Білі люди
Chapter VI
”
Hewentonasquietlyasifhehadnotevenpaused:
“Ysobeltoldmethefirstnightwemetthatitseemedasifshecouldnotbelieveinit.”
“Itneverseemsrealtomeatall,”Isaid.“PerhapsthatisbecauseIcanneverforgetwhatJeantoldmeaboutmymotherlyingstilluponherbed,andlisteningtosomeonecallingher.”(IhadtoldthemJean’sstoryafewdaysbefore.)“Iknewitwasmyfather;Jeanknew,too.”
“Howdidyouknow?”Mrs.MacNairn’svoicewasalmostawhisper.
“Icouldnottellyouthat.IneveraskedmyselfHOWitwas.ButIKNEW.WebothKNEW.Perhaps”—Ihesitated—“itwasbecauseintheHighlandspeopleoftenbelievethingslikethat.Onehearssomanystoriesallone’slifethatintheendtheydon’tseemstrange.Ihavealwaysheardthem.Thosethingsyouknowaboutpeoplewhohavethesecondsight.Andaboutthesealswhochangethemselvesintomenandcomeonshoreandfallinlovewithgirlsandmarrythem.Theysaytheygoawaynowandthen,andnoonereallyknowswherebutitisbelievedthattheygobacktotheirownpeopleandchangeintosealsagain,becausetheymustplungeandriotaboutinthesea.Sometimestheycomehome,butsometimestheydonot.
“Abeautifulyoungstranger,withsoft,darkeyes,appearedoncenotfarfromMuircarrie,andhemarriedaboatman’sdaughter.Hewasveryrestlessonenight,andgotupandlefther,andsheneversawhimagain;butafewdayslaterasplendiddeadsealcoveredwithwoundswaswashedupnearhiscottage.
