Белая птичка
David and Porthos Compared
WhereuponPorthosimmediatelygaveitawarningtapwithhisfoot,andagainfelltopondering.Thestrainonmewasverygreat.
“Atlasttheyseemedtohituponacompromise.Porthoslookedoverhisshoulderveryself-consciously,andtherabbitatfirstslowlyandtheninaflashwithdrew.Porthospretendedtomakeasearchforit,butyoucannotthinkhowrelievedhelooked.Heeventriedtobrazenouthisdisgracebeforemeandwavedhistailappealingly.Buthecouldnotlookmeintheface,andwhenhesawthatthiswaswhatIinsistedonhecollapsedatmyfeetandmoaned.Therewererealtearsinhiseyes,andIwastouched,andsworetohimthathehaddoneeverythingadogcoulddo,andthoughheknewIwaslyinghebecamehappyagain.ForsolongasIampleasedwithhim,ma’am,nothingelsegreatlymatterstoPorthos.ItoldthisstorytoDavid,havingfirstextractedapromisefromhimthathewouldnotthinkthelessofPorthos,andnowImustdemandthesamepromiseofyou.Also,anadmissionthatininnocenceofheart,forwhichDavidhasbeenproperlycommended,hecanneverthelessteachPorthosnothing,butonthecontrarymaylearnmuchfromhim.
“AndnowtocometothosequalitiesinwhichDavidexcelsoverPorthos—thefirstisthatheisnosnobbutesteemsthegirlIrene(pretentiouslycalledhisnurse)morethananyfinelady,andenvieseveryraggedboywhocanhittoleg.WhereasPorthoswouldhaveeveryclasskeepitsplace,andthoughfondofgoingdownintothekitchen,alwaysbarksatthetopofthestairsforaservileinvitationbeforehegraciouslydescends.
