Белая птичка
The Runaway Perambulator
TotheKensingtonGardenswewent;itmayhavebeenManitobawestartedfor,butwearrivedattheKensingtonGardens,andithadallbeensounpremeditatedandsmartlycarriedoutthatIrememberclappingmyhandtomyheadinthestreet,tomakesurethatIwaswearingahat.
IwatchedDavidtoseewhathethoughtofit,andhehadnotyetmadeuphismind.Strangetosay,Inolongerfeltshy.Iwasgrownsuddenlyindifferenttopubliccomment,andmyelationincreasedwhenIdiscoveredthatIwasbeingpursued.TheydrewacordonroundmenearMargotMeredith’stree,butIbrokethroughitbyastrategicmovementtothesouth,andwasnextheardofintheBaby’sWalk.Theyheldbothendsofthispassage,andthenthoughttocloseonme,butIslippedthroughtheirfingersbydoublingupBunting’sThumbintoPicnicStreet.CoweringatSt.Govor’sWell,wesawthemrushdistractedlyuptheHump,andwhentheyhadcrossedtotheRoundPondweparadedgailyintheBroadWalk,notfeelingthetiniestbitsorryforanybody.
Here,however,itgraduallycameintoDavid’seyesthat,afterall,Iwasastrangeman,andtheyopenedwiderandwider,untiltheywerethesizeofmymedals,andthen,withthedeliberationthatdistinguisheshissmile,heslowlypreparedtohowl.Isawallhisforcesgatheringinhisface,andIhadnothingtoopposetothem;itwasanunarmedmanagainstaregiment.
EventhenIdidnotchidehim.HecouldnotknowthatitwasIwhohaddroppedtheletter.
