Біла пташка
Her Marriage, Her Clothes, Her Appetite, and an Inventory of Her Furniture
Mychambersareonthesecondfloor,andarebackedbyananxiouslypolitestreetbetweenwhichandminearelittleyardscalled,Ithink,gardens.Theyaresosmallthatifyouhavethetreeyourneighbourhastheshadefromit.IwaslookingoutatmybackwindowonthedaywehavecometowhenwhomdidIseebutthewhilomnurserygovernesssittingonachairinoneofthesegardens.Iputupmyeye-glasstomakesure,andundoubtedlyitwasshe.Butshesattheredoingnothing,whichwasbynomeansmyconceptionofthejade,soIbroughtafieldglasstobearanddiscoveredthattheobjectwasmerelyalady’sjacket.Ithungonthebackofakitchenchair,seemedtobeafurrything,and,Imustsuppose,wassuspendedthereforanairing.
Iwaschagrined,andthenIinsistedstoutlywithmyselfthat,asitwasnotMary,itmustbeMary’sjacket.Ihadneverseenherwearsuchajacket,mindyou,yetIwasconfident,Ican’ttellwhy.Doclothesabsorbalittleofthecharacteroftheirwearer,sothatIrecognisedthisjacketbyacertaincoquetry?Ifshehasawaywithherskirtsthatalwaysadvertisesmeofherpresence,quitepossiblysheisascunningwithjackets.Orperhapssheisherownseamstress,andputsinlittletucksofherself.
Figureitwhatyouplease;butIbegtoinformyouthatIputonmyhatandfiveminutesafterwardsawMaryandherhusbandemergefromthehousetowhichIhadcalculatedthatgardenbelonged.NowamIclever,oramInot?
WhentheyhadleftthestreetIexaminedthehouseleisurely,andadrollhouseitis.
