Білі люди
Chapter I
ButsoonIsawandwasdrawnbyanotherthing.
HowyoungwasIthatafternoonwhenIsatinthedeepwindowandwatchedthelow,softwhitenesscreepingoutandhoveringovertheheatherasifthemoorhadbreathedit?Idonotremember.Itwassuchalowlittlemistatfirst;anditcreptandcreptuntilitscreepinggrewintosomethingheavierandwhiter,anditbegantohidetheheatherandthegorseandbroom,andthenthelowyoungfir-trees.Itmountedandmounted,andsometimesabreathofwindtwisteditintoweirdshapes,almostlikehumancreatures.Itopenedandclosedagain,andthenitdraggedandcreptandgrewthicker.AndasIpressedmyfaceagainstthewindow-pane,itmountedstillhigherandgotholdofthemoorandhidit,hangingheavyandwhiteandwaiting.Thatwaswhatcameintomychildmind:thatithaddonewhatthemoorhadtoldittodo;hadhiddenthingswhichwantedtobehidden,andthenitwaited.
StrangerssaythatMuircarriemooristhemostbeautifulandthemostdesolateplaceintheworld,butitneverseemeddesolatetome.FrommyfirstmemoryofitIhadavague,half-comfortedfeelingthattherewassomestrangelifeonitonecouldnotexactlysee,butwasalwaysconsciousof.IknownowwhyIfeltthis,butIdidnotknowthen.
IfIhadbeenolderwhenIfirstbegantoseewhatIdidseethere,Ishouldnodoubthavereadthingsinbookswhichwouldhavegivenriseinmymindtodoubtsandwonders;butIwasonlyalittlechildwhohadlivedalifequiteapartfromtherestoftheworld.Iwastoosilentbynaturetotalkandaskquestions,evenifIhadhadotherstotalkto
