Белая птичка
The Little House
Howsheran!andallthetimehereyeswerestartingoutofherhead.Manytimesshelaydown,andthenquicklyjumpedupandranonagain.HerlittlemindwassoentangledinterrorsthatshenolongerknewshewasintheGardens.Theonethingshewassureofwasthatshemustneverceasetorun,andshethoughtshewasstillrunninglongaftershehaddroppedintheFigsandgonetosleep.Shethoughtthesnowflakesfallingonherfacewerehermotherkissinghergood-night.Shethoughthercoverletofsnowwasawarmblanket,andtriedtopullitoverherhead.Andwhensheheardtalkingthroughherdreamsshethoughtitwasmotherbringingfathertothenurserydoortolookatherassheslept.Butitwasthefairies.
Iamverygladtobeabletosaythattheynolongerdesiredtomischiefher.Whensherushedawaytheyhadrenttheairwithsuchcriesas“Slayher!”“Turnherintosomethingextremelyunpleasant!”andsoon,butthepursuitwasdelayedwhiletheydiscussedwhoshouldmarchinfront,andthisgaveDuchessBrownietimetocastherselfbeforetheQueenanddemandaboon.
Everybridehasarighttoaboon,andwhatsheaskedforwasMaimie’slife.“Anythingexceptthat,”repliedQueenMabsternly,andallthefairieschanted“Anythingexceptthat.”ButwhentheylearnedhowMaimiehadbefriendedBrownieandsoenabledhertoattendtheballtotheirgreatgloryandrenown,theygavethreehuzzasforthelittlehuman,andsetoff,likeanarmy,tothankher,thecourtadvancinginfrontandthecanopykeepingstepwithit.TheytracedMaimieeasilybyherfootprintsinthesnow.
