Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса

           "ThatisJohnHebron,ofAtlanta,"saidthelady,"andanoblermanneverwalkedtheearth.Icutmyselfofffrommyraceinordertowedhim,butneveroncewhileheliveddidIforaninstantregretit.Itwasourmisfortunethatouronlychildtookafterhispeopleratherthanmine.Itisoftensoinsuchmatches,andlittleLucyisdarkerfarthaneverherfatherwas.Butdarkorfair,sheismyowndearlittlegirlie,andhermother’spet."Thelittlecreatureranacrossatthewordsandnestledupagainstthelady’sdress."WhenIleftherinAmerica,"shecontinued,"itwasonlybecauseherhealthwasweak,andthechangemighthavedoneherharm.ShewasgiventothecareofafaithfulScotchwomanwhohadoncebeenourservant.NeverforaninstantdidIdreamofdisowningherasmychild.Butwhenchancethrewyouinmyway,Jack,andIlearnedtoloveyou,Ifearedtotellyouaboutmychild.Godforgiveme,IfearedthatIshouldloseyou,andIhadnotthecouragetotellyou.Ihadtochoosebetweenyou,andinmyweaknessIturnedawayfrommyownlittlegirl.ForthreeyearsIhavekeptherexistenceasecretfromyou,butIheardfromthenurse,andIknewthatallwaswellwithher.Atlast,however,therecameanoverwhelmingdesiretoseethechildoncemore.Istruggledagainstit,butinvain.ThoughIknewthedanger,Ideterminedtohavethechildover,ifitwerebutforafewweeks.