Белая птичка

           ThisOliverBaileywasoneofthemostdashingfiguresintheGardens,andwithoutapparenteffortwasdailydrawingnearerthecompletionofhisseventhyearatatimewhenDavidseemedunabletogetbeyondhalf-pastfive.Ihavetospeakofhiminthepasttense,forgoneisOliverfromtheGardens(gonetoPilkington’s)butheisstillanameamongus,andsomelordlydeedsarerememberedofhim,asthathisfathershavedtwiceaday.Oliverhimselfwasallonthatscale.

           Hisnotignobleambitionseemsalwaystohavebeentobewreckeduponanisland,indeedIamtoldthathementioneditinsinuatinglyinhisprayers,anditwasperhapsinevitablethataboywithsuchanoutlookshouldfascinateDavid.Iamproud,therefore,tobeabletostateonwoodthatitwasOliverhimselfwhomadetheoverture.

           Onfirsthearing,fromsomesatelliteofOliver’s,ofWreckedIslands,astheyarecalledintheGardens,Davidsaidwistfullythathesupposedyouneededtobeveryverygoodbeforeyouhadanychanceofbeingwrecked,andtheremarkwasconveyedtoOliver,onwhomitmadeanuncomfortableimpression.Foratimehetriedtoevadeit,butultimatelyDavidwaspresentedtohimandinvitedgloomilytosayitagain.TheupshotwasthatOliveradvertisedtheGardensofhisintentiontobegooduntilhewaseight,andifhehadnotbeenwreckedbythattime,tobeasjollybadasaboycouldbe.