Таинственный сад
XXIII. Magic
FiredbyrecollectionsoffakirsanddevoteesinillustrationsColinsuggestedthattheyshouldallsitcross-leggedunderthetreewhichmadeacanopy.
“Itwillbelikesittinginasortoftemple,”saidColin.“I’mrathertiredandIwanttositdown.”
“Eh!”saidDickon,“tha’mustn’tbeginbysayin’tha’rttired.Tha’mightspoilth’Magic.”
Colinturnedandlookedathim—intohisinnocentroundeyes.
“That’strue,”hesaidslowly.“ImustonlythinkoftheMagic.”
Itallseemedmostmajesticandmysteriouswhentheysatdownintheircircle.BenWeatherstafffeltasifhehadsomehowbeenledintoappearingataprayer-meeting.Ordinarilyhewasveryfixedinbeingwhathecalled“agen’prayer-meetin’s”butthisbeingtheRajah’saffairhedidnotresentitandwasindeedinclinedtobegratifiedatbeingcalledupontoassist.MistressMaryfeltsolemnlyenraptured.Dickonheldhisrabbitinhisarm,andperhapshemadesomecharmer’ssignalnooneheard,forwhenhesatdown,cross-leggedliketherest,thecrow,thefox,thesquirrelsandthelambslowlydrewnearandmadepartofthecircle,settlingeachintoaplaceofrestasifoftheirowndesire.
“The‘creatures’havecome,”saidColingravely.“Theywanttohelpus.”
Colinreallylookedquitebeautiful,Marythought.Heheldhisheadhighasifhefeltlikeasortofpriestandhisstrangeeyeshadawonderfullookinthem.Thelightshoneonhimthroughthetreecanopy.
“Nowwewillbegin,”hesaid.
