Белая птичка

           IwasforcedtoadmittohimthatDavidhadperceivedonlythejoyousinthepokeringofthepoliceman’slegs,andhadcalledoutheartily“Doitagain!”everytimeJoeyknockedthepantaloondownwithonekickandhelpedhimupwithanother.

           “Ithurtsthepoorchap,”IwastoldbyJoey,whomIwasagreeablysurprisedtofindbynomeanswantinginthemorehumanefeelings,“andhewouldn’tstanditiftherewasn’tthelaughtoencouragehim.”

           Hemaintainedthatthedoggotthatlaughtoencouragehimalso.

           However,hehadnotgotitfromDavid,whosemotherandfatherandnursecombinedcouldnotcomforthim,thoughtheysworethatthedogwasstillaliveandkicking,whichmightallhavebeenverywellhadnotDavidseenthesausages.ItwastoinquirewhetheranythingcouldbedonetoatonethatinconsiderabletrepidationIsentinmycardtotheclown,andtheresultofourtalkwasthatheinvitedmeandDavidtohaveteawithhimonThursdaynextathislodgings.

           “Isha’n’tlaugh,”Davidsaid,noblytruetothememoryofthelittledog,“Isha’n’tlaughonce,”andheclosedhisjawsverytightlyaswedrewnearthehouseinSohowhereJoeylodged.Buthealsogrippedmyhand,likeonewhoknewthatitwouldbeanordealnottolaugh.

           Thehousewasratherliketheordinarykind,buttherewasaconvenientsausage-shopexactlyopposite(trustJoeyforthat)andwesawapolicemaninthestreetlookingtheotherway,astheyalwaysdolookjustbeforeyourubthem.