Белая птичка
The Little House
Maimiewasoneofthekindwholiketofixadayfordoingthings,butTonywasnotthatkind,andwhensheaskedhimwhichdayhewastoremainbehindintheGardensafterLock-outhemerelyreplied,“Justsomeday;”hewasquitevagueaboutwhichdayexceptwhensheasked“Willitbeto-day?”andthenhecouldalwayssayforcertainthatitwouldnotbeto-day.Soshesawthathewaswaitingforarealgoodchance.
ThisbringsustoanafternoonwhentheGardenswerewhitewithsnow,andtherewasiceontheRoundPond,notthickenoughtoskateonbutatleastyoucouldspoilitforto-morrowbyflingingstones,andmanybrightlittleboysandgirlsweredoingthat.
WhenTonyandhissisterarrivedtheywantedtogostraighttothepond,buttheirayahsaidtheymusttakeasharpwalkfirst,andasshesaidthissheglancedatthetime-boardtoseewhentheGardensclosedthatnight.Itreadhalf-pastfive.Poorayah!sheistheonewholaughscontinuouslybecausetherearesomanywhitechildrenintheworld,butshewasnottolaughmuchmorethatday.
Well,theywentuptheBabyWalkandback,andwhentheyreturnedtothetime-boardshewassurprisedtoseethatitnowreadfiveo’clockforclosingtime.Butshewasunacquaintedwiththetrickywaysofthefairies,andsodidnotsee(asMaimieandTonysawatonce)thattheyhadchangedthehourbecausetherewastobeaballto-night.ShesaidtherewasonlytimenowtowalktothetopoftheHumpandback,andastheytrottedalongwithhershelittleguessedwhatwasthrillingtheirlittlebreasts.Youseethechancehadcomeofseeingafairyball.
