Гадкий утёнок

           Thehenhadshortlittlelegs,soshewascalled"ChickeyShortleg." Shelaidgoodeggs,andtheoldwomanlovedherasifshehadbeenherownchild. 

           Inthemorningtheywerequicktonoticethestrangeduckling.Thecatbegantopurr,andthehenbegantocluck. 

           "Whatonearth!"Theoldwomanlookedaround,butshewasshort-sighted,andshemistooktheducklingforafatduckthathadlostitsway. "Thatwasagoodcatch,"shesaid. "NowIshallhaveduckeggs-unlessit’sadrake.Wemusttryitout." Sotheducklingwastriedoutforthreeweeks,butnotoneeggdidhelay. 

           Inthishousethecatwasmasterandthehenwasmistress. Theyalwayssaid,"Weandtheworld," fortheythoughtthemselveshalfoftheworld,andmuchthebetterhalfatthat. Theducklingthoughtthattheremightbemorethanonewayofthinking,butthehenwouldnothearofit. 

           "Canyoulayeggs?"sheasked 

           "No." 

           "Thenbesogoodastoholdyourtongue." 

           Thecatasked, "Canyouarchyourback,purr,ormakesparks?" 

           "No." 

           "Thenkeepyouropiniontoyourselfwhensensiblepeoplearetalking." 

           Theducklingsatinacorner,feelingmostdespondent.Thenherememberedthefreshairandthesunlight. Suchadesiretogoswimmingonthewaterpossessedhimthathecouldnothelptellingthehenaboutit. 

           "Whatonearthhascomeoveryou?"thehencried. "Youhaven’tathingtodo,andthat’swhyyougetsuchsillynotions. Layusanegg,orlearntopurr,andyou’llgetoverit."