Белая птичка
The Pleasantest Club in London
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“Andthen—andthen—andthen—,”saidIrene,notartisticallytoincreasethesuspense,butbecauseitwasallsoglorioustoher.
“Tellme—tellmequick,”criedDavid,thoughheknewthetalebyheart.
“Shesitsdownlike,”saidIrene,tremblinginsecond-sight,“andshetriesontheglassslipper,anditfitshertoaT,andthentheprince,hecriesinaringingvoice,’Thishereismytruelove,Cinderella,whatnowImakesmylawfulweddedwife.’”
Thenshewouldcomeoutofherdream,andlookroundatthegrandeesoftheGardenswithanextraordinaryelation.“Her,aswasonlyakitchendrudge,”shewouldsayinastrangesoftvoiceandwithshiningeyes,“butwastrueandfaithfulinwordanddeed,suchwasherreward.”
IamsurethathadthefairygodmotherappearedjustthenandtouchedIrenewithherwand,Davidwouldhavebeeninterestedratherthanastonished.Asformyself,IbelieveIhavesurprisedthislittlegirl’ssecret.Sheknowstherearenofairygodmothersnowadays,butshehopesthatifsheisalwaystrueandfaithfulshemaysomedayturnintoaladyinwordanddeed,likethemistresswhomsheadores.
Itisadeadsecret,aDruryLanechild’sromance;butwhatanamountofheavyartillerywillbebroughttobearagainstitinthissadLondonofours.Notmuchchanceforher,Isuppose.
Goodlucktoyou,Irene.
