Таинственный сад
XV. Nest Building
Howdidtha’findoutabouthim?Marthawasinfinetroubleth’lasttimeshecamehome.Shesaidtha’dheardhimfrettin’an’tha’wasaskin’questionsan’shedidn’tknowwhattosay.”
Marytoldhimherstoryaboutthemidnightwutheringofthewindwhichhadwakenedherandaboutthefaintfar-offsoundsofthecomplainingvoicewhichhadledherdownthedarkcorridorswithhercandleandhadendedwithheropeningofthedoorofthedimlylightedroomwiththecarvenfour-postedbedinthecorner.Whenshedescribedthesmallivory-whitefaceandthestrangeblack-rimmedeyesDickonshookhishead.
“Them’sjustlikehismother’seyes,onlyherswasalwayslaughin’,theysay,”hesaid.“TheysayasMr.Cravencan’tbeartoseehimwhenhe’sawakean’it’sbecausehiseyesissolikehismother’san’yetlookssodifferentinhismiserablebitofaface.”
“Doyouthinkhewantstodie?”whisperedMary.
“No,buthewisheshe’dneverbeenborn.Mothershesaysthat’sth’worstthingonearthforachild.Themasisnotwantedscarceeverthrives.MesterCravenhe’dbuyanythin’asmoneycouldbuyforth’poorladbuthe’dliketoforgetashe’sonearth.Foronething,he’safraidhe’lllookathimsomedayandfindhe’sgrowedhunchback.”
“Colin’ssoafraidofithimselfthathewon’tsitup,”saidMary.“Hesayshe’salwaysthinkingthatifheshouldfeelalumpcomingheshouldgocrazyandscreamhimselftodeath.”
“Eh!heoughtn’ttolietherethinkin’thingslikethat,”saidDickon.
