Белые люди

           “Sheislivingto-day,andshemustnotpassthroughthislifewithoutgatheringanythingfromit.”

           “Thislife,”sheputit,asifIhadpassedthroughothersbefore,andmightpassthroughothersagain.Thatwasalwaysherwayofspeaking,andsheseemedquiteunconsciousofanyunusualnessinit.

           “Youareawisewoman,Jean,”Angussaid,lookinglongathergraveface.“Awisewoman.”

           HewrotetotheLondonbook-shopsforthebestmodernbooks,andIbegantoreadthem.IfeltatfirstasiftheyplungedmeintoaworldIdidnotunderstand,andmanyofthemIcouldnotendure.ButIpersevered,andstudiedthemasIhadstudiedtheoldones,andintimeIbegantofeelasifperhapstheyweretrue.MychiefwearinesswiththemcamefromthewaytheyhadofreferringtothethingsIwassointimatewithasthoughtheywereonlytheunauthenticatedhistoryofalifesolongpassedbythatitcouldnolongermattertoanyone.Sooftenthegreatesthoursofgreatlivesweretreatedaspossiblelegends.Iknewwhymenhaddiedorwerekilledorhadborneblackhorror.IknewbecauseIhadreadoldbooksandmanuscriptsandhadheardthestorieswhichhadcomedownthroughcenturiesbywordofmouth,passedfromfathertoson.

           Buttherewasonemanwhodidnotwriteasifhebelievedtheworldhadbegunandwouldendwithhim.Heknewhewasonlyone,andpartofalltherest.ThenameIshallgivehimisHectorMacNairn.HewasaScotchman,buthehadlivedinmanyaland.ThefirsttimeIreadabookhehadwrittenIcaughtmybreathwithjoy,againandagain.