Гроздья гнева
Chapter 8
Sheseemedtoknow,toaccept,towelcomeherposition,thecitadelofthefamily,thestrongplacethatcouldnotbetaken.AndsinceoldTomandthechildrencouldnotknowhurtorfearunlesssheacknowledgedhurtandfear,shehadpracticeddenyingtheminherself.Andsince,whenajoyfulthinghappened,theylookedtoseewhetherjoywasonher,itwasherhabittobuilduplaughteroutofinadequatematerials.Butbetterthanjoywascalm.Imperturbabilitycouldbedependedupon.Andfromhergreatandhumblepositioninthefamilyshehadtakendignityandacleancalmbeauty.Fromherpositionashealer,herhandshadgrownsureandcoolandquiet;fromherpositionasarbitershehadbecomeasremoteandfaultlessinjudgmentasagoddess.Sheseemedtoknowthatifsheswayedthefamilyshook,andifsheeverreallydeeplywaveredordespairedthefamilywouldfall,thefamilywilltofunctionwouldbegone.
Shelookedoutintothesunnyyard,atthedarkfigureofaman.Pastoodnearby,shakingwithexcitement."Comein,"hecried."Comerightin,mister."AndTomalittleshamefacedlysteppedoverthedoorsill.
Shelookeduppleasantlyfromthefryingpan.Andthenherhandsankslowlytohersideandtheforkclatteredtothewoodenfloor.Hereyesopenedwide,andthepupilsdilated.Shebreathedheavilythroughheropenmouth.Sheclosedhereyes."ThankGod,"shesaid."Oh,thankGod!"Andsuddenlyherfacewasworried."Tommy,youain’twanted?Youdidn’tbustloose?"
"No,Ma.Parole.Igotthepapershere."
