Белая птичка
Pilkington’s
SoexhaustedwasIthattheyhadtocarrymetotheirhut,andgreatwasmygratitudewhenonopeningmyeyes,IfoundmyselfinthatromanticedificeinsteadofinDavyJones’slocker.AswewalkedintheGardensItoldthemofthehuttheyhadbuilt;andtheywereinflatedbutnotsurprised.Ontheotherhandtheylookedforsurprisefromme.
“Didwetellyouabouttheturtleweturnedonitsback?”askedOliver,revertingtodeedsoftheirsofwhichIhadpreviouslytoldthem.
“Youdid.”
“Whoturnedit?”demandedDavid,notasonewhoneededinformationbutafterthemannerofaschoolmaster.
“Itwasturned,”Isaid,“byDavidA——,theyoungerofthetwoyouths.”
“Whomadethemonkeysflingcocoa-nutsathim?”askedtheolderofthetwoyouths.
“OliverBailey,”Ireplied.
“WasitOliver,”askedDavidsharply,“thatfoundthecocoa-nut-treefirst?”
“Onthecontrary,”Ianswered,“itwasfirstobservedbyDavid,whoimmediatelyclimbedit,remarking,’Thisiscertainlythecocos-nucifera,for,see,dearOliver,theslendercolumnssupportingthecrownofleaveswhichfallwithagracethatnoartcanimitate.’”
“That’swhatIsaid,”remarkedDavidwithawaveofhishand.
“Isaidthingslikethat,too,”Oliverinsisted.
“No,youdidn’tthen,”saidDavid.
“Yes,Ididso.”
“No,youdidn’tso.”
“Shutup.”
“Well,then,let’shearoneyousaid.”
Oliverlookedappealinglyatme.
