Белая птичка
A Confirmed Spinster
Yet,withitall,shewasawildthing,alert,suspiciousofthelasso,nosingitineveryman’shand,morecuriousaboutitthanaboutaughtelseintheworld;herquiveringdelightwastoseeitcastforher,hergametoeludeit;somettlesomewasshethatshelovedittobecastfairthatshemightescapeasitwasclosingroundher;shescorned,howeverherheartmightbebeating,torunfromherpursuers;shetookonlytheonestepbackward,whichstilllefthernearthembutalwaysoutofreach;herheadonhighnow,butherfaceasfriendly,hermannerasgraciousasbefore,sheisyoursforthecatching.Thatwasevertheunspokencompactbetweenherandthehuntsmen.
Itmaybebutanoldtrickcomebacktomewiththesememories,butagainIclaspmyhandstomybrowsinamazeatthethoughtthatallthiswasformecouldIretainherlove.ForIwonit,wonderofthegods,butIwonit.Ifoundmyselfwithonefootacrossthemagiccirclewhereinshemoved,andwhichnonebutIhadentered;andso,Ithink,Isawherinrevelation,notasthewildthingtheyhadallconceivedher,butasshereallywas.Isawnotamelesscreature,nothingwildorstrange.Isawmysweetloveplacidasayoungcowbrowsing.AsIbrushedasidethehazeandshewastrulyseenforthefirsttime,sheraisedherhead,likeonecaught,andgazedatmewithmeekaffrightedeyes.ItoldherwhathadbeenrevealedtomeasIlookeduponher,andshetrembled,knowingshewasatlastfound,andfainwouldshehavefledaway,butthatherfearwaslessthanhergladness.
