Віднесені вітром

Chapter 3

           Theywereaclose-mouthedandstiff-neckedfamily,whokeptstrictlytothemselvesandintermarriedwiththeirCarolinarelatives,andGeraldwasnotaloneindislikingthem,fortheCountypeoplewereneighborlyandsociableandnonetootolerantofanyonelackinginthosesamequalities.RumorsofAbolitionistsympathiesdidnotenhancethepopularityoftheMacIntoshes.OldAngushadnevermanumittedasingleslaveandhadcommittedtheunpardonablesocialbreachofsellingsomeofhisnegroestopassingslavetradersenroutetothecanefieldsofLouisiana,buttherumorspersisted.

           "He’sanAbolitionist,nodoubt,"observedGeraldtoJohnWilkes."But,inanOrangeman,whenaprinciplecomesupagainstScotchtightness,theprinciplefaresill."

           TheSlatteryswereanotheraffair.Beingpoorwhite,theywerenotevenaccordedthegrudgingrespectthatAngusMacIntosh’sdourindependencewrungfromneighboringfamilies.OldSlattery,whoclungpersistentlytohisfewacres,inspiteofrepeatedoffersfromGeraldandJohnWilkes,wasshiftlessandwhining.Hiswifewasasnarly-hairedwoman,sicklyandwashed-outofappearance,themotherofabroodofsullenandrabbity-lookingchildrenabroodwhichwasincreasedregularlyeveryyear.TomSlatteryownednoslaves,andheandhistwooldestboysspasmodicallyworkedtheirfewacresofcotton,whilethewifeandyoungerchildrentendedwhatwassupposedtobeavegetablegarden.But,somehow,thecottonalwaysfailed,andthegarden,duetoMrs.Slattery’sconstantchildbearing,seldomfurnishedenoughtofeedherflock.

           ThesightofTomSlatterydawdlingonhisneighbors’porches,beggingcottonseedforplantingorasideofbaconto"tidehimover,"wasafamiliarone.

Налаштування
Фон сторінки
Розмір шрифту
Міжрядковий інтервал
Фразові дієслова
Показати / Приховати меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Сторінка 67 з 1537