Белая птичка
The Pleasantest Club in London
Ialsomadeherpromisetobowtome,atwhichsheaffectedtoscoff,sayingIwastakingmyfunofher,butshewasreallypleased,andItellyou,Irenehasoneoftheprettiestandmosttouchinglittlebowsimaginable;itishalftotheside(ifImaysoexpressmyself),whichhasalwaysbeenmyfavouritebow,and,Idoubtnot,sheacquireditbywatchingMary.
Ishouldbesorrytohaveitthought,asyoumaynowbethinking,thatIlookonchildrenasonpuppy-dogs,whocareonlyforplay.PerhapsthatwasmyideawhenfirstItriedtolureDavidtomyunaccustomedarms,andevenforsometimeafter,forifIamtobecandid,ImustownthatuntilhewasthreeyearsoldIsoughtmerelytoamusehim.Godforgiveme,butIhadonlyonedayaweekinwhichtocapturehim,andIwasveryrawatthebusiness.
IwasabouttosaythatDavidopenedmyeyestothefollyofit,butreallyIthinkthiswasIrene’sdoing.WatchingherwithchildrenIlearnedthatpartialastheyaretofuntheyaremovedalmostmoreprofoundlybymoralexcellence.Sofondofbabeswasthislittlemotherthatshehadalwaysroomnearherforonemore,andoftenhaveIseenherintheGardens,thecentreofadozenmiteswhogazedawestruckatherwhileshetoldthemseverelyhowlittleladiesandgentlemenbehave.
