Белая птичка
The Little Nursery Governess
Ofcourse,agentlemanwhofindsaletteronthepavementfeelsboundtopostit,andIpresumedthathewouldnaturallygotothenearestoffice.
WithmyhatonIstrolledtothesmoking-roomwindow,andwasjustintimetoseehimpostingmyletteracrosstheway.ThenIlookedforthelittlenurserygoverness.Isawheraswoe-begoneasever;then,suddenly—oh,youpoorlittlesoul,andhasitreallybeenasbadasthat!
Shewascryingoutright,andhewasholdingbothherhands.Itwasadisgracefulexhibition.Theyoungpainterwouldevidentlyexplodeifhecouldnotmakeuseofhisarms.Shemustdieifshecouldnotlayherheaduponhisbreast.Imustadmitthatherosetotheoccasion;hehailedahansom.
“William,”saidIgaily,“coffee,cigarette,andcherrybrandy.”
AsIsattherewatchingthatoldplayDavidpluckedmysleevetoaskwhatIwaslookingatsodeedily;andwhenItoldhimheraneagerlytothewindow,buthereacheditjusttoolatetoseetheladywhowastobecomehismother.WhatItoldhimofherdoings,however,interestedhimgreatly;andheintimatedrathershylythathewasacquaintedwiththemanwhosaid,“Haw-haw-haw.”Ontheotherhand,heirritatedmebybetrayinganidioticinterestinthetwochildren,whomheseemedtoregardastheheroandheroineofthestory.Whatweretheirnames?Howoldwerethey?Hadtheybothhoops?Weretheyironhoops,orjustwoodenhoops?Whogavethemtheirhoops?
“Youdon’tseemtounderstand,myboy,”Isaidtartly,“thathadInotdroppedthatletter,therewouldneverhavebeenalittleboycalledDavidA——.
