Белая птичка
A Confirmed Spinster
Andtheyallforgaveher;Ineverknewofonewhodidnotforgiveher;Ithinkhadtherebeenoneitwouldhaveprovedthattherewasaflawinher.Perhaps,whengood-byecameshewasweepingbecausealltheprettythingsweresaidanddonewith,orshewasmakingdolefulconfessionsaboutherself,soimpulsiveandgenerousandconfidential,andsodevoidofhumour,thattheycompelledevenatragicswaintolaugh.Shemadealooking-glassofhisfacetoseekwofullyinitwhethershewasatalltoblame,andwhenhisarmswentoutforher,andshesteppedbacksothattheyfellempty,shemourned,withdearsympathy,hislackofskilltoseizeher.Forwhathersofteyessaidwasthatshewasalwayswaitingtremulouslytobewon.Theyallforgaveher,becausetherewasnothingtoforgive,orverylittle,justthelittlethatmakesadeargirldearer,andoftenafterward,Ibelieve,theyhavelaughedfondlywhenthinkingofher,likeboysbroughtback.Youladieswhoareeverythingtoyourhusbandssaveagirlfromthedreamofyouth,haveyouneverknownthatdouble-chinnedindustriousmanlaughsuddenlyinareverieandstartup,asifhefanciedhewerebeinghailedfromfar-away?
Ihearherhailingmenow.Shewassolight-heartedthatherlaughiswhatcomesfirstacrosstheyears;sohigh-spiritedthatshewouldhaveweptlikeMaryofScotsbecauseshecouldnotlieonthebareplainslikethemen.Ihearher,butitisonlyasanecho;Iseeher,butitisasalightamongdistanttrees,andthemiddle-agedmancandrawnonearer;shewasonlyfortheboys.
