Маленькие мужчины / Little men. Уровень 4

Dan comes back

One night when the little lads were in bed, the elder ones bathing down at the brook, and Mrs. Bhaer undressing Teddy in her parlor, he suddenly cried out, “Oh, my Danny!” and pointed to the window, where the moon shone brightly.

“No, dear, he is not there, it was the pretty moon,” said his mother.

“No, no, Danny at a window; Teddy saw him,” persisted baby, much excited.

Mrs. Bhaer hurried to the window. But the face was gone, and nowhere appeared any signs of the boy. She called his name, ran to the front door with Teddy in his little shirt. No one answered, nothing appeared, and they went back much disappointed.

Mrs. Bhaer sat sewing, for the big basket was always piled with socks, full of portentous holes, and thinking of the lost boy. She had decided that baby had been mistaken, and did not even disturb Mr. Bhaer, for he was busy writing letters. It was past ten when she rose to shut up the house. As she paused a minute to enjoy the lovely scene from the steps, something white caught her eye on one of the hay-cocks scattered over the lawn. As she approached, she saw a shirt sleeve with a brown hand sticking out of it. She hurried round the hay-cock, and there lay Dan, fast asleep.

He looked ragged, dirty, thin, and worn-out. One foot was bare, the other was tied up in the old jacket which he had taken from his own back to use as a clumsy bandage for some hurt. He had hidden himself behind the hay-cock, but in his sleep had thrown out the arm that had betrayed him. He sighed and muttered as if his dreams disturbed him, and once when he moved, he groaned as if in pain, but still slept.

“He must not lie here,” said Mrs. Bhaer and gently called his name. He opened his eyes and looked at her, as if she was a part of his dream, for he smiled and said drowsily, “Mother Bhaer, I’ve come home.”

The look, the words, touched her very much. She put her hand under his head to lift him up,

“I’m glad to see you, Dan.”

He suddenly remembered where he was. His face changed, and he said,

“I will leave in the morning. I only stopped to look at the house, as I went by.”

“But why not come in, Dan? Didn’t you hear us call you? Teddy saw, and cried for you.”

“I didn’t suppose you’d let me in,” he said.