Таинственный сад
XIV. A Young Rajah
“Buthedoesn’tcallitMagic.Hesaysit’sbecausehelivesonthemoorsomuchandheknowstheirways.Hesayshefeelssometimesasifhewasabirdorarabbithimself,helikesthemso.Ithinkheaskedtherobinquestions.Itseemedasiftheytalkedtoeachotherinsoftchirps.”
Colinlaybackonhiscushionandhiseyesgrewlargerandlargerandthespotsonhischeeksburned.
“Tellmesomemoreabouthim,”hesaid.
“Heknowsallabouteggsandnests,”Marywenton.“Andheknowswherefoxesandbadgersandotterslive.Hekeepsthemsecretsothatotherboyswon’tfindtheirholesandfrightenthem.Heknowsabouteverythingthatgrowsorlivesonthemoor.”
“Doeshelikethemoor?”saidColin.“Howcanhewhenit’ssuchagreat,bare,drearyplace?”
“It’sthemostbeautifulplace,”protestedMary.“Thousandsoflovelythingsgrowonitandtherearethousandsoflittlecreaturesallbusybuildingnestsandmakingholesandburrowsandchipperingorsingingorsqueakingtoeachother.Theyaresobusyandhavingsuchfunundertheearthorinthetreesorheather.It’stheirworld.”
“Howdoyouknowallthat?”saidColin,turningonhiselbowtolookather.
“Ihaveneverbeenthereonce,really,”saidMarysuddenlyremembering.“Ionlydroveoveritinthedark.Ithoughtitwashideous.MarthatoldmeaboutitfirstandthenDickon.WhenDickontalksaboutityoufeelasifyousawthingsandheardthemandasifyouwerestandingintheheatherwiththesunshiningandthegorsesmellinglikehoney—andallfullofbeesandbutterflies.
