Таинственный сад
XXI. Ben Weatherstaff
“Layin’tha’badnessonarobin—notbutwhathe’simpidintenowforanythin’.Himshowin’theeth’way!Him!Eh!tha’youngnowt”—shecouldseehisnextwordsburstoutbecausehewasoverpoweredbycuriosity—“howeveri’thisworlddidtha’getin?”
“Itwastherobinwhoshowedmetheway,”sheprotestedobstinately.“Hedidn’tknowhewasdoingitbuthedid.AndIcan’ttellyoufromherewhileyou’reshakingyourfistatme.”
Hestoppedshakinghisfistverysuddenlyatthatverymomentandhisjawactuallydroppedashestaredoverherheadatsomethinghesawcomingoverthegrasstowardhim.
AtthefirstsoundofhistorrentofwordsColinhadbeensosurprisedthathehadonlysatupandlistenedasifhewerespellbound.ButinthemidstofithehadrecoveredhimselfandbeckonedimperiouslytoDickon.
“Wheelmeoverthere!”hecommanded.“Wheelmequitecloseandstoprightinfrontofhim!”
Andthis,ifyouplease,thisiswhatBenWeatherstaffbeheldandwhichmadehisjawdrop.AwheeledchairwithluxuriouscushionsandrobeswhichcametowardhimlookingratherlikesomesortofStateCoachbecauseayoungRajahleanedbackinitwithroyalcommandinhisgreatblack-rimmedeyesandathinwhitehandextendedhaughtilytowardhim.AnditstoppedrightunderBenWeatherstaff’snose.Itwasreallynowonderhismouthdroppedopen.
“DoyouknowwhoIam?”demandedtheRajah.
HowBenWeatherstaffstared!Hisredoldeyesfixedthemselvesonwhatwasbeforehimasifhewereseeingaghost.
