Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
The Search Party
Hehastoldmehownobleandself-sacrificingyouhavebeen.Howcanwerepayyou!"
Claytonnoticedthatshedidnotreturnhisfamiliarsalutation,buthefeltnomisgivingsonthatscore.Shehadbeenthroughsomuch.Thiswasnotimetoforcehisloveuponher,hequicklyrealized.
"Iamalreadyrepaid,"hesaid."JusttoseeyouandProfessorPorterbothsafe,well,andtogetheragain.IdonotthinkthatIcouldmuchlongerhaveenduredthepathosofhisquietanduncomplaininggrief.
"Itwasthesaddestexperienceofmylife,MissPorter;andthen,addedtoit,therewasmyowngrief—thegreatestIhaveeverknown.Buthiswassohopeless—hiswaspitiful.Ittaughtmethatnolove,noteventhatofamanforhiswifemaybesodeepandterribleandself-sacrificingastheloveofafatherforhisdaughter."
Thegirlbowedherhead.Therewasaquestionshewantedtoask,butitseemedalmostsacrilegiousinthefaceoftheloveofthesetwomenandtheterriblesufferingtheyhadenduredwhileshesatlaughingandhappybesideagodlikecreatureoftheforest,eatingdeliciousfruitsandlookingwitheyesofloveintoansweringeyes.
Butloveisastrangemaster,andhumannatureisstillstranger,sosheaskedherquestion.
"Whereistheforestmanwhowenttorescueyou?Whydidhenotreturn?"
"Idonotunderstand,"saidClayton.
