Карлсон, который живет на крыше
Chapter 3
"Doyoulikeme?"askedBetty’sRoger,shyly.
Heneverhadananswer,foratthisverymomentthesharpbeamfromthepocketlightcutacrossthegrayshadowsoftheroomandshonerightinhisface.Hesprangup,andBettygaveacry;therewasaburstofgigglingandthesoundofhastyshufflingfeet,retreatinginthedirectionofthehall.
Youcannotseeanythingwhenyouhavejustbeenblindedbyalight.Butyoucanhear.AndBettyandRogerheardthelaughter—mischievous,delightedlaughterthatseemedtobubblefromthedirectionofthecurtain.
"It’smyhorridlittlebrother,"saidBetty."I’llteachhimalesson…"
Ericcouldnotstoplaughing.
"Ofcourseshelikesyou,"heshouted."Andwhyshouldn’tshe?Bettylikesallboys,andthat’safact."
Then,inthesilencethatfollowed,therewasathudandstillmorelaughter.
"Calm,becalm!"whisperedKarlssonwhenthetentcollapsedintheirwildflightforthedoor.
Ericwasascalmashecouldbeinthecircumstances,althoughhewasstillbubblingwithlaughter,andKarlssonhadfallenrightacrosshimsothathedidnotquiteknowwhichlegswerehisownandwhichwereKarlsson’s,andheknewthatBettywouldcatchupwiththematanymoment.
TheyscrambledtotheirfeetasfastastheycouldandrushedtowardEric’sroominwildpanic,becauseBettywasclosebehind.
"Calm,becalm!"whisperedKarlsson,andhisfatlittlelegsbeatlikedrumsticksundertheblanketasheran
