Таинственный сад
XXI. Ben Weatherstaff
Hisangerandinsultedpridemadehimforgeteverythingbutthisonemomentandfilledhimwithapowerhehadneverknownbefore,analmostunnaturalstrength.
“Comehere!”heshoutedtoDickon,andheactuallybegantotearthecoveringsoffhislowerlimbsanddisentanglehimself.“Comehere!Comehere!Thisminute!”
Dickonwasbyhissideinasecond.Marycaughtherbreathinashortgaspandfeltherselfturnpale.
“Hecandoit!Hecandoit!Hecandoit!Hecan!”shegabbledovertoherselfunderherbreathasfastasevershecould.
Therewasabrieffiercescramble,therugsweretossedontheground,DickonheldColin’sarm,thethinlegswereout,thethinfeetwereonthegrass.Colinwasstandingupright—upright—asstraightasanarrowandlookingstrangelytall—hisheadthrownbackandhisstrangeeyesflashinglightning.
“Lookatme!”heflungupatBenWeatherstaff.“Justlookatme—you!Justlookatme!”
“He’sasstraightasIam!”criedDickon.“He’sasstraightasanyladi’Yorkshire!”
WhatBenWeatherstaffdidMarythoughtqueerbeyondmeasure.Hechokedandgulpedandsuddenlytearsrandownhisweather-wrinkledcheeksashestruckhisoldhandstogether.
“Eh!”heburstforth,“th’liesfolktells!Tha’rtasthinasalathan’aswhiteasawraith,butthere’snotaknobonthee.Tha’ltmakeamonyet.Godblessthee!”
DickonheldColin’sarmstronglybuttheboyhadnotbeguntofalter.HestoodstraighterandstraighterandlookedBenWeatherstaffintheface.
“I’myourmaster,”hesaid,“whenmyfatherisaway
