Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
Life and Death
Amongtheseweremanyforlittlechildren—picturebooks,primers,readers—fortheyhadknownthattheirlittlechildwouldbeoldenoughforsuchbeforetheymighthopetoreturntoEngland.
AtothertimesClaytonwroteinhisdiary,whichhehadalwaysbeenaccustomedtokeepinFrench,andinwhichherecordedthedetailsoftheirstrangelife.Thisbookhekeptlockedinalittlemetalbox.
AyearfromthedayherlittlesonwasbornLadyAlicepassedquietlyawayinthenight.SopeacefulwasherendthatitwashoursbeforeClaytoncouldawaketoarealizationthathiswifewasdead.
Thehorrorofthesituationcametohimveryslowly,anditisdoubtfulthatheeverfullyrealizedtheenormityofhissorrowandthefearfulresponsibilitythathaddevolveduponhimwiththecareofthatweething,hisson,stillanursingbabe.
Thelastentryinhisdiarywasmadethemorningfollowingherdeath,andthereherecitesthesaddetailsinamatter-of-factwaythataddstothepathosofit;foritbreathesatiredapathybornoflongsorrowandhopelessness,whicheventhiscruelblowcouldscarcelyawaketofurthersuffering:
Mylittlesoniscryingfornourishment—OAlice,Alice,whatshallIdo?
AndasJohnClaytonwrotethelastwordshishandwasdestinedevertopen,hedroppedhisheadwearilyuponhisoutstretchedarmswheretheyresteduponthetablehehadbuiltforherwholaystillandcoldinthebedbesidehim
