Белая птичка
Peter’s Goat
Hegaveherquiteanumberofthimbles,andthenadelightfulideacameintohishead!“Maimie,”hesaid,“willyoumarryme?”
Now,strangetotell,thesameideahadcomeatexactlythesametimeintoMaimie’shead.“Ishouldliketo,”sheanswered,“butwillthereberoominyourboatfortwo?”
“Ifyousqueezeclose,”hesaideagerly.
“Perhapsthebirdswouldbeangry?”
Heassuredherthatthebirdswouldlovetohaveher,thoughIamnotsocertainofitmyself.Alsothattherewereveryfewbirdsinwinter.“Ofcoursetheymightwantyourclothes,”hehadtoadmitratherfalteringly.
Shewassomewhatindignantatthis.
“Theyarealwaysthinkingoftheirnests,”hesaidapologetically,“andtherearesomebitsofyou”—hestrokedthefuronherpelisse—“thatwouldexcitethemverymuch.”
“Theysha’n’thavemyfur,”shesaidsharply.
“No,”hesaid,stillfondlingit,however,“no!Oh,Maimie,”hesaidrapturously,“doyouknowwhyIloveyou?Itisbecauseyouarelikeabeautifulnest.”
Somehowthismadeheruneasy.“Ithinkyouarespeakingmorelikeabirdthanaboynow,”shesaid,holdingback,andindeedhewasevenlookingratherlikeabird.“Afterall,”shesaid,“youareonlyaBetwixt-and-Between.”Butithurthimsomuchthatsheimmediatelyadded,“Itmustbeadeliciousthingtobe.”
“Comeandbeonethen,dearMaimie,”heimploredher,andtheysetofffortheboat,foritwasnowverynearOpen-Gatetime.“Andyouarenotabitlikeanest,”hewhisperedtopleaseher.
