Таинственный сад
IV. Martha
“Eh!Icanseeit’sdifferent,”sheansweredalmostsympathetically.“Idaresayit’sbecausethere’ssuchaloto’blacksthereinsteado’respectablewhitepeople.WhenIheardyouwascomin’fromIndiaIthoughtyouwasablacktoo.”
Marysatupinbedfurious.
“What!”shesaid.“What!YouthoughtIwasanative.You—youdaughterofapig!”
Marthastaredandlookedhot.
“Whoareyoucallin’names?”shesaid.“Youneedn’tbesovexed.That’snotth’wayforayoungladytotalk.I’venothin’againstth’blacks.Whenyoureadabout’emintractsthey’realwaysveryreligious.Youalwaysreadasablack’samanan’abrother.I’veneverseenablackan’IwasfairpleasedtothinkIwasgoin’toseeoneclose.WhenIcomeintolightyourfirethismornin’Icrep’uptoyourbedan’pulledth’coverbackcarefultolookatyou.An’thereyouwas,”disappointedly,“nomoreblackthanme—forallyou’resoyeller.”
Marydidnoteventrytocontrolherrageandhumiliation.
“YouthoughtIwasanative!Youdared!Youdon’tknowanythingaboutnatives!Theyarenotpeople—they’reservantswhomustsalaamtoyou.YouknownothingaboutIndia.Youknownothingaboutanything!”
Shewasinsucharageandfeltsohelplessbeforethegirl’ssimplestare,andsomehowshesuddenlyfeltsohorriblylonelyandfarawayfromeverythingsheunderstoodandwhichunderstoodher,thatshethrewherselffacedownwardonthepillowsandburstintopassionatesobbing.
