Кінець рабства
XIII
Itseemstomethat,liketheblindedSamson,Iwouldfindthestrengthtoshakedownatempleuponmyhead.She’sastrugglingwoman—myownchildthatweusedtoprayovertogether,mypoorwifeandI.DoyourememberthatdayIaswellastoldyouthatIbelievedGodwouldletmelivetoahundredforhersake?Whatsinisthereinlovingyourchild?Doyouseeit?Iwasreadyforhersaketoliveforever.IhalfbelievedIwould.I’vebeenprayingfordeathsince.Ha!Presumptuousman—youwantedtolive...”
Atremendous,shudderingupheavalofthatbigframe,shakenbyagaspingsob,settheglassesjinglingalloverthetable,seemedtomakethewholehousetrembletotheroof-tree.AndMr.VanWyk,whosefeelingofoutragedlovehadbeentranslatedintoaformofstrugglewithnature,understoodverywellthat,forthatmanwhosewholelifehadbeenconditionedbyaction,therecouldexistnootherexpressionforalltheemotions;that,tovoluntarilyceaseventuring,doing,enduring,forhischild’ssake,wouldhavebeenexactlylikepluckinghiswarmloveforheroutofhislivingheart.Somethingtoomonstrous,tooimpossible,eventoconceive.
CaptainWhalleyhadnotchangedhisattitude,thatseemedtoexpresssomethingofshame,sorrow,anddefiance.
“Ihaveevendeceivedyou.Ifithadnotbeenforthatword‘esteem.’Thesearenotthewordsforme.Iwouldhaveliedtoyou.Haven’tIliedtoyou?Weren’tyougoingtotrustyourpropertyonboardthisverytrip?”
“Ihaveafloatingyearlypolicy,”Mr.
