The Sound and the Fury - William Faulkner.mobi [8]
“Sassprilluh.” T. P. said. “Lemme drink it, Mr Quentin.”
“You shut your mouth.” Versh said. “Mr Quentin wear you out.”
“Hold him, Versh.” Quentin said.
They held me. It was hot on my chin and on my shirt. “Drink.” Quentin said. They held my head. It was hot inside me, and I began again. I was crying now, and something was happening inside me and I cried more, and they held me until it stopped happening. Then I hushed. It was still going around, and then the shapes began. Open the crib, Versh. They were going slow. Spread those empty sacks on the floor. They were going faster, almost fast enough. Now. Pick up his feet. They went on, smooth and bright. I could hear T. P. laughing. I went on with them, up the bright hill.
At the top of the hill Versh put me down. “Come on here, Quentin.” he called, looking back down the hill. Quentin was still standing there by the branch. He was chunking into the shadows where the branch was.
“Let the old skizzard stay there.” Caddy said. She took my hand and we went on past the barn and through the gate. There was a frog on the brick walk, squatting in the middle of it. Caddy stepped over it and pulled me on.
“Come on, Maury.” she said. It still squatted there until Jason poked at it with his toe.
“He’ll make a wart on you.” Versh said. The frog hopped away.
“Come on, Maury.” Caddy said.
“They got company tonight.” Versh said.
“How do you know.” Caddy said.
“With all them lights on.” Versh said. “Light in every window.”
“I reckon we can turn all the lights on without company, if we want to.” Caddy said.
“I bet it’s company.” Versh said. “You all better go in the back and slip upstairs.”
“I dont care.” Caddy said. “I’ll walk right in the parlor where they are.”
“I bet your pappy whip you if you do.” Versh said.
“I dont care.” Caddy said. “I’ll walk right in the parlor. I’ll walk right in the dining room and eat supper.”
“Where you sit.” Versh said.
“I’d sit in Damuddy’s chair.” Caddy said. “She eats in bed.”
“I’m hungry.” Jason said. He passed us and ran on up the walk. He had his hands in his pockets and he fell down. Versh went and picked him up.
“If you keep them hands out your pockets, you could stay on your feet.” Versh said. “You cant never get them out in time to catch yourself, fat as you is.”
Father was standing by the kitchen steps.
“Where’s Quentin.” he said.
“He coming up the walk.” Versh said. Quentin was coming slow. His shirt was a white blur.
“Oh.” Father said. Light fell down the steps, on him.
“Caddy and Quentin threw water on each other.” Jason said.
We waited.
“They did.” Father said. Quentin came, and Father said, “You can eat supper in the kitchen tonight.” He stooped and took me up, and the light came tumbling down the steps on me too, and I could look down at Caddy and Jason and Quentin and Versh. Father turned toward the steps. “You must be quiet, though.” he said.
“Why must we be quiet, Father.” Caddy said. “Have we got company.”
“Yes.” Father said.
“I told you they was company.” Versh said.
“You did not.” Caddy said. “I was the one that said there was. I said I would ”
“Hush.” Father said. They hushed and Father opened the door and we crossed the back porch and went in to the kitchen. Dilsey was there, and Father put me in the chair and closed the apron down and pushed it to the table, where supper was. It was steaming up.
“You mind Dilsey, now.” Father said. “Dont let them make any more noise than they can help, Dilsey.”
“Yes, sir.” Dilsey said. Father went away.
“Remember to mind Dilsey, now.” he said behind us. I leaned my face over where the supper was. It steamed up on my face.
“Let them mind me tonight, Father.” Caddy said.
“I wont.” Jason said. “I’m going to mind Dilsey.”
“You’ll have to, if Father says so.” Caddy said. “Let them mind me, Father.”
“I wont.” Jason said. “I wont mind you