Дни грёз
A Departure
Haroldhadgruntedhimselfbetweenthesheetswithanostentatiouspretenceofoverpoweringfatigue;butInoticedthathepulledhispillowforwardandproppedhisheadagainstthebrassbarsofhiscrib,and,asIwasacquaintedwithmostofhistricksandsubterfuges,itwaseasyformetogatherthatapainfulwakefulnesswashisaimthatnight.
Ihaddozedoff,however,andHaroldwasoutandonhisfeet,pokingunderthebedforhisshoes,whenIsatupandgrimlyregardedhim.JustashesaidIcouldcomeifIliked,Charlotteslippedin,herfacerigidandset.AndthenitwasborneinuponmethatIwasnotoninthisscene.Theseyoungstershadplanneditallout,thepiecewastheirown,andthemounting,andthecast.Mysceptrehadfallen,myrulehadceased.Inthismagichourofthesummernightlawswentfornothing,codeswerecancelled,andthosewhoweremostintouchwiththemoonlightandthewarmJunespiritandthetopsy-turvydomthatreignswhentheclockstrikesten,werethetruelordsandlawmakers.
Humbly,almosttimidly,Ifollowedwithoutaprotestinthewakeofthesetworemorseless,purposefulyoungpersons,whoweremarchingstraightfortheschoolroom.Hereinthemoonlightthegrimbigboxstoodvisible—theboxinwhichsolargeaportionofourpastandourpersonalitylayentombed,cold,swathedinpaper,awaitingthecarrierofthemorningwhoshouldspeedthemforthtothestrange,cold,distantChildren’sHospital,wheretheirlittlefailingswouldallbemisunderstoodandnoonewouldmakeallowances.
