Белая птичка
An Interloper
Thiswasadelightfulexperience,butIthinkIremainedwonderfullycalmuntilIcamesomewhattoosuddenlytohislittlebraces,whichagitatedmeprofoundly.
IcannotproceedinpublicwiththedisrobingofDavid.
Soonthenightnurserywasindarkness,butfortheglimmerfromthenight-light,andverystillsavewhenthedoorcreakedasamanpeeredinatthelittlefigureonthebed.HoweversoftlyIopenedthedoor,aninchatatime,hisbrighteyesturnedtomeatonce,andhealwaysmadethefacewhichmeans,“Whatatremendousadventure!”
“Areyounevertofallasleep,David?”Ialwayssaid.
“Whenareyoucomingtobed?”healwaysreplied,verybravebutinawhisper,asifhefearedthebearsandwolvesmighthavehim.Whenlittleboysareinbedthereisnothingbetweenthemandbearsandwolvesbutthenight-light.
Ireturnedtomychairtothink,andatlasthefellasleepwithhisfacetothewall,buteventhenIstoodmanytimesatthedoor,listening.
LongafterIhadgonetobedasuddensilencefilledthechamber,andIknewthatDavidhadawaked.Ilaymotionless,and,afterwhatseemedalongtimeofwaiting,alittlefar-awayvoicesaidinacautiouswhisper,“Irene!”
“Youaresleepingwithmeto-night,youknow,David,”Isaid.
“Ididn’tknow,”hereplied,alittletroubledbuttryingnottobeanuisance.
“Yourememberyouarewithme?”Iasked.
Afteramoment’shesitationhereplied,“Inearlyremember,”andpresentlyheaddedverygratefully,asiftosomeangelwhohadwhisperedtohim,“Iremembernow.
