Белая птичка

           Butofmen—Ihaveknownonemanindifferentwellforoverfortyyears,haveexultedinhim(oddtothinkofit),shudderedathim,weariedofhim,beenwilling(Godforgiveme)tojogalongwithhimtolerantlylongafterIhavefoundhimout;Iknowsomethingofmen,and,onmysoul,boy,IbelieveIamwrongingyou.

           ThenMaryishereforsomeinnocentpurpose,todoagooddeedthatwerebetterundone,asitsoscaresher.Turnback,youfoolish,softheart,andIshallsaynomoreaboutit.Obstinateone,yousawthelookonyourhusband’sfaceasheleftyou.Itisthestudiolightbywhichhepaintsandstillseestohope,despiteallthedisappointmentsofhisnotignobleambitions.Thatlightisthedoweryoubroughthim,andheisawealthymanifitdoesnotflicker.

           Soanxioustobegone,andyetshewouldnotgo.Severaltimesshemadelittledarts,asifatlastresolvedtoescapefromthatdetestablestreet,andfalteredandreturnedlikeabirdtotheweasel.Againshelookedatherwatchandkissedit.

           Oh,Mary,takeflight.Whatmadnessisthis?Woman,begone.

           Suddenlyshewasgone.Withonemightyeffortandalastterrifiedlookround,shepoppedintoapawnshop.

           LongbeforesheemergedIunderstooditall,Ithinkevenasthedoorrangandclosedonher;whythetimidsoulhadsoughtastreetwhereshewasunknown,whyshecreptsomanytimespastthatabhorredshopbeforedesperatelyventuringin,whyshelookedsooftenatthewatchshemightneverseeagain.