Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter VI
Thedruggiststoodawkwardlyoutsidethedoorofthefeedroom,hiscoatcollarturnedupagainstthedraughtsthatdriftedthroughthebarn,hisfacetroubled,debatinganxiouslyastotheproprietyofputtingonhisgloves.TheSpanish-Mexicanfamily,afather,motherandfivechildrenandsister-in-law,satrigidontheedgesofthehiredchairs,silent,constrained,theireyeslowered,theirelbowsinattheirsides,glancingfurtivelyfromundertheireyebrowsatthedecorationsorwatchingwithintenseabsorptionyoungVacca,sonofoneofthedivisionsuperintendents,whoworeacheckedcoatandwhitethreadglovesandwhopacedupanddownthelengthofthebarn,frowning,veryimportant,whittlingawaxcandleoverthefloortomakeitslipperyfordancing.
Themusiciansarrived,theCityBandofBonneville—Annixterhavingmanagedtooffendtheleaderofthe“Dirigo”Cluborchestra,attheverylastmoment,tosuchapointthathehadrefusedhisservices.ThesemembersoftheCityBandrepairedatoncetotheirplatforminthecorner.Ateveryinstanttheylaugheduproariouslyamongthemselves,joshingoneoftheirnumber,aFrenchman,whomtheycalled“Skeezicks.”Theirhilarityreverberatedinahollow,metallicrollamongtheraftersoverhead.ThedruggistobservedtoyoungVaccaashepassedbythathethoughtthemprettyfresh,justthesame.
“I’mbusy,I’mverybusy,”returnedtheyoungman,continuingonhisway,stillfrowningandparingthestumpofcandle.
“Twoquarts’n’ahalf.Twoquarts’n’ahalf.
