Белая птичка
The Little Nursery Governess
Theyshotdowntheslit,plebeiansall,butitfollowedpompouslylikeroyalty.Ihaveevenseenherblowakissafterit.
Thentherewasherring,ofwhichshewasasconsciousasifitratherthanshewaswhatcamegailydownthestreet.Shefeltitthroughherglovetomakesurethatitwasstillthere.Shetookoffthegloveandraisedtheringtoherlips,thoughIdoubtnotitwasthecheapesttrinket.Shevieweditfromafarbystretchingoutherhand;shestoopedtoseehowitlookedneartheground;sheconsidereditseffectontherightofherandontheleftofherandthroughoneeyeatatime.Evenwhenyousawthatshehadmadeuphermindtothinkhardofsomethingelse,thelittlesillywouldtakeanotherlook.
IgiveanyonethreechancestoguesswhyMarywassohappy.
Noandnoandno.Thereasonwassimplythis,thataloutofayoungmanlovedher.Andso,insteadofcryingbecauseshewasthemerestnobody,shemust,forsooth,sailjauntilydownPallMall,verytrimastohertackleandticketedwiththeinsufferableairofanengagedwoman.Atfirsthercomplacencydisturbedme,butgraduallyitbecamepartofmylifeattwoo’clockwiththecoffee,thecigarette,andtheliqueur.Nowcomesthetragedy.
Thursdayishergreatday.ShehasfromtwotothreeeveryThursdayforherveryown;justthinkofit:thisgirl,whoisprobablypaidseveralpoundsayear,getsawholehourtoherselfonceaweek.Andwhatdoesshewithit?Attendclassesformakingheramoreaccomplishedperson?Notshe.
