Белая птичка
The Little Nursery Governess
Notonlydoesshemaliciouslydepressmebywalkingpastonordinarydays,butIhavediscoveredthateveryThursdayfromtwotothreeshestandsafaroff,gazinghopelesslyattheromanticpost-officewheresheandheshallmeetnomore.Inthesewindydayssheislikeahomelessleafblownaboutbypassers-by.
ThereisnothingIcandoexceptthunderatWilliam.
Atlastsheaccomplishedherunworthyambition.ItwasawetThursday,andfromthewindowwhereIwaswritinglettersIsawtheforlornsoultakingupherpositionatthetopofthestreet:inablastoffuryIrosewiththeoneletterIhadcompleted,meaningtowritetheothersinmychambers.Shehaddrivenmefromtheclub.
IhadturnedoutofPallMallintoasidestreet,whenwhomshouldIstrikeagainstbutherfalseswain!Itwasmyfault,butIhitoutathimsavagely,asIalwaysdowhenIrunintoanyoneinthestreet.ThenIlookedathim.Hewashollow-eyed;hewasmuddy;therewasnotahawleftinhim.Ineversawamoreabjectyoungman;hehadnoteventhespirittoresentthetestystabIhadgivenhimwithmyumbrella.Butthisistheimportantthing:hewasglaringwistfullyatthepost-officeandthusinatwinkIsawthathestilladoredmylittlegoverness.Whateverhadbeentheirquarrelhewasasanxioustomakeitupasshe,andperhapshehadbeenhereeveryThursdaywhileshewasroundthecornerinPallMall,eachwatchingthepost-officeforanapparition.Butfromwheretheyhoveredneithercouldseetheother.
IthinkwhatIdidwasquiteclever.Idroppedmyletterunseenathisfeet,andsaunteredbacktotheclub.
