第59章

neverthelessthatitwasraintherewasnodenying，aswewatcheditacrossblackdoorways，andcouldseenosignofwhite。Mother，whohadmadeuphermindthatthefarmwasnotworthhavingafterallthoseprophesies，andthatallofusmuststarve，andholesbescratchedinthesnowforus，andnousetoputupatombstone(forourchurchhadbeenshutuplongago)

motherfelluponmybreast，andsobbedthatIwasthecleverestfelloweverbornofwoman。AndthisbecauseIhadcondemnedtheprophetsforapackoffools；notseeinghowbusinesscouldgoon，ifpeoplestoppedtohearkentothem。

ThenLornacameandglorifiedme，forIhadpredictedachangeofweather，moretokeeptheirspiritsup，thanwithrealhopeofit；andthencameAnnieblushingshyly，asIlookedather，andsaidthatWinniewouldsoonhavefourlegsnow。ThisreferredtosomestupidjokemadebyJohnFryorsomebody，thatinthisweatheramanhadnolegs，andahorsehadonlytwo。

Butastheraincamedownuponusfromthesouthwestwind，andwecouldnothaveenoughofit，evenputtingourtonguestocatchit，aslittlechildrenmightdo，andbeginningtotalkofprimroses；theverynoblestthingofallwastohearandseethegratitudeofthepoorbeastsyetremainingandthefewsurvivingbirds。

Fromthecowhouselowingcame，morethanoffiftymilkingtimes；mooandmoo，andaturn-upnoiseattheendofeverybellow，asiffromtheveryheartofkine。

Thenthehorsesinthestables，packedascloselyastheycouldstick，attheriskofkicking，tokeepthewarmthinoneanother，andtheirspiritsupbydiscoursing；thesebeganwithoneaccordtoliftuptheirvoices，snorting，snaffling，whinnying，andneighing，andtrottingtothedoortoknowwhentheyshouldhaveworkagain。Towhom，asifinanswer，camethefeeblebleatingofthesheep，whatfew，bydintofgreatestcare，hadkepttheirfleecesontheirbacks，andtheirfourlegsunderthem。

Neitherwasitatriflingthing，letwhosowillsaythecontrary，tobeholdtheducksandgeesemarchingforthinhandsomeorderfromtheirbedsoffernandstraw。

Whatagoodlynoisetheykept，whataflappingoftheirwings，andajerkingoftheirtails，astheystoodrightupandtriedwithawhistlingintheirthroatstoimitateacockscrow!Andthenhowdaintilytheytookthewetupontheirdustyplumes，andduckedtheirshoulderstoit，andbegantodressthemselves，andlaidtheirgroovedbillsonthesnow，anddabbledformoreooziness!

Lornahadneverseen，Idaresay，anythinglikethisbefore，anditwasallthatwecoulddotokeepherfromrushingforthwithonlylittlelambswoolshoeson，andkissingeveryoneofthem。’Oh，thedearthings，oh，thedearthings!’shekeptsayingcontinually，’howwonderfullyclevertheyare!Onlylookatthatonewithhisfootup，givingorderstotheothers，John!’

’AndImustgiveorderstoyou，mydarling，’I

answered，gazingonherface，sobrilliantwithexcitement；’andthatis，thatyoucomeinatonce，withthatworrisomecoughofyours；andsitbythefire，andwarmyourself。’

’Oh，no，John!Notforaminute，ifyouplease，goodJohn。Iwanttoseethesnowgoaway，andthegreenmeadowscomingforth。Andherecomesourfavouriterobin，whohaslivedintheovensolong，andsangusasongeverymorning。Imustseewhathethinksofit!’

’Youwilldonothingofthesort，’Iansweredveryshortly，beingonlytoogladofacauseforhavingherinmyarmsagain。SoIcaughtherup，andcarriedherin；andshelookedandsmiledsosweetlyatmeinsteadofpouting(asIhadfeared)thatIfoundmyselfunabletogoveryfastalongthepassage。AndIsetherthereinherfavouriteplace，bythesweet-scentedwood-fire；

andshepaidmeporteragewithoutmyevenaskingher；

andforallthebeautyoftherain，Iwasfaintostaywithher；untilourAnniecametosaythatmyadvicewaswanted。

Nowmyadvicewasnevermuch，aseverybodyknewquitewell；butthatwasthewaytheyalwaysputit，whentheywantedmetoworkforthem。Andintruthitwastimeformetowork；notforothers，butmyself，and(asIalwaysthought)forLorna。Fortherainwasnowcomingdowninearnest；andthetopofthesnowbeingfrozenatlast，andglazedashardasachinacup，bymeansofthesunandfrostafterwards，alltherainranrightawayfromthesteepinclines，andalltheoutletsbeingblockedwithicesetupliketables，itthreatenedtofloodeverything。Alread