Белая птичка

           Havenothistoysacquiredanewpathos,especiallytheenginesheboughthimyesterday?

           Didyoulookhimintheface,Mary,asyougavehimthatengine?Ienvyyounotyourfeelings,ma’am,whenwithlovingarmshewrappedyouroundforit.Thatchildishconfidenceofhistome,inwhichunwittinglyhebetrayedyou,indicatesthatatlastyouhavebeenpreparinghimforthegreatchange,andIsupposeyouarecapableofreplyingtomethatDavidisstillhappy,andeveninterested.Butdoesheknowfromyouwhatitreallymeanstohim?Rather,Idobelieve,youareonewhowouldnotscrupletogivehimtounderstandthatB(whichyoumayyetfindstandsforBenjamin)isprimarilyagiftforhim.Inyourheart,ma’am,whatdoyouthinkofthistrickingofalittleboy?

           SupposeDavidhadknownwhatwastohappenbeforehecametoyou,areyousurehewouldhavecome?Undoubtedlythereisanunwrittencompactinsuchmattersbetweenamotherandherfirst-born,andIdesiretopointouttoyouthatheneverbreaksit.Again,whatwilltheotherboyssaywhentheyknow?YouareoutsidethecriticismoftheGardens,butDavidisnot.Faith,madam,IbelieveyouwouldhavebeenkindertowaitandlethimrunthegauntletatPilkington’s.

           Youthinkyourhusbandisagreatmannowbecausetheyarebeginningtotalkofhisforegroundsandmiddledistancesinthenewspapercolumnsthatnobodyreads.Iknowyouhaveboughthimavelvetcoat,andthathehastakenalarge,airyandcommodiousstudioinMewsLane,whereyouaretobefoundinasoftmaterialonfirstandthirdWednesdays.