Загублений світ
There Are Heroisms All Round Us
Don’tyoufeelhowsplendiditisthatayoungmanandayoungwomanshouldbeabletotalkfacetofaceaswehavetalked?"
"Idon’tknow,Gladys.Yousee,Icantalkfacetofacewith—withthestation-master."Ican’timaginehowthatofficialcameintothematter;butinhetrotted,andsetusbothlaughing."Thatdoesnotsatisfymeintheleast.Iwantmyarmsroundyou,andyourheadonmybreast,and—oh,Gladys,Iwant——"
Shehadsprungfromherchair,asshesawsignsthatIproposedtodemonstratesomeofmywants."You’vespoiledeverything,Ned,"shesaid."It’sallsobeautifulandnaturaluntilthiskindofthingcomesin!Itissuchapity!Whycan’tyoucontrolyourself?"
"Ididn’tinventit,"Ipleaded."It’snature.It’slove."
"Well,perhapsifbothlove,itmaybedifferent.Ihaveneverfeltit."
"Butyoumust—you,withyourbeauty,withyoursoul!Oh,Gladys,youweremadeforlove!Youmustlove!"
"Onemustwaittillitcomes."
"Butwhycan’tyouloveme,Gladys?Isitmyappearance,orwhat?"
Shedidunbendalittle.Sheputforwardahand—suchagracious,stoopingattitudeitwas—andshepressedbackmyhead.Thenshelookedintomyupturnedfacewithaverywistfulsmile.
"Noitisn’tthat,"shesaidatlast."You’renotaconceitedboybynature,andsoIcansafelytellyouitisnotthat.It’sdeeper."
"Mycharacter?"
