Белая птичка
The Little House
“Iwouldn’taskitofyou,”sheassuredthem,“ifIthoughtitwaswrong,”andofcourseafterthistheycouldnotwellcarrytales.Theythensaid,“Well-a-day,”and“Suchislife!”fortheycanbefrightfullysarcastic,butshefeltsorryforthoseofthemwhohadnocrutches,andshesaidgood-naturedly,“BeforeIgotothefairies’ball,Ishouldliketotakeyouforawalkoneatatime;youcanleanonme,youknow.”
Atthistheyclappedtheirhands,andsheescortedthemuptotheBabyWalkandbackagain,oneatatime,puttinganarmorafingerroundtheveryfrail,settingtheirlegrightwhenitgottooridiculous,andtreatingtheforeignonesquiteascourteouslyastheEnglish,thoughshecouldnotunderstandawordtheysaid.
Theybehavedwellonthewhole,thoughsomewhimperedthatshehadnottakenthemasfarasshetookNancyorGraceorDorothy,andothersjaggedher,butitwasquiteunintentional,andshewastoomuchofaladytocryout.Somuchwalkingtiredherandshewasanxioustobeofftotheball,butshenolongerfeltafraid.Thereasonshefeltnomorefearwasthatitwasnownight-time,andinthedark,youremember,Maimiewasalwaysratherstrange.
Theywerenowloathtolethergo,for,“Ifthefairiesseeyou,”theywarnedher,“theywillmischiefyou,stabyoutodeathorcompelyoutonursetheirchildrenorturnyouintosomethingtedious,likeanevergreenoak.”Astheysaidthistheylookedwithaffectedpityatanevergreenoak,forinwintertheyareveryenviousoftheevergreens.
