Белая птичка
An Interloper
”Isaiditinthematter-of-factvoiceofonemadefreeofthecompanyofparents,asifIhadsaiditoftenbefore,andwouldhavetosayitoftenagain,andasiftherewasnothingparticularlydelicioustomeinhearingmyselfsayit.Itriedtosayitinthatway.
AndDavidwasdeceived.Tomyexceedingjoyhestampedhislittlefoot,andwassonaughtythat,ingratitude,Igavehimfiveminuteswithamatchbox.Matches,whichhedropsonthefloorwhenlighted,arethegreatesttreatyoucangiveDavid;indeed,Ithinkhisprivateheavenisaplacewitharoaringbonfire.
ThenIplacedmyhandcarelesslyonhisshoulder,likeoneatrifleboredbythedullroutineofputtingmylittleboystobed,andconductedhimtothenightnursery,whichhadlatelybeenmyprivatechamber.Therewasanextrabedinittonight,verynearmyown,butdifferentlyshaped,andscarcelylessconspicuouswasthenewmantel-shelfornament:atumblerofmilk,withabiscuitontopofit,andachocolateridingonthebiscuit.Toentertheroomwithoutseeingthetumbleratoncewasimpossible.Ihadtrieditseveraltimes,andDavidsawandpromptlydidhisfrogbusiness,thewhile,withanindescribableemotion,Iproducedanight-lightfrommypocketandplanteditinasauceronthewash-stand.
Davidwatchedmypreparationswithdistastefullevity,butanonmadeanobleamendbyabruptlyofferingmehisfootasifhehadnolongeruseforit,andIknewbyintuitionthatheexpectedmetotakeoffhisboots.Itookthemoffwithallthecoolnessofanoldhand,andthenIplacedhimonmykneeandremovedhisblouse.
