Біла пташка
Barbara
ItsetmereflectingaboutMary’shusbandandhismannerthelasttimewemet,forthoughIhavehadnoopportunitytosayso,westillmeetnowandagain,andhehasevendinedwithmeattheclub.OntheseoccasionsthesubjectofTimothyisbarred,andifbyanyunfortunateaccidentMary’snameismentioned,weimmediatelylookoppositewaysandasilencefollows,inwhichIfeelsureheissmiling,andwonderwhatthedeuceheissmilingat.IrememberednowthatIhadlastseenhimwhenIwasdiningwithhimathisclub(forheisbecomememberofaclubofpainterfellows,andMaryissoproudofthisthatshehashaditprintedonhiscard),whenundoubtedlyhehadlookedpreoccupied.Ithadbeenthelook,Isawnow,ofonewhosharedaguiltysecret.
AsallwasthussuddenlyrevealedtomeIlaughedunpleasantlyatmyself,for,onmysoul,IhadbeenthinkingwellofMaryoflate.AlwaysfoolishlyinflatedaboutDavid,shehadbeengrudginghimeventomeduringtheselastweeks,andIhadforgivenher,puttingitdowntoamother’slove.Iknewfromthepoorboyofunwontedtreatsshehadbeengivinghim;Ihadseenherembracehimfurtivelyinapublicplace,hereveryact,insofarastheywereknowntome,hadbeenachallengetowhoeverdareassertthatshewantedanyonebutDavid.HowcouldI,notbeingawoman,haveguessedthatshewasreallysayinggood-byetohim?
Reader,picturetoyourselfthatsimplelittleboyplayingaboutthehouseatthistime,ontheunderstandingthateverythingwasgoingonasusual.
