Таинственный сад
XV. Nest Building
“Whydoesitmakeyouangrywhenyouarelookedat?”sheinquiredoneday.
“Ialwayshatedit,”heanswered,“evenwhenIwasverylittle.ThenwhentheytookmetotheseasideandIusedtolieinmycarriageeverybodyusedtostareandladieswouldstopandtalktomynurseandthentheywouldbegintowhisperandIknewthentheyweresayingIshouldn’tlivetogrowup.Thensometimestheladieswouldpatmycheeksandsay‘Poorchild!’OncewhenaladydidthatIscreamedoutloudandbitherhand.Shewassofrightenedsheranaway.”
“Shethoughtyouhadgonemadlikeadog,”saidMary,notatalladmiringly.
“Idon’tcarewhatshethought,”saidColin,frowning.
“Iwonderwhyyoudidn’tscreamandbitemewhenIcameintoyourroom?”saidMary.Thenshebegantosmileslowly.
“Ithoughtyouwereaghostoradream,”hesaid.“Youcan’tbiteaghostoradream,andifyouscreamtheydon’tcare.”
“Wouldyouhateitif—ifaboylookedatyou?”Maryaskeduncertainly.
Helaybackonhiscushionandpausedthoughtfully.
“There’soneboy,”hesaidquiteslowly,asifhewerethinkingovereveryword,“there’soneboyIbelieveIshouldn’tmind.It’sthatboywhoknowswherethefoxeslive—Dickon.”
“I’msureyouwouldn’tmindhim,”saidMary.
“Thebirdsdon’tandotheranimals,”hesaid,stillthinkingitover,“perhapsthat’swhyIshouldn’t.He’sasortofanimalcharmerandIamaboyanimal.
