Останній з Могікан
Chapter 25
Inthemidstofthisconfusionhefoundherhesought,pale,anxious,andterrified,butlovely.Davidhadpreparedherforsuchavisit.
"Duncan!"sheexclaimed,inavoicethatseemedtotrembleatthesoundscreatedbyitself.
"Alice"heanswered,leapingcarelesslyamongtrunks,boxes,arms,andfurniture,untilhestoodatherside.
"Iknewthatyouwouldneverdesertme,"shesaid,lookingupwithamomentaryglowonherotherwisedejectedcountenance."Butyouarealone!gratefulasitistobethusremembered,Icouldwishtothinkyouarenotentirelyalone."
Duncan,observingthatshetrembledinamannerwhichbetrayedherinabilitytostand,gentlyinducedhertobeseated,whileherecountedthoseleadingincidentswhichithasbeenourtasktorecord.Alicelistenedwithbreathlessinterest;andthoughtheyoungmantouchedlightlyonthesorrowsofthestrickenfather,takingcare,however,nottowoundtheself-loveofhisauditor,thetearsranasfreelydownthecheeksofthedaughterasthoughshehadneverweptbefore.ThesoothingtendernessofDuncan,however,soonquietedthefirstburstofheremotions,andshethenheardhimtotheclosewithundividedattention,ifnotwithcomposure.
"Andnow,Alice,"headded,"youwillseehowmuchisstillexpectedofyou.Bytheassistanceofourexperiencedandinvaluablefriend,thescout,wemayfindourwayfromthissavagepeople,butyouwillhavetoexertyourutmostfortitude.
