The Battle of Life / Битва жизни. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Craggs seemed positively to grate upon his own hinges, as he delivered this opinion; to which he communicated immense effect – being a cold, hard, dry man, dressed in grey and white, like a flint; with small twinkles in his eyes, as if something struck sparks out of them. The three natural kingdoms, indeed, had each a fanciful representative among this brotherhood of disputants; for Snitchey was like a magpie or raven (only not so sleek), and the Doctor had a streaked face like a winter pippin, with here and there a dimple to express the peckings of the birds, and a very little bit of pigtail behind that stood for the stalk.

As the active figure of a handsome young man, dressed for a journey, and followed by a porter bearing several packages and baskets, entered the orchard at a brisk pace, and with an air of gaiety and hope that accorded well with the morning, these three drew together, like the brothers of the sister Fates, or like the Graces most effectually disguised, or like the three weird prophets on the heath, and greeted him.

�Happy returns, Alf!’ said the Doctor, lightly.

�A hundred happy returns of this auspicious day, Mr. Heathfield!’ said Snitchey, bowing low.

�Returns!’ Craggs murmured in a deep voice, all alone.

�Why, what a battery!’ exclaimed Alfred, stopping short, �and one – two – three – all foreboders of no good, in the great sea before me.

�If you please, Mister, I was the first you know,’ said Clemency Newcome. �She was walking out here, before sunrise, you remember.

�That’s true! Clemency was the first,’ said Alfred. �So I defy you with Clemency.’

�Ha, ha, ha, – for Self and Craggs,’ said Snitchey. �What a defiance!’

�Not so bad a one as it appears, may be,’ said Alfred, shaking hands heartily with the Doctor, and also with Snitchey and Craggs, and then looking round.