Останній з Могікан
Chapter 16
Ihadseenmanyregions,andhadshedmuchbloodindifferentlands,beforedutycalledmetotheislandsoftheWestIndies.Thereitwasmylottoformaconnectionwithonewhointimebecamemywife,andthemotherofCora.Shewasthedaughterofagentlemanofthoseisles,byaladywhosemisfortuneitwas,ifyouwill,"saidtheoldman,proudly,"tobedescended,remotely,fromthatunfortunateclasswhoaresobaselyenslavedtoadministertothewantsofaluxuriouspeople.Ay,sir,thatisacurseentailedonScotlandbyherunnaturalunionwithaforeignandtradingpeople.ButcouldIfindamanamongthemwhowoulddaretoreflectonmychild,heshouldfeeltheweightofafather’sanger!Ha!MajorHeyward,youareyourselfbornatthesouth,wheretheseunfortunatebeingsareconsideredofaraceinferiortoyourown."
"’Tismostunfortunatelytrue,sir,"saidDuncan,unableanylongertopreventhiseyesfromsinkingtothefloorinembarrassment.
"Andyoucastitonmychildasareproach!YouscorntominglethebloodoftheHeywardswithonesodegraded—lovelyandvirtuousthoughshebe?"fiercelydemandedthejealousparent.
"Heavenprotectmefromaprejudicesounworthyofmyreason!"returnedDuncan,atthesametimeconsciousofsuchafeeling,andthatasdeeplyrootedasifithadbeeningraftedinhisnature."Thesweetness,thebeauty,thewitcheryofyouryoungerdaughter,ColonelMunro,mightexplainmymotives,withoutimputingtomethisinjustice."
