Белая птичка
Barbara
“Heopenedthedoor,”Isaidgrandly,“andyourmotherrushedin,andnextmomentherBenjaminwasinherarms.”
Therewasapause.
“Barbara,”correctedDavid.
“Benjamin,”saidIdoggedly.
“Isthatagirl’sname?”
“No,it’saboy’sname.”
“Butmotherwantsagirl,”hesaid,verymuchshaken.
“Justlikeherpresumption,”Irepliedtestily.“Itistobeaboy,David,andyoucantellherIsaidso.”
Hewasinadeplorablebutmostunselfishstateofmind.Aboywouldhavesuitedhimquitewell,butheputselfasidealtogetherandwaspertinaciouslysolicitousthatMaryshouldbegivenherfancy.
“Barbara,”herepeatedlyimploredme.
“Benjamin,”Irepliedfirmly.
ForlongIwasobdurate,butthetimewassummer,andatlastIagreedtoplayhimforit,atwo-inningsmatch.Ifhewonitwastobeagirl,andifIwonitwastobeaboy.
