Белая птичка
The Little House
Thesuspensewasawful!
Theninaloudvoice,andbowinglow,“MyLordDuke,”saidthephysicianelatedly,“Ihavethehonourtoinformyourexcellencythatyourgraceisinlove.”
Youcan’tconceivetheeffectofit.BrownieheldoutherarmstotheDukeandheflunghimselfintothem,theQueenleaptintothearmsoftheLordChamberlain,andtheladiesofthecourtleaptintothearmsofhergentlemen,foritisetiquettetofollowherexampleineverything.Thusinasinglemomentaboutfiftymarriagestookplace,forifyouleapintoeachother’sarmsitisafairywedding.Ofcourseaclergymanhastobepresent.
Howthecrowdcheeredandleapt!Trumpetsbrayed,themooncameout,andimmediatelyathousandcouplesseizedholdofitsraysasiftheywereribbonsinaMaydanceandwaltzedinwildabandonroundthefairyring.Mostgladsomesightofall,theCupidspluckedthehatedfools’capsfromtheirheadsandcastthemhighintheair.AndthenMaimiewentandspoiledeverything.Shecouldn’thelpit.Shewascrazywithdelightoverherlittlefriend’sgoodfortune,soshetookseveralstepsforwardandcriedinanecstasy,“Oh,Brownie,howsplendid!”
Everybodystoodstill,themusicceased,thelightswentout,andallinthetimeyoumaytaketosay“Ohdear!”AnawfulsenseofherperilcameuponMaimie,toolatesherememberedthatshewasalostchildinaplacewherenohumanmustbebetweenthelockingandtheopeningofthegates,sheheardthemurmurofanangrymultitude,shesawathousandswordsflashingforherblood,andsheutteredacryofterrorandfled.
