Дни грёз

           Yes,shewasmoresuitedfortheEast,thisimperiousyoungperson;andIdeterminedthatthithersheshouldbepersonallyconductedassoonasevermightbe.

           Ireachedthefenceandclimbeduptwobarsofit,andleaningoverIlookedthiswayandthatformytwin-souledpartnerofthemorning.ItwasnotlongbeforeIcaughtsightofher,onlyashortdistanceaway.Herbackwastowardsmeand—well,onecanneverforeseeexactlyhowonewillfindthings—shewastalkingtoaBoy.

           Ofcoursethereareboysandboys,andLordknowsIwasnevernarrow.Butthiswastheparson’ssonfromanadjoiningvillage,ared-headedboyandascommonalittlebeastaseverstepped.Hecultivatedferrets—hisonlygoodpoint;anditwasevidentlythroughthemediumofthisartthathewasbaselysupplantingme,forherheadwasbentabsorbedlyoversomethinghecarriedinhishands.WithsometrepidationIcalledout,“Hi!”Butanswertherewasnone.ThenagainIcalled,“Hi!”butthistimewithasickeningsenseoffailureandofdoom.Sherepliedonlybyacomplexgesture,decisiveinimportifnoteasilydescribed.Apetulanttossofthehead,ajerkoftheleftshoulder,andabackwardkickoftheleftfoot,alldeliveredatonce—thatwasall,andthatwasenough.Thered-headedboyneverevencondescendedtoglancemyway.Why,indeed,shouldhe?Idroppedfromthefencewithoutanothereffort,andtookmywayhomewardsalongthewearyroad