Белая птичка
The Grand Tour of the Gardens
Itallhappened,Ishouldsay,longago,andthisisnottheMabelGreywhomDavidknows.
ReturninguptheBroadWalkwehaveonourrighttheBabyWalk,whichissofullofperambulatorsthatyoucouldcrossfromsidetosidesteppingonbabies,butthenurseswon’tletyoudoit.FromthiswalkapassagecalledBunting’sThumb,becauseitisthatlength,leadsintoPicnicStreet,wheretherearerealkettles,andchestnut-blossomfallsintoyourmugasyouaredrinking.Quitecommonchildrenpicnicherealso,andtheblossomfallsintotheirmugsjustthesame.
NextcomesSt.Govor’sWell,whichwasfullofwaterwhenMalcolmtheBoldfellintoit.Hewashismother’sfavourite,andheletherputherarmroundhisneckinpublicbecauseshewasawidow,buthewasalsopartialtoadventuresandlikedtoplaywithachimney-sweepwhohadkilledagoodmanybears.Thesweep’snamewasSooty,andonedaywhentheywereplayingnearthewell,MalcolmfellinandwouldhavebeendrownedhadnotSootydivedinandrescuedhim,andthewaterhadwashedSootycleanandhenowstoodrevealedasMalcolm’slong-lostfather.SoMalcolmwouldnotlethismotherputherarmroundhisneckanymore.
BetweenthewellandtheRoundPondarethecricket-pitches,andfrequentlythechoosingofsidesexhaustssomuchtimethatthereisscarcelyanycricket.Everybodywantstobatfirst,andassoonasheisouthebowlsunlessyouarethebetterwrestler,andwhileyouarewrestlingwithhimthefieldershavescatteredtoplayatsomethingelse.
