Белая птичка
Lock-Out Time
Hownicethatwouldbetohim,butoh,howexquisitelydeliciousitwouldbetoher.ThatIamafraidishowPeterregardedit.Inreturningtohismotherheneverdoubtedthathewasgivingherthegreatesttreatawomancanhave.Nothingcanbemoresplendid,hethought,thantohavealittleboyofyourown.Howproudofhimtheyare;andveryrightandproper,too.
ButwhydoesPetersitsolongontherail,whydoeshenottellhismotherthathehascomeback?
Iquiteshrinkfromthetruth,whichisthathesatthereintwominds.Sometimeshelookedlonginglyathismother,andsometimeshelookedlonginglyatthewindow.Certainlyitwouldbepleasanttobeherboyagain,but,ontheotherhand,whattimesthosehadbeenintheGardens!Washesosurethathewouldenjoywearingclothesagain?Hepoppedoffthebedandopenedsomedrawerstohavealookathisoldgarments.Theywerestillthere,buthecouldnotrememberhowyouputthemon.Thesocks,forinstance,weretheywornonthehandsoronthefeet?Hewasabouttotryoneofthemonhishand,whenhehadagreatadventure.Perhapsthedrawerhadcreaked;atanyrate,hismotherwokeup,forheheardhersay“Peter,”asifitwasthemostlovelywordinthelanguage.Heremainedsittingonthefloorandheldhisbreath,wonderinghowsheknewthathehadcomeback.Ifshesaid“Peter”again,hemeanttocry“Mother”andruntoher.Butshespokenomore,shemadelittlemoansonly,andwhennexthepeepedathershewasoncemoreasleep,withtearsonherface.
