Белые люди
Chapter X
“Whenthepoormotherstumbledintothetrainthatday,”wasoneofthethingsHectortoldme,“IwasthinkingofTheFearandofmyownmother.YoulookedsoslightandsmallasyousatinyourcornerthatIthoughtatfirstyouwerealmostachild.Thenafarlookinyoureyesmademebegintowatchyou.Youweresosorryforthepoorwomanthatyoucouldnotlookawayfromher,andsomethinginyourfacetouchedandpuzzledme.Youleanedforwardsuddenlyandputoutyourhandprotectinglyasshesteppeddownontotheplatform.
“Thatnightwhenyouspokequitenaturallyofthechild,neverdoubtingthatIhadseenit,Isuddenlybegantosuspect.BecauseofTheFear”—hehesitated—“Ihadbeenreadingandthinkingmanythingsnewtome.IdidnotknowwhatIbelieved.Butyouspokesosimply,andIknewyouwerespeakingthetruth.ThenyouspokejustasnaturallyofWeeBrownElspeth.ThatstartledmebecausenotlongbeforeIhadbeentoldthetaleintheHighlandsbyafineoldstory-tellerwhoistheheadofhisclan.Isawyouhadneverheardthestorybefore.Andyetyouweretellingmethatyouhadplayedwiththechild.”
“Hecamehomeandtoldmeaboutyou,”Mrs.MacNairnsaid.“HisfearofTheFearwasmoreformethanforhimself.Heknewthatifhebroughtyoutome,youwhoaremorecompletethanweare,clearer-eyedandnearer,nearer,Ishouldbegintofeelthathewasnotgoing—out.Ishouldbegintofeelarealityandnearnessmyself.Ah,Ysobel!Howwehaveclungtoyouandlovedyou!Andthenthatwonderfulafternoon!IsawnogirlwithherhandthroughMr.
