Таинственный сад
II. Mistress Mary QuIte Contrary
Shewaswatchingthepassingbusesandcabsandpeople,butsheheardquitewellandwasmadeverycuriousaboutheruncleandtheplacehelivedin.Whatsortofaplacewasit,andwhatwouldhebelike?Whatwasahunchback?Shehadneverseenone.PerhapstherewerenoneinIndia.
Sinceshehadbeenlivinginotherpeople’shousesandhadhadnoAyah,shehadbeguntofeellonelyandtothinkqueerthoughtswhichwerenewtoher.Shehadbeguntowonderwhyshehadneverseemedtobelongtoanyoneevenwhenherfatherandmotherhadbeenalive.Otherchildrenseemedtobelongtotheirfathersandmothers,butshehadneverseemedtoreallybeanyone’slittlegirl.Shehadhadservants,andfoodandclothes,butnoonehadtakenanynoticeofher.Shedidnotknowthatthiswasbecauseshewasadisagreeablechild;butthen,ofcourse,shedidnotknowshewasdisagreeable.Sheoftenthoughtthatotherpeoplewere,butshedidnotknowthatshewassoherself.
ShethoughtMrs.Medlockthemostdisagreeablepersonshehadeverseen,withhercommon,highlycoloredfaceandhercommonfinebonnet.WhenthenextdaytheysetoutontheirjourneytoYorkshire,shewalkedthroughthestationtotherailwaycarriagewithherheadupandtryingtokeepasfarawayfromherasshecould,becauseshedidnotwanttoseemtobelongtoher.Itwouldhavemadeherangrytothinkpeopleimaginedshewasherlittlegirl.
ButMrs.Medlockwasnotintheleastdisturbedbyherandherthoughts.Shewasthekindofwomanwhowould“standnononsensefromyoungones.
