The Cricket on the Hearth / Сверчок за очагом. Книга для чтения на английском языке

�I am sure you need only look at the dear child, for one, to know that.’

�And I’m sure I need only look at you for another,’ said Caleb.

He didn’t look at her though; he had a wandering and thoughtful eye which seemed to be always projecting itself into some other time and place, no matter what he said; a description which will equally apply to his voice.

�Or at John for another,’ said Caleb. �Or at Tilly, as far as that goes[15 - as far as that goes – (уст.) если уж на то пошло].

Or certainly at Boxer.’

�Busy just now, Caleb?’ asked the Carrier.

�Why, pretty well, John,’ he returned, with the distraught air of a man who was casting about for the Philosopher’s stone, at least. �Pretty much so. There’s rather a run on Noah’s Arks at present. I could have wished to improve upon the Family, but I don’t see how it’s to be done at the price. It would be a satisfaction to one’s mind, to make it clearer which was Shems and Hams, and which was Wives.

Flies an’t on that scale neither, as compared with elephants you know! Ah! well! Have you got anything in the parcel line for me[16 - Have you got anything in the parcel line for me? – (уст.) А мне есть какая-нибудь посылка?], John?’

The Carrier put his hand into a pocket of the coat he had taken off; and brought out, carefully preserved in moss and paper, a tiny flower-pot.

�There it is!’ he said, adjusting it with great care.

�Not so much as a leaf damaged. Full of buds!’

Caleb’s dull eye brightened, as he took it, and thanked him.

�Dear, Caleb,’ said the Carrier. �Very dear at this season.’

�Never mind that. It would be cheap to me, whatever it cost,’ returned the little man. �Anything else, John?’

�A small box,’ replied the Carrier. �Here you are!’

�“For Caleb Plummer,”’ said the little man, spelling out the direction. �“With Cash.

” With Cash, John? I don’t think it’s for me.’

�With Care,’ returned the Carrier, looking over his shoulder. �Where do you make out cash?[17 - Where do you make out cash? – (разг.) Где это вы видели слово «наличные»?]’

�Oh! To be sure!’ said Caleb. �It’s all right. With care! Yes, yes; that’s mine. It might have been with cash, indeed, if my dear Boy in the Golden South Americas had lived, John.