Белая птичка
Pilkington’s
ForyearsIhadbeenfightingMaryforDavid,andhadnotwhollyfailedthoughshewasadvantagedbytheaccidentofrelationship;wasInowtobeknockedoutsoeasilybyasevenyearold?Ireconsideredmyweapons,andIfoughtOliverandbeathim.Figuretoyourselfthosetwoboysbecomeasfaithfultomeasmycoat-tails.
WithwreckedislandsIdidit.Ibeganinthemostunpretentiouswaybytellingthemastorywhichmightlastanhour,andfavouredbymanyanunexpectedwinditlastedeighteenmonths.ItstartedasthewreckofthesimpleSwissfamilywholookedupandsawthebuttertree,butsoonagloriousinspirationofthenightturneditintothewreckofDavidA——andOliverBailey.Atfirstitwaswhattheyweretodowhentheywerewrecked,butimperceptiblyitbecamewhattheyhaddone.Ispentmuchofmytimestaringreflectivelyatthetitlesoftheboys’storiesinthebooksellers’windows,whistlingforabreeze,sotosay,forIfoundthatthetitleswereevenmorehelpfulthanthestories.Wewreckedeverybodyofnote,includingallHomer’smosttakingcharactersandtheheroofParadiseLost.Butwesufferedthemnottoland.Westrippedthemofwhatwewantedandleftthemtowanderthehighseasnakedofadventure.Andallthiswasmerelythebeginning.
BythistimeIhadbeencastupontheisland.Itwasnotmyownproposal,butDavidknewmywishes,andhemadeitallrightformewithOliver.Theyfoundmeamongthebreakerswithalargedog,whichhadkeptmeafloatthroughoutthatterriblenight.Iwasthesolesurvivoroftheill-fatedAnnaPink.
