"THE SONG OF THE LARK" - читать интересную книгу автора (Cather Willa Sibert)

be something better to do than to sleep nine hours, or to
assist Mrs. Kronborg in functions which she could have
performed so admirably unaided. He wished he had gone
down to Denver to hear Fay Templeton sing "See-Saw."
Then he remembered that he had a personal interest in this

family, after all. They turned into another street and saw
before them lighted windows; a low story-and-a-half house,
with a wing built on at the right and a kitchen addition at
the back, everything a little on the slant--roofs, windows,
and doors. As they approached the gate, Peter Kron-
borg's pace grew brisker. His nervous, ministerial cough
annoyed the doctor. "Exactly as if he were going to give
out a text," he thought. He drew off his glove and felt
in his vest pocket. "Have a troche, Kronborg," he said,
producing some. "Sent me for samples. Very good for a
rough throat."

"Ah, thank you, thank you. I was in something of a
hurry. I neglected to put on my overshoes. Here we are,
doctor." Kronborg opened his front door--seemed de-
lighted to be at home again.

The front hall was dark and cold; the hatrack was hung
with an astonishing number of children's hats and caps and
cloaks. They were even piled on the table beneath the
hatrack. Under the table was a heap of rubbers and over-
shoes. While the doctor hung up his coat and hat, Peter
Kronborg opened the door into the living-room. A glare of
light greeted them, and a rush of hot, stale air, smelling of
warming flannels.


At three o'clock in the morning Dr. Archie was in the
parlor putting on his cuffs and coat--there was no spare
bedroom in that house. Peter Kronborg's seventh child,
a boy, was being soothed and cosseted by his aunt, Mrs.
Kronborg was asleep, and the doctor was going home. But
he wanted first to speak to Kronborg, who, coatless and
fluttery, was pouring coal into the kitchen stove. As the
doctor crossed the dining-room he paused and listened.
From one of the wing rooms, off to the left, he heard rapid,
distressed breathing. He went to the kitchen door.

"One of the children sick in there?" he asked, nodding
toward the partition.