Машина часу

           AtanyrateIdidmybesttodisplaymyappreciationofthegift. Weweresoonseatedtogetherinalittlestonearbour,engagedinconversation,chieflyofsmiles. Thecreature’sfriendlinessaffectedmeexactlyasachild’smighthavedone. Wepassedeachotherflowers,andshekissedmyhands. Ididthesametohers. ThenItriedtalk,andfoundthathernamewasWeena,which,thoughIdon’tknowwhatitmeant,somehowseemedappropriateenough. Thatwasthebeginningofaqueerfriendshipwhichlastedaweek,andended—asIwilltellyou! 

           ‘Shewasexactlylikeachild. Shewantedtobewithmealways. Shetriedtofollowmeeverywhere,andonmynextjourneyoutandaboutitwenttomyhearttotireherdown,andleaveheratlast,exhaustedandcallingaftermeratherplaintively. Buttheproblemsoftheworldhadtobemastered. Ihadnot,Isaidtomyself,comeintothefuturetocarryonaminiatureflirtation. YetherdistresswhenIleftherwasverygreat,herexpostulationsatthepartingweresometimesfrantic,andIthink,altogether,Ihadasmuchtroubleascomfortfromherdevotion. Neverthelessshewas,somehow,averygreatcomfort. Ithoughtitwasmerechildishaffectionthatmadeherclingtome.Untilitwastoolate,IdidnotclearlyknowwhatIhadinflicteduponherwhenIlefther. NoruntilitwastoolatedidIclearlyunderstandwhatshewastome. For,bymerelyseemingfondofme,andshowinginherweak,futilewaythatshecaredforme,thelittledollofacreaturepresentlygavemyreturntotheneighbourhoodoftheWhiteSphinxalmostthefeelingofcominghome; andIwouldwatchforhertinyfigureofwhiteandgoldsosoonasIcameoverthehill. 

           ‘Itwasfromher,too,thatIlearnedthatfearhadnotyetlefttheworld. Shewasfearlessenoughinthedaylight,andshehadtheoddestconfidenceinme; foronce,inafoolishmoment,Imadethreateninggrimacesather,andshesimplylaughedatthem.