Білі люди

           ”

           BecauseIrealizedthen,forthefirsttime,thatwehadsaidnowordsatall.ButIhadknownwhatshewantedmetounderstand,andshehadknownwhatImighthavesaidtoherifIhadspoken—andnowordswereneeded.Anditwasbetter.

           Theytookmehometothecastle,andIwasgivenmysupperandputtobed.JeansatbymeuntilIfellasleep;shewasobligedtositratheralongtime,becauseIwassohappywithmymemoriesofWeeBrownElspethandthecertaintythatshewouldcomeagain.ItwasnotJean’swordswhichhadmademesure.Iknew.

           Shecamemanytimes.ThroughallmychildishyearsIknewthatshewouldcomeandplaywithmeeveryfewdays—thoughIneversawthewildtroopersagainorthebig,leanmanwiththescar.Childrenwhoplaytogetherarenotverycuriousaboutoneanother,andIsimplyacceptedherwithdelight.SomehowIknewthatshelivedhappilyinaplacenotfaraway.Shecouldcomeandgo,itseemed,withouttrouble.SometimesIfoundher—orshefoundmeuponthemoor;andoftensheappearedinmynurseryinthecastle.WhenweweretogetherJeanBraidfuteseemedtopreferthatweshouldbealone,andwasinclinedtokeeptheunder-nurseoccupiedinotherpartsofthewingIlivedin.Ineveraskedhertodothis,butIwasgladthatitwasdone.WeeElspethwasglad,too.Afterourfirstmeetingshewasdressedinsoftblueorwhite,andtheredstainwasgone;butshewasalwaysWeeBrownElspethwiththedoelikeeyesandthefair,transparentface,theveryfairlittleface