Лавка древностей

Chapter 25

           Youwillcomesoon,mydear,verysoonnow—won’tyou?’

           Theboysmiledfaintly—sovery,veryfaintly—andputhishanduponhisfriend’sgreyhead.Hemovedhislipstoo,butnovoicecamefromthem;no,notasound.

           Inthesilencethatensued,thehumofdistantvoicesborneupontheeveningaircamefloatingthroughtheopenwindow.‘What’sthat?’saidthesickchild,openinghiseyes.

           ‘Theboysatplayuponthegreen.’

           Hetookahandkerchieffromhispillow,andtriedtowaveitabovehishead.Butthefeeblearmdroppedpowerlessdown.

           ‘ShallIdoit?’saidtheschoolmaster.

           ‘Pleasewaveitatthewindow,’wasthefaintreply.‘Tieittothelattice.Someofthemmayseeitthere.Perhapsthey’llthinkofme,andlookthisway.’

           Heraisedhishead,andglancedfromtheflutteringsignaltohisidlebat,thatlaywithslateandbookandotherboyishpropertyuponatableintheroom.Andthenhelaidhimsoftlydownoncemore,andaskedifthelittlegirlwerethere,forhecouldnotseeher.

           Shesteppedforward,andpressedthepassivehandthatlayuponthecoverlet.Thetwooldfriendsandcompanions—forsuchtheywere,thoughtheyweremanandchild—heldeachotherinalongembrace,andthenthelittlescholarturnedhisfacetowardsthewall,andfellasleep.

           Thepoorschoolmastersatinthesameplace,holdingthesmallcoldhandinhis,andchafingit.Itwasbutthehandofadeadchild.Hefeltthat;andyethechafeditstill,andcouldnotlayitdown.

           

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