Біла пташка
The Inconsiderate Waiter
“William,”Isaid,“youarenotattendingtome!”
Tobefairtohim,heshook,butnevershallIforgethisaudaciousapology,“Begpardon,sir,butIwasthinkingofsomethingelse.”
Andimmediatelyhiseyesresoughtthewindow,andthisburstfromhimpassionately,“ForGod’ssake,sir,aswearemanandman,tellmeifyouhaveseenalittlegirllookingupattheclub-windows.”
Manandman!Buthehadbeenagoodwaiteronce,soIpointedoutthegirltohim.AssoonasshesawWilliamsheranintothemiddleofPallMall,regardlessofhansoms(manyofwhichseemedtopassoverher),noddedherheadsignificantlythreetimesandthendisappeared(probablyonastretcher).ShewasthetawdriestlittleArabofabouttenyears,butseemedtohavebroughtrelieftoWilliam.“ThankGod!”saidhefervently,andintheworsttaste.
Iwasasmuchhorrifiedasifhehaddroppedaplateonmytoes.“Bread,William,”Isaidsharply.
“Youarenotvexedwithme,sir?”hehadthehardihoodtowhisper.
“Itwasaliberty,”Isaid.
“Iknow,sir,butIwasbesidemyself.”
“Thatwasalibertyagain.”
“Itismywife,sir,she—”
SoWilliam,whomIhadfavouredinsomanyways,wasamarriedman.Ifeltthatthiswasthegreatestlibertyofall.
Igatheredthatthetroublesomewomanwasailing,andasonewholikesafterdinnertobelievethatthereisnodistressintheworld,IdesiredtobetoldbyWilliamthatthesignalsmeantherreturntohealth.Heansweredinconsiderately,however,thatthedoctorfearedtheworst.
“Bah,thedoctor,”Isaidinarage.
