Тэсс из рода д’Эрбервиллей

Chapter 9

           AttheendoftheceremonyMrsd’UrbervilleabruptlyaskedTess,wrinklingandtwitchingherfaceintoundulations,“Canyouwhistle?”

           “Whistle,Ma’am?”

           “Yes,whistledtunes.”

           Tesscouldwhistlelikemostothercountrygirls,thoughtheaccomplishmentwasonewhichshedidnotcaretoprofessingenteelcompany.However,sheblandlyadmittedthatsuchwasthefact.

           “Thenyouwillhavetopractiseiteveryday.Ihadaladwhodiditverywell,buthehasleft.Iwantyoutowhistletomybullfinches;asIcannotseethemIliketohearthem,andweteach’emairsthatway.Tellherwherethecagesare,Elizabeth.Youmustbegintomorrow,ortheywillgobackintheirpiping.Theyhavebeenneglectedtheseseveraldays.”

           “Mrd’Urbervillewhistledto’emthismorning,ma’am,”saidElizabeth.

           “He!Pooh!”

           Theoldlady’sfacecreasedintofurrowsofrepugnance,andshemadenofurtherreply.

           ThusthereceptionofTessbyherfanciedkinswomanterminated,andthebirdsweretakenbacktotheirquarters.Thegirl’ssurpriseatMrsd’Urberville’smannerwasnotgreat;forsinceseeingthesizeofthehouseshehadexpectednomore.Butshewasfarfrombeingawarethattheoldladyhadneverheardawordoftheso-calledkinship.Shegatheredthatnogreataffectionflowedbetweentheblindwomanandherson.Butinthat,too,shewasmistaken.Mrsd’Urbervillewasnotthefirstmothercompelledtoloveheroffspringresentfully,andtobebitterlyfond.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 82 из 583