Гадкий утёнок

           "That’safrightfullybigduckling,"shesaid. "Hedoesn’tlooktheleastliketheothers. Canhereallybeaturkeybaby? Well,well!I’llsoonfindout.Intothewaterheshallgo,evenifIhavetoshovehiminmyself." 

           Nextdaytheweatherwasperfectlysplendid,andthesunshonedownonallthegreenburdockleaves. Themotherduckledherwholefamilydowntothemoat. Splash!shetooktothewater. "Quack,quack,"saidshe,andoneducklingafteranotherplungedin. Thewaterwentovertheirheads,buttheycameupinaflash,andfloatedtoperfection. Theirlegsworkedautomatically,andtheywereallthereinthewater.Eventhebig,uglygrayonewasswimmingalong. 

           "Why,that’snoturkey,"shesaid. "Seehownicelyheuseshislegs,andhowstraightheholdshimself. He’smyveryownsonafterall,andquitegood-lookingifyoulookathimproperly. Quack,quackcomewithme. I’llleadyououtintotheworldandintroduceyoutotheduckyard. Butkeepclosetomesothatyouwon’tgetsteppedon,andwatchoutforthecat!" 

           Thustheysalliedintotheduckyard,whereallwasinanuproarbecausetwofamilieswerefightingovertheheadofaneel. Butthecatgotit,afterall. 

           "Yousee,that’sthewayoftheworld." Themotherducklickedherbillbecauseshewantedtheeel’sheadforherself. "Stiryourlegs. Bustleabout,andmindthatyoubendyourneckstothatoldduckoverthere. She’sthenoblestofusall,andhasSpanishbloodinher.That’swhyshe’ssofat.