Вдали от безумной толпы

XXII. The Great Barn and the Sheep-Shearers

           

           Sothebarnwasnaturaltotheshearers,andtheshearerswereinharmonywiththebarn.

           Thespaciousendsofthebuilding,answeringecclesiasticallytonaveandchancelextremities,werefencedoffwithhurdles,thesheepbeingallcollectedinacrowdwithinthesetwoenclosures;andinoneangleacatching-penwasformed,inwhichthreeorfoursheepwerecontinuouslykeptreadyfortheshearerstoseizewithoutlossoftime.Inthebackground,mellowedbytawnyshade,werethethreewomen,MaryannMoney,andTemperanceandSobernessMiller,gatheringupthefleecesandtwistingropesofwoolwithawimblefortyingthemround.Theywereindifferentlywellassistedbytheoldmaltster,who,whenthemaltingseasonfromOctobertoAprilhadpassed,madehimselfusefuluponanyoftheborderingfarmsteads.

           BehindallwasBathsheba,carefullywatchingthementoseethattherewasnocuttingorwoundingthroughcarelessness,andthattheanimalswereshornclose.Gabriel,whoflittedandhoveredunderherbrighteyeslikeamoth,didnotshearcontinuously,halfhistimebeingspentinattendingtotheothersandselectingthesheepforthem.Atthepresentmomenthewasengagedinhandingroundamugofmildliquor,suppliedfromabarrelinthecorner,andcutpiecesofbreadandcheese.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 189 из 522