Білі люди

           Shedidnotletmedriftawayandsitinacornerlookingon,asIusuallydidamongstrangers.Shekeptmenearher,andinsomesubtle,gentlewaymademeapartofallthatwashappening—thetalk,thecharmingcircleunderthespreadingboughsoftheapple-tree,thecharmofeverything.Sometimesshewouldputoutherexquisite,long-fingeredhandandtouchmeverylightly,andeachtimeshediditIfeltasifshehadgivenmenewlife.

           Therewasaninterestingelderlymanwhocameamongtherestoftheguests.Iwasinterestedinhimevenbeforeshespoketomeofhim.Hehadahandsome,aquilinefacewhichlookedveryclever.Histalkwasbrilliantlywitty.Whenhespokepeoplepausedasiftheycouldnotbeartoloseaphraseorevenaword.Butinthemidstofthetrillsoflaughtersurroundinghimhiseyeswereunchanginglysad.Hisfacelaughedorsmiled,buthiseyesnever.

           “HeisthegreatestartistinEnglandandthemostbrilliantman,”Mrs.MacNairnsaidtome,quietly.“Butheisthesaddest,too.Hehadalovelydaughterwhowaskilledinstantly,inhispresence,byafall.Theyhadbeeninseparablecompanionsandshewasthedelightofhislife.Thatstrange,fixedlookhasbeeninhiseyeseversince.Iknowyouhavenoticedit.”

           Wewerewalkingaboutamongtheflower-bedsaftertea,andMr.MacNairnwasshowingmeacloudofbluelarkspursinacornerwhenIsawsomethingwhichmademeturntowardhimratherquickly.

           “Thereisone!”Isaid.“Dolookather!NowyouseewhatImean!ThegirlstandingwithherhandonMr.LeBreton’sarm.”

           Mr.