Белые люди
Chapter III
ItwasbecauseIthoughtthisthatIwishedshehadnotseemedsounconsciousofandindifferenttothechildwhowaswithherandclungtoherblackdressasifitcouldnotbeartolethergo.Thisonewasaliveatleast,evenifshehadlosttheotherone,anditslittlefacewassowistful!Itdidnotseemfairtoforgetandignoreit,asifitwerenotthere.Ifeltasifshemighthaveleftitbehindontheplatformifithadnotsoclungtoherskirtthatitwasalmostdraggedintotherailwaycarriagewithher.Whenshesankintoherseatshedidnotevenliftthepoorlittlethingintotheplacebesideher,butleftittoscrambleupasbestitcould.Sheburiedherswollenfaceinherhandkerchiefandsobbedinasmotheredwayasifsheneithersaw,heard,norfeltanylivingthingnearher.
HowIwishedshewouldrememberthepoorchildandletitcomforther!Itreallywastryingtodoitinitsinnocentway.Itpressedclosetoherside,itlookedupimploringly,itkissedherarmandhercrapeveiloverandoveragain,andtriedtoattractherattention.Itwasalittle,lily-faircreaturenotmorethanfiveorsixyearsoldandperhapstooyoungtoexpresswhatitwantedtosay.Itcouldonlyclingtoherandkissherblackdress,andseemtobeghertorememberthatit,atleast,wasalivingthing.Butshewastooabsorbedinheranguishtoknowthatitwasintheworld.Sheneitherlookedatnortouchedit,andatlastitsatwithitscheekagainsthersleeve,softlystrokingherarm,andnowandthenkissingitlongingly
