Таинственный сад
V. The Cry In The Corridor
”Itseemedtobe“wutherin’”louderthanever.
Atthatmomentaverygoodthingwashappeningtoher.Fourgoodthingshadhappenedtoher,infact,sinceshecametoMisselthwaiteManor.Shehadfeltasifshehadunderstoodarobinandthathehadunderstoodher;shehadruninthewinduntilherbloodhadgrownwarm;shehadbeenhealthilyhungryforthefirsttimeinherlife;andshehadfoundoutwhatitwastobesorryforsomeone.
Butasshewaslisteningtothewindshebegantolistentosomethingelse.Shedidnotknowwhatitwas,becauseatfirstshecouldscarcelydistinguishitfromthewinditself.Itwasacurioussound—itseemedalmostasifachildwerecryingsomewhere.Sometimesthewindsoundedratherlikeachildcrying,butpresentlyMistressMaryfeltquitesurethissoundwasinsidethehouse,notoutsideit.Itwasfaraway,butitwasinside.SheturnedroundandlookedatMartha.
“Doyouhearanyonecrying?”shesaid.
Marthasuddenlylookedconfused.
“No,”sheanswered.“It’sth’wind.Sometimesitsoundslikeasifsomeonewaslostonth’mooran’wailin’.It’sgotallsortso’sounds.”
“Butlisten,”saidMary.“It’sinthehouse—downoneofthoselongcorridors.”
Andatthatverymomentadoormusthavebeenopenedsomewheredownstairs;foragreatrushingdraftblewalongthepassageandthedooroftheroomtheysatinwasblownopenwithacrash,andastheybothjumpedtotheirfeetthelightwasblownoutandthecryingsoundwassweptdownthefarcorridorsothatitwastobeheardmoreplainlythanever.
“There!”saidMary