Пеппи Длинныйчулок
Chapter 1
"ButIforgetitnowandthen. Andhowcanyouexpectalittlechildwhosemotherisanangel andwhosefatheriskingofacannibalislandandwhoherselfhassailedontheoceanallherlife —howcanyouexpecthertotellthetruthalways? Andforthatmatter," shecontinued,herwholefreckledfacelightingup, "letmetellyouthatintheCongothereisnotasinglepersonwhotellsthetruth. Theyliealldaylong. Beginatseveninthemorningandkeeponuntilsundown. SoifIshouldhappentolienowandthen,youmusttrytoexcuseme andtorememberthatitisonlybecauseIstayedintheCongoalittletoolong. Wecanbefriendsanyway,can’twe?"
"Oh,sure,"saidTommy andrealizedsuddenlythatthiswasnotgoingtobeoneofthosedulldays.
"Bytheway,whycouldn’tyoucomeandhavebreakfastwithme?"askedPippi.
"Whynot?"saidTommy."Comeon,let’sgo."
"Oh,yes,let’s,"saidAnnika.
"Butfirst1mustintroduceyoutoMr.Nilsson,"saidPippi, andthelittlemonkeytookoffhiscapandbowedpolitely.
ThentheyallwentinthroughVillaVillekulla’stumbledowngardengate,alongthegravelpath, borderedwitholdmoss-coveredtrees—reallygoodclimbingtreestheyseemedtobe —uptothehouse,andontotheporch. Therestoodthehorse,munchingoatsoutofasoupbowl.
"Whydoyouhaveahorseontheporch?"askedTommy. Allhorsesheknewlivedinstables.
"Well,"saidPippithoughtfully,"he’dbeinthewayinthekitchen,andhedoesn’tliketheparlor.
TommyandAnnikapattedthehorseandthenwentonintothehouse. Ithadakitchen,aparlor,andabedroom.
