Білі люди

           Iwonderedifitwerepossiblethatshecouldbeunawareofherloveliness.Beautifulpeoplearethrillingtome,andMrs.MacNairnhasalwaysseemedmoresothananyoneelse.Thisiswhathersononcesaidofher:

           “Sheisnotmerelybeautiful;sheisBeauty—Beauty’sveryspiritmovingaboutamongusmortals;pureBeauty.”

           Shedrewmetoachairunderhertree,andwesatdowntogether.IfeltasifsheweregladthatIhadcome.ThewatchinglookIhadseeninherson’seyeswasinhersalso.Theywatchedmeaswetalked,andIfoundmyselftellingheraboutmyhomeasIhadfoundmyselftellinghim.Hehadevidentlytalkedtoheraboutithimself.IhadnevermetanyonewhothoughtofMuircarrieasIdid,butitseemedasiftheywhowerestrangersweredrawnbyitswild,beautifullonelinessasIwas.

           Iwashappy.InmysecretheartIbegantoaskmyselfifitcouldbetruethattheymademefeelalittleasifIsomehowbelongedtosomeone.Ihadalwaysseemedsodetachedfromeveryone.Ihadnotbeenmiserableaboutit,andIhadnotcomplainedtomyself;Ionlyacceptedthedetachmentaspartofmykindoflife.

           Mr.MacNairncameintothegardenlaterandseveralotherpeoplecameintotea.Itwasapparentlyasortofdailycustom—thatpeoplewhoevidentlyadoredMrs.MacNairndroppedintoseeandtalktohereveryafternoon.Shetalkedwonderfully,andherfriends’joyinherwaswonderful,too.Itevidentlymadepeoplehappytobenearher.Allshesaidanddidwaslikeherlightstepandthemovementsofherdelicate,finehead—graciousandsoftandarrestinglylovely.