Зима тревоги нашей

           Thesetterliftedhislegonthecast-ironhitchingpostatthegutter.

           Turningtowalkaway,Ethansaidoverhisshoulder,"Andmakeabookreport.Youmightteachmyson.Hecan’tevenspellspermaceti,or—oranything."

           ElmStreetrunsatanangleintoHighStreettwoblocksfromtheoldEthanAllenHawleyhouse.HalfwaydownthefirstblockadelinquentgangofEnglishsparrowswerefightingonthenew-cominglawnoftheElgarhouse,notplayingbutrollingandpickingandeye-gougingwithsuchferocityandsonoisilythattheydidn’tseeEthanapproach.Hestoppedtowatchthebattle.

           "Birdsintheirlittlenestsagree,"hesaid."Sowhycan’twe?Nowthere’sabunchofhorsecrapforyou.Youkidscan’tgetalongevenonaprettymorning.Andyou’rethebastardsSaintFranciswasniceto.Screw!"Heranatthem,kicking,andthesparrowsrosewithawhisperedroarofwings,complainingbitterlyindoor-squeakvoices."Letmetellyouthis,"Ethansaidafterthem."Atnoonthesunwilldarkenandablacknesswillfallontheearthandyouwillbeafraid."Hecamebacktothesidewalkandproceededonhisway.

           TheoldPhillipshouseinthesecondblockisaboardinghousenow.JoeyMorphy,tellerattheFirstNational,cameoutofthefrontdoor.HepickedhisteethandstraightenedhisTattersallwaistcoatandsaid,"Hi,"toEthan."Iwasjustgoingtocallonyou,Mr.Hawley,"hesaid.

           "WhydotheycallitGoodFriday?"

           "It’sfromtheLatin,"saidJoey."Goodus,goodilius,goodum,meaninglousy."