Вдали от безумной толпы

XX. Perplexity—Grinding the Shears—A Quarrel

           OakstoodsomewhatasErosisrepresentedwhenintheactofsharpeninghisarrows:hisfigureslightlybent,theweightofhisbodythrownoverontheshears,andhisheadbalancedside-ways,withacriticalcompressionofthelipsandcontractionoftheeyelidstocrowntheattitude.

           Hismistresscameupandlookedupontheminsilenceforaminuteortwo;thenshesaid

           "Cain,gotothelowermeadandcatchthebaymare.I’llturnthewinchofthegrindstone.Iwanttospeaktoyou,Gabriel."

           Caindeparted,andBathshebatookthehandle.Gabrielhadglancedupinintensesurprise,quelleditsexpression,andlookeddownagain.Bathshebaturnedthewinch,andGabrielappliedtheshears.

           Thepeculiarmotioninvolvedinturningawheelhasawonderfultendencytobenumbthemind.ItisasortofattenuatedvarietyofIxion’spunishment,andcontributesadismalchaptertothehistoryofgaols.Thebraingetsmuddled,theheadgrowsheavy,andthebody’scentreofgravityseemstosettlebydegreesinaleadenlumpsomewherebetweentheeyebrowsandthecrown.Bathshebafelttheunpleasantsymptomsaftertwoorthreedozenturns.

           "Willyouturn,Gabriel,andletmeholdtheshears?"shesaid."Myheadisinawhirl,andIcan’ttalk."

           Gabrielturned.Bathshebathenbegan,withsomeawkwardness,allowingherthoughtstostrayoccasionallyfromherstorytoattendtotheshears,whichrequiredalittlenicetyinsharpening.

           "IwantedtoaskyouifthemenmadeanyobservationsonmygoingbehindthesedgewithMr.Boldwoodyesterday?"

           "Yes,theydid,"saidGabriel.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 171 из 522