Таинственный сад
XIV. A Young Rajah
“IlikethegranddoctorfromLondon,becausehemadethemtaketheironthingoff,”saidMaryatlast“Didhesayyouweregoingtodie?”
“No.”
“Whatdidhesay?”
“Hedidn’twhisper,”Colinanswered.“PerhapsheknewIhatedwhispering.Iheardhimsayonethingquitealoud.Hesaid,‘Theladmightliveifhewouldmakeuphismindtoit.Puthiminthehumor.’Itsoundedasifhewasinatemper.”
“I’lltellyouwhowouldputyouinthehumor,perhaps,”saidMaryreflecting.Shefeltasifshewouldlikethisthingtobesettledonewayortheother.“IbelieveDickonwould.He’salwaystalkingaboutlivethings.Henevertalksaboutdeadthingsorthingsthatareill.He’salwayslookingupintheskytowatchbirdsflying—orlookingdownattheearthtoseesomethinggrowing.Hehassuchroundblueeyesandtheyaresowideopenwithlookingabout.Andhelaughssuchabiglaughwithhiswidemouth—andhischeeksareasred—asredascherries.”
Shepulledherstoolnearertothesofaandherexpressionquitechangedattheremembranceofthewidecurvingmouthandwideopeneyes.
“Seehere,”shesaid.“Don’tletustalkaboutdying;Idon’tlikeit.Letustalkaboutliving.LetustalkandtalkaboutDickon.Andthenwewilllookatyourpictures.”
Itwasthebestthingshecouldhavesaid.TotalkaboutDickonmeanttotalkaboutthemoorandaboutthecottageandthefourteenpeoplewholivedinitonsixteenshillingsaweek—andthechildrenwhogotfatonthemoorgrasslikethewildponies.
