Волны

           Saveforthese,IwouldburyitallasIburytheseuglystonesthatarealwaysscatteredaboutthisbrinycoast,withitspiersanditstrippers.Athome,thewavesaremilelong.Onwinternightswehearthembooming.LastChristmasamanwasdrownedsittingaloneinhiscart.’

           ’WhenMissLambertpasses,’saidRhoda,’talkingtotheclergyman,theotherslaughandimitateherhunchbehindherback;yeteverythingchangesandbecomesluminous.JinnyleapshighertoowhenMissLambertpasses.Supposeshesawthatdaisy,itwouldchange.Wherevershegoes,thingsarechangedunderhereyes;andyetwhenshehasgoneisnotthethingthesameagain?MissLambertistakingtheclergymanthroughthewicket-gatetoherprivategarden;andwhenshecomestothepond,sheseesafrogonaleaf,andthatwillchange.Allissolemn,allispalewhereshestands,likeastatueinagrove.Sheletshertasselledsilkencloakslipdown,andonlyherpurpleringstillglows,hervinous,heramethystinering.Thereisthismysteryaboutpeoplewhentheyleaveus.WhentheyleaveusIcancompanionthemtothepondandmakethemstately.WhenMissLambertpasses,shemakesthedaisychange;andeverythingrunslikestreaksoffirewhenshecarvesthebeef.Monthbymonththingsarelosingtheirhardness;evenmybodynowletsthelightthrough;myspineissoftlikewaxneartheflameofthecandle.Idream;Idream.’

           ’Ihavewonthegame,’saidJinny.’Nowitisyourturn.Imustthrowmyselfonthegroundandpant.Iamoutofbreathwithrunning,withtriumph.