Белая птичка
The Grand Tour of the Gardens
IfIweretopointoutallthenotableplacesaswepassuptheBroadWalk,itwouldbetimetoturnbackbeforewereachthem,andIsimplywavemystickatCecco’sTree,thatmemorablespotwhereaboycalledCeccolosthispenny,and,lookingforit,foundtwopence.Therehasbeenagooddealofexcavationgoingonthereeversince.FartherupthewalkisthelittlewoodenhouseinwhichMarmadukePerryhid.ThereisnomoreawfulstoryoftheGardensbydaythanthisofMarmadukePerry,whohadbeenMary-Annishthreedaysinsuccession,andwassentencedtoappearintheBroadWalkdressedinhissister’sclothes.Hehidinthelittlewoodenhouse,andrefusedtoemergeuntiltheybroughthimknickerbockerswithpockets.
YounowtrytogototheRoundPond,butnurseshateit,becausetheyarenotreallymanly,andtheymakeyoulooktheotherway,attheBigPennyandtheBaby’sPalace.ShewasthemostcelebratedbabyoftheGardens,andlivedinthepalaceallalone,witheversomanydolls,sopeoplerangthebell,andupshegotoutofherbed,thoughitwaspastsixo’clock,andshelightedacandleandopenedthedoorinhernighty,andthentheyallcriedwithgreatrejoicings,“Hail,QueenofEngland!”WhatpuzzledDavidmostwashowsheknewwherethematcheswerekept.TheBigPennyisastatueabouther.
NextwecometotheHump,whichisthepartoftheBroadWalkwhereallthebigracesarerun,andeventhoughyouhadnointentionofrunningyoudorunwhenyoucometotheHump,itissuchafascinating,slide-downkindofplace.
