Біла пташка
The Pleasantest Club in London
WhileIstoodby,sneering,hewouldgivemetheecstaticlookthatmeant,“Ireneisreallyveryentertaining,isn’tshe?”
Wewererivals,butIdesiretotreatherwithscrupulousfairness,andIadmitthatshehadonegoodthing,towit,hergutta-perchatooth.Inearlierdaysoneofherfrontteeth,asshetoldme,hadfallenout,butinsteadofthenpartingwithit,theresourcefulchildhadhammereditinagainwithahair-brush,whichsheofferedtoshowme,withthedentsonit.Thistooth,havingintimepassedaway,itsplacewassuppliedbyoneofgutta-percha,madebyherself,whichseldomcameoutexceptwhenshesneezed,andifitmerelyfellatherfeetthiswasasignthatthecoldwastobeaslightone,butifitshotacrosstheroomsheknewshewasinforsomethingnotable.Irene’stoothwasveryfavourablyknownintheGardens,wheretheperambulatorsusedtogatherroundhertohearwhetherithadbeendoinganythingto-day,andIwouldnothavegrudgedDavidhisproprietaryprideinit,hadheseemedtounderstandthatIrene’sonepoorlittleaccomplishment,thoughundeniablyshowy,waswithoutintellectualmerit.Ihavesometimesstalkedawayfromhim,intimatingthatifhisregardwastobegotsocheaplyIbeggedtoretirefromthecompetition,buttheGardensarethepleasantestclubinLondon,andIsoonreturned.HowIscouredtheGardenslookingforhim,andhowskilfulIbecameatpickinghimoutfarawayamongthetrees,thoughothermothersimitatedthepicturesqueattireofhim,toMary’sindignation.IalsocutIrene’swings(sotospeak)bytakinghertoadentist.
