Белая птичка
David and Porthos Compared
ForatproductionofthevialallgaietysuddenlydepartsfromPorthosandhelookstheotherway,butifIsayIhaveforgottentohavethevialrefilledheskipsjoyfully,yetthinkshestillhasarighttoachocolate,andwhenIremarkeddisparaginglyonthistoDavidhelookedsoshythattherewasrevealedtomeapictureofacertainladytreatinghimforyouthfulmaladies.
“Athingtobeconsideredofinbothistheirreceivingofpunishments,andIamnowremindedthatthegirlIrene(whomItakeinthismattertobeyourmouthpiece)complainsthatIamnotsufficientlyseverewithDavid,anddoleavethechidingofhimforoffencesagainstmyselftoherinthehopethathewillloveherlessandmemorethereby.WhichwehavehotlyarguedintheGardenstothedetrimentofourdignity.AndIheresaythatifIamslowtobeseveretoDavid,thereasonthereofisthatIdarenotbeseveretoPorthos,andIhaveeversoughttotreattheonethesamewiththeother.
“NowIrefrainfromraisinghandorvoicetoPorthosbecausehisgreatheartisnightobreakingifhesomuchassuspectsthatallisnotwellbetweenhimandme,andhavingstruckhimoncesomeyearsagonevercanIforgettheshudderwhichpassedthroughhimwhenhesawitwasIwhohadstruck,andIshallstrikehim,ma’am,nomore.Butwhenheisdetectedinanyunseemlyactnow,itismysternpracticetocanemywritingtableinhispresence,andeventhispunishmentisalmostmorethanhecanbear.
