Белые люди
Chapter IX
Aswestoodinthemidstofittogether—Oh!howstrangeandbeautifulitwas!—Mr.MacNairncameback.Thatwaswhatitseemedtome—thathecameback.Hestoodquitestillamomentandlookedabouthim,andthenhestretchedouthisarmsasIhadstretchedoutmine.Buthediditslowly,andalightcameintohisface.
“If,afteritwasover,amanawakenedasyousaidandfoundhimself—theselfheknew,butlight,free,splendid—rememberingalltheagesofdark,unknowingdread,ofhorrorofsomeblack,aimlessplunge,andsuddenlyseeingallthechildishuselessnessofit—howhewouldstandandsmile!HowhewouldstandandSMILE!”
NeverhadIunderstoodanythingmoreclearlythanIunderstoodthen.Yes,yes!Thatwouldbeit.Rememberingallthewasteoffear,howhewouldstandandSMILE!
Hewassmilinghimself,thegoldengorseabouthimalreadylosingitsflameinthelightreturningmist-wraithsclosingagainoverit,whenIheardasoundfarawayandhighupthemoor.Itsoundedliketheplayingofapiper.Hedidnotseemtonoticeit.
“Weshallbeshutinagain,”hesaid.“Howmysteriousitis,thisopeningandclosing!Ilikeitmorethananythingelse.Letussitdown,Ysobel.”
Hespreadtheplaidwehadbroughttositon,andlaidonitthelittlestrappedbasketJeanhadmadereadyforus.Heshookthemistdropsfromourownplaids,andasIwasabouttositdownIstoppedamomenttolisten.
“ThatisatuneIneverheardonthepipesbefore,”Isaid.“Whatisapiperdoingoutonthemoorsoearly?”
Helistenedalso.“Itmustbefaraway.Idon’thearit,”hesaid.
