Літо
XVI
”
“Andthestovewarn’thers,”saidthelank-hairedman,onthedefensive.
Mr.Milesturnedawayfromthemandmovedafewstepsapart.Hehaddrawnabookfromhispocket,andafterapauseheopeneditandbegantoread,holdingthebookatarm’slengthandlowdown,sothatthepagescaughtthefeeblelight.Charityhadremainedonherkneesbythemattress:nowthathermother’sfacewascovereditwaseasiertostaynearher,andavoidthesightofthelivingfaceswhichtoohorriblyshowedbywhatstageshershadlapsedintodeath.
“IamtheResurrectionandtheLife,”Mr.Milesbegan;“hethatbelievethinme,thoughheweredead,yetshallhelive....Thoughaftermyskinwormsdestroymybody,yetinmyfleshshallIseeGod....”
INMYFLESHSHALLISEEGOD!Charitythoughtofthegapingmouthandstonyeyesunderthehandkerchief,andoftheglisteninglegoverwhichshehaddrawnthestocking....
“Webroughtnothingintothisworldandweshalltakenothingoutofit——”
Therewasasuddenmutteringandascuffleatthebackofthegroup.“Ibroughtthestove,”saidtheelderlymanwithlankhair,pushinghiswaybetweentheothers.“Iwen’downtoCreston’nboughtit...n’Igotarighttotakeitouterhere...n’I’lllickanyfellersaysIain’t....”
“Sitdown,damnyou!”shoutedthetallyouthwhohadbeendrowsingonthebenchagainstthewall.
“Formanwalkethinavainshadow,anddisquietethhimselfinvain;heheapethuprichesandcannottellwhoshallgatherthem....
