Таинственный сад
XIV. A Young Rajah
”
“Youneverseeanythingifyouareill,”saidColinrestlessly.Helookedlikeapersonlisteningtoanewsoundinthedistanceandwonderingwhatitwas.
“Youcan’tifyoustayinaroom,”saidMary.
“Icouldn’tgoonthemoor,”hesaidinaresentfultone.
Marywassilentforaminuteandthenshesaidsomethingbold.
“Youmight—sometime.”
Hemovedasifhewerestartled.
“Goonthemoor!HowcouldI?Iamgoingtodie.”
“Howdoyouknow?”saidMaryunsympathetically.Shedidn’tlikethewayhehadoftalkingaboutdying.Shedidnotfeelverysympathetic.Shefeltratherasifhealmostboastedaboutit.
“Oh,I’vehearditeversinceIremember,”heansweredcrossly.“TheyarealwayswhisperingaboutitandthinkingIdon’tnotice.TheywishIwould,too.”
MistressMaryfeltquitecontrary.Shepinchedherlipstogether.
“IftheywishedIwould,”shesaid,“Iwouldn’t.Whowishesyouwould?”
“Theservants—andofcourseDr.CravenbecausehewouldgetMisselthwaiteandberichinsteadofpoor.Hedaren’tsayso,buthealwayslookscheerfulwhenIamworse.WhenIhadtyphoidfeverhisfacegotquitefat.Ithinkmyfatherwishesit,too.”
“Idon’tbelievehedoes,”saidMaryquiteobstinately.
ThatmadeColinturnandlookatheragain.
“Don’tyou?”hesaid.
Andthenhelaybackonhiscushionandwasstill,asifhewerethinking.Andtherewasquitealongsilence.Perhapstheywerebothofthemthinkingstrangethingschildrendonotusuallythinkof.
