Белая птичка
The Cricket Match
Whenheultimatelygotpastmydefence,withajumpyonewhichbrokeawkwardlyfromtheoff,Ihadfetchedtwenty-threesothatheneededtwentytowin,alongerhandthanhehadeveryetmade.AsIgavehimthebathelookedbrave,butsomethingwetfellonmyhand,andthenasuddenfearseizedmelestDavidshouldnotwin.
Attheveryoutset,however,heseemedtomasterthebowling,andsoonfetchedabouttenrunsinaclassicmanner.ThenItossedhimaYorkerwhichhemissedanditwentoffatatangentassoonasithadreachedthetree.“Notout,”Icriedhastily,forthefaceheturnedtomewasterrible.
Soonthereafteranotherincidenthappened,whichIshallalwaysrecallwithpleasure.Hehadcaughttheballtoohighonthebat,andIjustmissedthecatch.“Dashitall!”saidIirritably,andwasabouttoresumebowling,whenInoticedthathewasunhappy.Hehesitated,tookuphispositionatthewicket,andthencametomemanfully.“Iamacad,”hesaidindistress,“forwhentheballwasintheairIprayed.”HehadprayedthatIshouldmissthecatch,andasIthinkIhavealreadytoldyou,itisconsideredunfairintheGardenstoprayforvictory.
MysplendidDavid!Hehasthefaultsofotherlittleboys,buthehasanoblesenseoffairness.“Weshallcallitano-ball,David,”Isaidgravely.
Isupposethesuspenseofthereaderisnowpainful,andthereforeIshallsayatoncethatDavidwonthematchwithtwolovelyfours,theoneovermyheadandtheothertolegallalongtheground
