Таинственный сад
IV. Martha
Itsmellso’honeyan’there’ssuchaloto’freshair—an’th’skylookssohighan’th’beesan’skylarksmakessuchanicenoisehummin’an’singin’.Eh!Iwouldn’tliveawayfromth’moorforanythin’.”
Marylistenedtoherwithagrave,puzzledexpression.ThenativeservantsshehadbeenusedtoinIndiawerenotintheleastlikethis.Theywereobsequiousandservileanddidnotpresumetotalktotheirmastersasiftheyweretheirequals.Theymadesalaamsandcalledthem“protectorofthepoor”andnamesofthatsort.Indianservantswerecommandedtodothings,notasked.Itwasnotthecustomtosay“please”and“thankyou”andMaryhadalwaysslappedherAyahinthefacewhenshewasangry.Shewonderedalittlewhatthisgirlwoulddoifoneslappedherintheface.Shewasaround,rosy,good-naturedlookingcreature,butshehadasturdywaywhichmadeMistressMarywonderifshemightnotevenslapback—ifthepersonwhoslappedherwasonlyalittlegirl.
“Youareastrangeservant,”shesaidfromherpillows,ratherhaughtily.
Marthasatuponherheels,withherblacking-brushinherhand,andlaughed,withoutseemingtheleastoutoftemper.
“Eh!Iknowthat,”shesaid.“IftherewasagrandMissusatMisselthwaiteIshouldneverhavebeenevenoneofth’underhousemaids.ImighthavebeenlettobescullerymaidbutI’dneverhavebeenletupstairs.I’mtoocommonan’ItalktoomuchYorkshire.Butthisisafunnyhouseforallit’ssogrand.Seemslikethere’sneitherMasternorMistressexceptMr.Pitcheran’Mrs.Medlock.Mr.
