Дни грёз
A Departure
Ofthedoll-departmentCharlottehadnaturallybeensolechiefforalongtime;ifthestaffwerenotintheirplacesto-day,itwasnotIwhohadanyofficialrighttotakenotice.AndyetonemayhavebeenmemberofaClubformanyayearwithouteverexactlyunderstandingtheuseandobjectoftheothermembers,untiloneenters,someChristmasdayorotherholiday,and,surveyingthedesertedarmchairs,theuntenantedsofas,thebarrenhat-pegs,realizes,withdepression,thatthoseotherfellowshadtheirallottedfunctions,afterall.WherewasoldJerry?WherewereEugenie,Rosa,Sophy,Esmeralda?Wehadlongdriftedapart,itwastrue,wespokebutrarely;perhaps,absorbedinnewambitions,newachievements,Ihadevencometolookdownontheseconservative,unprogressivememberswhoweresoclearlycontenttoremainsimplywhattheywere.Andnowthattheircornerswereunfilled,theirchairsunoccupied—well,myeyeswereopenedandIwanted’emback!
However,itwasnobusinessofmine.Ifgrievanceswerethequestion,Ihadn’talegtostandupon.Thoughmycatapultswereofficiallyconfiscated,Iknewthedrawerinwhichtheywereincarcerated,andwherethekeyofitwashidden,andIcouldmakelifeaburden,ifIchose,toeverylivingthingwithinasquare-mileradius,solongasthecatapultwasrestoredtoitsdrawerindueanddecenttime.ButIwonderedhowtheothersweretakingit.Theedicthitthemmoreseverely.Theyshouldhavemymoralcountenanceatanyrate,ifnotmore,inanyprotestorcounterminetheymightbeplanning.
