Таинственный сад
XIV. A Young Rajah
“DoyoumeanMagic?”inquiredMary.“I’veheardaboutMagicinIndia,butIcan’tmakeit.IjustwentintohisroomandIwassosurprisedtoseehimIstoodandstared.Andthenheturnedroundandstaredatme.AndhethoughtIwasaghostoradreamandIthoughtperhapshewas.Anditwassoqueerbeingtherealonetogetherinthemiddleofthenightandnotknowingabouteachother.Andwebegantoaskeachotherquestions.AndwhenIaskedhimifImustgoawayhesaidImustnot.”
“Th’world’scomin’toaend!”gaspedMartha.
“Whatisthematterwithhim?”askedMary.
“Nobodyknowsforsureandcertain,”saidMartha.“Mr.Cravenwentoffhisheadlikewhenhewasborn.Th’doctorsthoughthe’dhavetobeputina’sylum.ItwasbecauseMrs.CravendiedlikeItoldyou.Hewouldn’tseteyesonth’baby.Hejustravedandsaidit’dbeanotherhunchbacklikehimandit’dbetterdie.”
“IsColinahunchback?”Maryasked.“Hedidn’tlooklikeone.”
“Heisn’tyet,”saidMartha.“Buthebeganallwrong.Mothersaidthattherewasenoughtroubleandraginginth’housetosetanychildwrong.Theywasafraidhisbackwasweakan’they’vealwaysbeentakin’careofit—keepin’himlyin’downandnotlettin’himwalk.Oncetheymadehimwearabracebuthefrettedsohewasdownrightill.Thenabigdoctorcametoseehiman’madethemtakeitoff.Hetalkedtoth’otherdoctorquiterough—inapoliteway.Hesaidthere’dbeentoomuchmedicineandtoomuchlettin’himhavehisownway.
