Белая птичка
The Pleasantest Club in London
AndDaviddidsomeadorablethings.Forinstance,heusedmypocketsasreceptaclesintowhichheputanyarticlehemightnothappentowantatthemoment.Heshoveditin,quiteasiftheywerehisownpockets,withoutsaying,Byyourleave,andperhapsIdiscovereditonreachinghome—atin-soldier,orapistol—whenIputitonmymantle-shelfandsighed.Andhereisanotherpleasantmemory.OnedayIhadbeenover-friendlytoanotherboy,and,afterenduringitforsometimeDavidupandstruckhim.ItwasexactlyasPorthosdoes,whenIfavourotherdogs(heknocksthemdownwithhisfootandstandsoverthem,lookingverynobleandstern),soIknewitsmeaningatonce;itwasDavid’sfirstpublicintimationthatheknewIbelongedtohim.
Irenescoldedhimforstrikingthatboy,andmadehimstandindisgraceatthecornerofaseatintheBroadWalk.TheseatatthecornerofwhichDavidstoodsufferingforloveofme,istheonenearesttotheRoundPondtopersonscomingfromthenorth.
YoumaybesurethatsheandIhadwordsoverthisfiendishcruelty.WhennextwemetItreatedherasonewhonolongerexisted,andatfirstshebridledandthenwasdepressed,andasIwasgoingawaysheburstintotears.ShecriedbecauseneitheratmeetingnorpartinghadIliftedmyhattoher,afoolishcustomofmine,ofwhich,asInowlearnedtomysurprise,shewasveryproud.SheandIstillhaveourtiffs,butIhaveneversincethenforgottentoliftmyhattoIrene.
