Гадкий утёнок

           Seethatredragaroundherleg? That’sawonderfulthing,andthehighestdistinctionaduckcanget. Itshowsthattheydon’twanttoloseher, andthatshe’stohavespecialattentionfrommanandbeast. Shakeyourselves!Don’tturnyourtoesin. Awell-bredducklingturnshistoeswayout,justashisfatherandmotherdo-thisway. Sothen! Nowduckyournecksandsayquack!" 

           Theydidasshetoldthem,buttheotherducksaroundthemlookedonandsaidrightoutloud, "Seehere!Mustwehavethisbroodtoo,justasifthereweren’tenoughofusalready?And-fie!whatanugly-lookingfellowthatducklingis!Wewon’tstandforhim." Oneduckchargedupandbithisneck. 

           "Lethimalone,"hismothersaid. "Heisn’tdoinganyharm." 

           "Possiblynot,"saidtheduckwhobithim,"buthe’stoobigandstrange,andthereforeheneedsagoodwhacking." 

           "Whatnice-lookingchildrenyouhave,Mother,"saidtheoldduckwiththeragaroundherleg. "Theyareallprettyexceptthatone.Hedidn’tcomeoutsowell. It’sapityyoucan’thatchhimagain." 

           "Thatcan’tbemanaged,yourladyship,"saidthemother. "Heisn’tsohandsome,buthe’sasgoodascanbe,andheswimsjustaswellastherest,or,Ishouldsay,evenalittlebetterthantheydo. Ihopehislookswillimprovewithage,andafterawhilehewon’tseemsobig. Hetooktoolongintheegg,andthat’swhyhisfigureisn’tallthatitshouldbe." Shepinchedhisneckandpreenedhisfeathers. "Moreover,he’sadrake,soitwon’tmattersomuch.