30 лучших рассказов британских писателей / 30 Best British Short Stories

Ives and Penzance, and she’s had scores o’ shillings that way.’

�Lord!’ exclaimed Jabez. �I wish she’d left it to me, and I could buy a cow; I want another cruel bad.’

�Ay, we do, terrible,’ said Elizabeth. �But just look to her bed, what torn and wretched linen be on that – and here these fine bedclothes all in the chest.’

�Who’ll get the silver taypot and spoons, and the money?’ inquired Jabez.

�Her had no kin – none but Rose Hext, and her couldn’t abide her.

Last words her said to me was that she’d ’have never naught to do wi’ the Hexts, they and all their belongings.’

�That was her last words?’

�The very last words her spoke to me – or to anyone.’

�Then,’ said Jabez, �I’ll tell ye what, Elizabeth, it’s our moral dooty to abide by the wishes of Aunt Joanna. It never does to go agin what is might. And as hem expressed herself that strong, why us, as honest folks, must carry out her wishes, and see that none of all her savings go to them darned and dratted Hexts.

’

�But who be they to go to, then?’

�Well – we’ll see. Fust us will have her removed, and provide that her be daycent buried. Them Hexts be in a poor way, and couldn’t afford the expense, and it do seem to me, Elizabeth, as it would be a liberal and a kindly act in us to take all the charges on ourselves. Us is the closest neighbours.’

�Ay – and her have had milk of me these ten or twelve years, and I’ve never charged her a penny, thinking her couldn’t afford it.

But her could, her were a-hoardin’ of hem money – and not paying me. That were not honest, and what I say is, that I have a right to some of her savin’s, to pay the milk bill – and it’s butter I’ve let her have now and then in a liberal way.’

�Very well, Elizabeth. Fust of all, we’ll take the silver taypot and the spoons wi’ us, to get ’em out of harm’s way.

’

�And I’ll carry the linen sheets and pillow-cases. My word I – why didn’t she use ’em, instead of them rags?’

All Zennor declared that the Hockins were a most neighbourly and generous couple, when it was known that they took upon themselves to defray the funeral expenses.

Mrs. Hext came to the farm, and said that she was willing to do what she could, but Mrs. Hockin replied:

�My good Rose, it’s no good.