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lacking the one thing you craved for most of all。〃
Will you believe me that I had to tell her what it was？ And when
I had told her she exclaimed with extraordinary callousness； 〃The
book？ I had forgotten all about the book！〃 And then after
reflection she added； 〃Pooh！〃 Had she not added Pooh I might
have spared her； but as it was I raised the blotting…pad rather
haughtily and presented her with the sheet beneath it。
〃What is this？〃 she asked。
〃Ma'am；〃 said I； swelling； 〃it is a Dedication；〃 and I walked
majestically to the window。
There is no doubt that presently I heard an unexpected sound。
Yet if indeed it had been a laugh she clipped it short； for in
almost the same moment she was looking large…eyed at me and
tapping my sleeve impulsively with her fingers； just as David
does when he suddenly likes you。
〃How characteristic of you；〃 she said at the window。
〃Characteristic；〃 I echoed uneasily。 〃Ha！〃
〃And how kind。〃
〃Did you say kind； ma'am？〃
〃But it is I who have the substance and you who have the shadow；
as you know very well；〃 said she。
Yes； I had always known that this was the one flaw in my
dedication； but how could I have expected her to have the wit to
see it？ I was very depressed。
〃And there is another mistake；〃 said she。
〃Excuse me； ma'am； but that is the only one。〃
〃It was never of my little white bird I wanted to write；〃 she
said。
I looked politely incredulous； and then indeed she overwhelmed
me。 〃It was of your little white bird；〃 she said； 〃it was of a
little boy whose name was Timothy。〃
She had a very pretty way of saying Timothy； so David and I went
into another room to leave her alone with the manuscript of this
poor little book； and when we returned she had the greatest
surprise of the day for me。 She was both laughing and crying；
which was no surprise； for all of us would laugh and cry over a
book about such an interesting subject as ourselves； but said
she； 〃How wrong you are in thinking this book is about me and
mine； it is really all about Timothy。〃
At first I deemed this to be uncommon nonsense； but as I
considered I saw that she was probably right again； and I gazed
crestfallen at this very clever woman。
〃And so；〃 said she； clapping her hands after the manner of David
when he makes a great discovery； 〃it proves to be my book after
all。〃
〃With all your pretty thoughts left out；〃 I answered； properly
humbled。
She spoke in a lower voice as if David must not hear。 〃I had
only one pretty thought for the book；〃 she said； 〃I was to give
it a happy ending。〃 She said this so timidly that I was about to
melt to her when she added with extraordinary boldness； 〃The
little white bird was to bear an olive…leaf in its mouth。〃
For a long time she talked to me earnestly of a grand scheme on
which she had set her heart； and ever and anon she tapped on me
as if to get admittance for her ideas。 I listened respectfully；
smiling at this young thing for carrying it so motherly to me；
and in the end I had to remind her that I was forty…seven years
of age。
〃It is quite young for a man；〃 she said brazenly。
〃My father；〃 said I； 〃was not forty…seven when he died； and I
remember thinking him an old man。〃
〃But you don't think so now； do you？〃 she persisted； 〃you feel
young occasionally； don't you？ Sometimes when you are playing
with David in the Gardens your youth comes swinging back； does it
not？〃
〃Mary A；〃 I cried； grown afraid of the woman； 〃I forbid you to
make any more discoveries to…day。〃
But still she hugged her scheme； which I doubt not was what had
brought her to my rooms。 〃They are very dear women；〃 said she
coaxingly。
〃I am sure；〃 I said； 〃they must be dear women if they are friends
of yours。〃
〃They are not exactly young；〃 she faltered； 〃and perhaps they are
not very pretty〃
But she had been reading so recently about the darling of my
youth that she halted abashed at last； feeling； I apprehend； a
stop in her mind against proposing this thing to me； who； in
those presumptuous days； had thought to be content with nothing
less than the loveliest lady in all the land。
My thoughts had reverted also； and for the last time my eyes saw
the little hut through the pine wood haze。 I met Mary there； and
we came back to the present together。
I have already told you； reader； that this conversation took
place no longer ago than yesterday。
〃Very well； ma'am；〃 I said； trying to put a brave face on it； 〃I
will come to your tea…parties； and we shall see what we shall
see。〃
It was really all she had asked for； but now that she had got
what she wanted of me the foolish soul's eyes became wet； she
knew so well that the youthful romances are the best。
It was now my turn to comfort her。 〃In twenty years；〃 I said；
smiling at her tears； 〃a man grows humble； Mary。 I have stored
within me a great fund of affection； with nobody to give it to；
and I swear to you； on the word of a soldier； that if there is
one of those ladies who can be got to care for me I shall be very
proud。〃 Despite her semblance of delight I knew that she was
wondering at me； and I wondered at myself； but it was true。
End