Белые люди

           IfhehadbeenlikeothermenandIhadbeenlikeothergirls,IsupposethatafterthatnightwhenIheardthetruthIshouldhavebeenplungedintothedarkestwoeandhavealmostsobbedmyselftodeath.WhydidInot?Idonotknowexcept—exceptthatIfeltthatnodarknesscouldcomebetweenusbecausenodarknesscouldtouchhim.Hecouldneverbeanythingbutalivealive.IfIcouldnotseehimitwouldonlybebecausemyeyeswerenotclearandstrongenough.Iseemedtobewaitingforsomething.Iwantedtokeepnearhim.

           Iwasfullofthisfeelingaswesattogetherontheterraceandwatchedthemoon.Icouldscarcelylookawayfromhim.Hewasratherpalethatevening,butthereseemedtobealightbehindhispallor,andhiseyesseemedtoseesomuchmorethanthepurpleandyellowoftheheatherandgorseastheyrestedonthem.

           AfterIhadwatchedhimsilentlyforalittlewhileIleanedforwardandpointedtoapartofthemoorwheretherewasanunbrokenblazeofgorseinfullbloomlikeabigpatchofgold.

           “ThatiswhereIwassittingwhenWeeBrownElspethwasfirstbroughttome,”Isaid.

           Hesatuprightandlooked.“Isit?”heanswered.“Willyoutakemethereto-morrow?Ihavealwayswantedtoseetheplace.”

           “Wouldyouliketogoearlyinthemorning?Themistismorelikelytobetherethen,asitwasthatday.Itissomysteriousandbeautiful.Wouldyouliketodothat?”Iaskedhim.

           “Betterthananythingelse!”hesaid.“Yes,letusgointhemorning.”

           “WeeBrownElspethseemsverynearmethisevening,”Isaid.“Ifeelasif—”Ibrokeoffandbeganagain.