Белая птичка
The Little House
Itisalwayseasytodiscoverwhereafairies’ballisbeingheld,asribbonsarestretchedbetweenitandallthepopulouspartsoftheGardens,onwhichthoseinvitedmaywalktothedancewithoutwettingtheirpumps.Thisnighttheribbonswereredandlookedveryprettyonthesnow.
Maimiewalkedalongsideoneofthemforsomedistancewithoutmeetinganybody,butatlastshesawafairycavalcadeapproaching.Tohersurprisetheyseemedtobereturningfromtheball,andshehadjusttimetohidefromthembybendingherkneesandholdingoutherarmsandpretendingtobeagardenchair.Thereweresixhorsemeninfrontandsixbehind,inthemiddlewalkedaprimladywearingalongtrainheldupbytwopages,andonthetrain,asifitwereacouch,reclinedalovelygirl,forinthiswaydoaristocraticfairiestravelabout.Shewasdressedingoldenrain,butthemostenviablepartofherwasherneck,whichwasblueincolourandofavelvettexture,andofcourseshowedoffherdiamondnecklaceasnowhitethroatcouldhaveglorifiedit.Thehigh-bornfairiesobtainthisadmiredeffectbyprickingtheirskin,whichletsthebluebloodcomethroughanddyethem,andyoucannotimagineanythingsodazzlingunlessyouhaveseentheladies’bustsinthejewellers’windows.
