Белая птичка
A Night-Piece
”
Atthiswepartedabruptly,aswedidatintervalsthroughoutthenight,todrifttogetheragainpresently.Hetriedtotellmeofsomethingsshehadaskedhimtodoshouldshenotgetoverthis,butwhattheywereIknownot,fortheyengulfedhimatthefirststep.Hewoulddrawbackfromthemasill-omenedthings,andnextmomenthewasgoingoverthemtohimselflikeachildatlessons.Achild!Inthatshortyearshehadmadehimentirelydependentonher.Itiseverthuswithwomen:theirfirstdeliberateactistomaketheirhusbandhelpless.Therearefewmenhappilymarriedwhocanknockinanail.
ButitwasnotofthisthatIwasthinking.IwaswishingIhadnotdegeneratedsomuch.
Well,asyouknow,thelittlenurserygovernessdidnotdie.AteighteenminutestofourweheardtherustleofDavid’swings.Heboastsaboutittothisday,andhasthehourtoasyllableasifthefirstthingheeverdidwastolookattheclock.
Anoldishgentlemanhadopenedthedoorandwavedcongratulationstomycompanion,whoimmediatelybuttedatme,drovemeagainstawall,hesitatedforasecondwithhisheaddownasifindoubtwhethertotossme,andthenrushedaway.Ifollowedslowly.
