Белая птичка
A Confirmed Spinster
Thispuzzlehasdonememoreharmthanthelossofher.Nevertheless,youmustknow(ifIamtospeakhonestlytoyou)thatIdonotrepentmethosedallyingsinenchantedfields.Itmaynothavebeensoalways,forIrememberablacknightwhenapoorlieutenantlaydowninanoarlessboatandletitdrifttowardtheweir.Buthisdistantmoansdonotgreatlypainmenow;ratheramIelatedtofind(asthewatersbringhimnearer)thatthisboyisI,foritissomethingtoknowthat,onceuponatime,awomancoulddrawbloodfrommeasfromanother.
Isawheragain,yearsafterward,whenshewasamarriedwomanplayingwithherchildren.Shestampedherfootatanaughtyone,andIsawthegleamofherteethasshegnashedtheminthedearprettywayIcan’tforget;andthenaboyandgirl,fightingforhershoulders,broughtthewholegroupjoyouslytotheground.Shepickedherselfupintheoldleisurelymanner,lazilyactive,andlookedaroundherbenignantly,likeacow:ourdearwildonesafelytetheredatlastwitharopeofchildren.Imeanttomakehermydevoirs,but,asIsteppedforward,theoldwoundbrokeoutafresh,andIhadtoturnaway.Theywerebutafewpoordrops,whichfellbecauseIfoundthatshewasevenalittlesweeterthanIhadthought.
