Белая птичка
Peter’s Goat
”
“Then,”saidPeter,notwithoutgrimness,“stepin,ifyoufeelsosureofher,”andhehelpedMaimieintotheThrush’sNest.
“Butwhydon’tyoulookatme?”sheasked,takinghimbythearm.
Petertriedhardnottolook,hetriedtopushoff,thenhegaveagreatgulpandjumpedashoreandsatdownmiserablyinthesnow.
Shewenttohim.“Whatisit,dear,dearPeter?”shesaid,wondering.
“Oh,Maimie,”hecried,“itisn’tfairtotakeyouwithmeifyouthinkyoucangoback.Yourmother”—hegulpedagain—“youdon’tknowthemaswellasIdo.”
Andthenhetoldherthewofulstoryofhowhehadbeenbarredout,andshegaspedallthetime.“Butmymother,”shesaid,“mymother”—
“Yes,shewould,”saidPeter,“theyareallthesame.Idaresaysheislookingforanotheronealready.”
Maimiesaidaghast,“Ican’tbelieveit.Yousee,whenyouwentawayyourmotherhadnone,butmymotherhasTony,andsurelytheyaresatisfiedwhentheyhaveone.”
Peterrepliedbitterly,“YoushouldseethelettersSolomongetsfromladieswhohavesix.”
Justthentheyheardagratingcreak,followedbycreak,creak,allroundtheGardens.ItwastheOpeningoftheGates,andPeterjumpednervouslyintohisboat.HeknewMaimiewouldnotcomewithhimnow,andhewastryingbravelynottocry.ButMaimiewassobbingpainfully.
“IfIshouldbetoolate,”shecalledinagony,“oh,Peter,ifshehasgotanotheronealready!”
Againhesprangashoreasifshehadcalledhimback.
