Дни грёз
Mutabile Semper
ButthisMUSTbenicer,’cosifyouwantanythingatall,you’veonlyGOTtowantit,andyoucanhaveit!”
“Thatsoundsjolly,”shemurmured.“Tellmemoreaboutit,please.Tellmehowyougetthere,first.”
“I—don’t—quite—know—exactly,”Ireplied.“Ijustgo.Butgenerallyitbeginsby—well,you’regoingupabroad,clearriverinasortofaboat.You’renotrowingoranything—you’rejustmovingalong.Andthere’sbeautifulgrassmeadowsonbothsides,andtheriver’sveryfull,quiteuptothelevelofthegrass.Andyouglidealongbytheedge.Andthepeoplearehaymakingthere,andplayinggames,andwalkingabout;andtheyshouttoyou,andyoushoutbacktothem,andtheybringyouthingstoeatoutoftheirbaskets,andletyoudrinkoutoftheirbottles;andsomeof’emarethenicepeopleyoureadaboutinbooks.AndsoatlastyoucometothePalacesteps—greatbroadmarblesteps,reachingrightdowntothewater.Andthereatthestepsyoufindeverysortofboatyoucanimagine—schooners,andpunts,androw-boats,andlittlemen-of-war.Andyouhaveanysortofboatingyouwantto—rowing,orsailing,orshovingaboutinapunt!”
“I’dgosailing,”shesaiddecidedly:“andI’dsteer.No,YOU’Dhavetosteer,andI’dsitaboutonthedeck.No,Iwouldn’tthough;I’drow—atleastI’dmakeyourow,andI’dsteer.