Белые люди
Chapter IV
“DidyoueveraskWeeElspeth?”
“Wewerebothtoolittletocare.Weonlyplayed,”Iansweredhim.“Andtheycameandwentsoquicklythattheywereonlyasortofdream.”
“Theyseemtohavebeenastrangelot.Wasn’tAnguscuriousaboutthem?”hesuggested.
“Angusneverwascuriousaboutanything,”Isaid.“Perhapsheknewsomethingaboutthemandwouldnottellme.WhenIwasalittlethingIalwaysknewheandJeanhadsecretsIwastooyoungtohear.Theyhidsadanduglythingsfromme,orthingsthatmightfrightenachild.Theywereverygood.”
“Yes,theyweregood,”hesaid,thoughtfully.
Ithinkanyonewouldhavebeenpleasedtofindherselftalkingquietlytoagreatgenius—asquietlyasifhewerequiteanordinaryperson;buttometheexperiencewaswonderful.Ihadthoughtabouthimsomuchandwithsuchadoringreverence.Andhelookedatmeasifhetrulylikedme,evenasifIweresomethingnew—asortofdiscoverywhichinterestedhim.Idaresaythathehadneverbeforeseenagirlwhohadlivedsomuchaloneandinsucharemoteandwildplace.
IbelieveSirIanandhiswifewerepleased,too,toseethatIwastalking.TheyweregladthattheirguestsshouldseethatIwasintelligentenoughtoholdtheattentionevenofacleverman.IfHectorMacNairnwasinterestedinmeIcouldnotbeassillyanddullasIlooked.ButonmypartIwasonlyfullofwonderandhappiness.Iwasagirl,andhehadbeenmyonlyhero;anditseemedevenasifhelikedmeandcaredaboutmyqueerlife.
