Читать книгу Best Stories of Walter de la Mare онлайн
38 страница из 98
'"Mother's ill," I said.
'She drew back and looked out over the heath towards the house.
'"They have put my father in the little parlour, in his coffin, of course; you know he's dead, and Mrs. Marshall's come; she gave me a ha'penny this morning. Dr. Graham gave me a whole crown, though." I took it out of my breeches pocket and showed it her.
'"That's very, very nice," she said. "What lots of nice things you can buy with it! And, look, I am going to give you a little keepsake too, between just you and me."
'It was a small silver box that she drew out of her muff, and embossed in the silver of the lid was a crucifix. "I thought, perhaps, I should see you to-day, you know," she continued softly. "Now, who's given you this?" she said, putting the box into my hand.
'"You," I answered softly.
'"And who am I?"
'"Miss Grey," I said.
'"Your friend, Jane Grey," she repeated, as if she were fascinated by the sound of her own name. "Say it now—Always my friend, Jane Grey."
'I repeated it after her.