Белая птичка

           HertwochargeswereassurprisedasI,andpointedquestioninglytotheslit,atwhichsheshookherhead.Sheputherfingertohereyes,exactlylikeasadbaby,andsopassedfromthestreet.

           Nextdaythesamethinghappened,andIwassofuriousthatIbitthroughmycigarette.Thursdaycame,whenIprayedthattheremightbeanendofthisannoyance,butno,neitherofthemappearedonthatacquaintedground.Hadtheychangedtheirpost-office?No,forhereyeswereredeveryday,andheavywasherfoolishlittleheart.Lovehadputouthislights,andthelittlenurserygovernesswalkedindarkness.

           IfeltIcouldcomplaintothecommittee.

           Oh,youselfishyoungzanyofaman,afterallyouhavesaidtoher,won’tyoumakeitupandletmereturntomycoffee?Nothe.

           Littlenurserygoverness,Iappealtoyou.Annoyinggirl,bejoyousasofoldduringthefiveminutesofthedaywhenyouareanythingtome,andfortherestofthetime,sofarasIamconcerned,youmaybeaswretchedasyoulist.Showsomecourage.Iassureyouhemustbeaverybadpainter;onlytheotherdayIsawhimlookinglonginglyintothewindowofacheapItalianrestaurant,andintheendhehadtocrushdownhisaspirationswithtwopennyscones.

           Youcandobetterthanthat.Come,Mary.

           Allinvain.Shewantstobeloved;can’tdowithoutlovefrommorningtillnight;neverknewhowlittleawomanneedstillshelostthatlittle.Theyarealllikethis.

           Zounds,madam,ifyouareresolvedtobeadroopinglittlefiguretillyoudie,youmightatleastdoitinanotherstreet.