnests.

           Onthelinehetalkedofherincessantly.

           “Youneedn’tbethinking,”hesaidtothegoldfinch,“thatbecauseI’mcomingdownthislinealonedayafterday,it’salwaystobeso.Someofthesetimesyou’llbeswingingonthiswire,andyou’llseemecoming,andyou’llswing,skip,andflirtyourselfaround,andchipuprightspunky:’SEEME?’I’llbesaying’Seeyou?Oh,Lord!Seeher!’You’lllook,andthereshe’llstand.Thesunshinewon’tlookgoldanymore,ortherosespink,ortheskyblue,becauseshe’llbethepinkest,bluest,goldestthingofall.You’llbeyellingyourselfhoarsewiththejealousyofher.Thesawbirdwillstretchhisneckoutofjoint,andshe’llturntheheadsofalltheflowers.Wherevershegoes,Icangobackafterwardandseethethingsshe’sseen,walkthepathshe’swalked,hearthegrasseswhisperingoverallshe’ssaid;andifthere’saplacetooswampyforherbitsoffeet;HolyMother!Maybe—maybeshe’dbeputtingthebeautifularmsofheraroundmeneckandlettingmecarryherover!”

           Frecklesshiveredaswithachill.Hesentthecudgelwhirlingskyward,dexterouslycaughtit,andsetitspinning.

           “Youdamnedpresumptuousfool!”hecried.