Таинственный сад
I. There Is No One Left
SoifMaryhadnotchosentoreallywanttoknowhowtoreadbooksshewouldneverhavelearnedherlettersatall.
Onefrightfullyhotmorning,whenshewasaboutnineyearsold,sheawakenedfeelingverycross,andshebecamecrosserstillwhenshesawthattheservantwhostoodbyherbedsidewasnotherAyah.
“Whydidyoucome?”shesaidtothestrangewoman.“Iwillnotletyoustay.SendmyAyahtome.”
Thewomanlookedfrightened,butsheonlystammeredthattheAyahcouldnotcomeandwhenMarythrewherselfintoapassionandbeatandkickedher,shelookedonlymorefrightenedandrepeatedthatitwasnotpossiblefortheAyahtocometoMissieSahib.
Therewassomethingmysteriousintheairthatmorning.Nothingwasdoneinitsregularorderandseveralofthenativeservantsseemedmissing,whilethosewhomMarysawslunkorhurriedaboutwithashyandscaredfaces.ButnoonewouldtellheranythingandherAyahdidnotcome.Shewasactuallyleftaloneasthemorningwenton,andatlastshewanderedoutintothegardenandbegantoplaybyherselfunderatreeneartheveranda.Shepretendedthatshewasmakingaflower-bed,andshestuckbigscarlethibiscusblossomsintolittleheapsofearth,allthetimegrowingmoreandmoreangryandmutteringtoherselfthethingsshewouldsayandthenamesshewouldcallSaidiewhenshereturned.
“Pig!Pig!DaughterofPigs!”shesaid,becausetocallanativeapigistheworstinsultofall.
Shewasgrindingherteethandsayingthisoverandoveragainwhensheheardhermothercomeoutontheverandawithsomeone.
