Таинственный сад
IV. Martha
Craven,hewon’tbetroubledaboutanythin’whenhe’shere,an’he’snearlyalwaysaway.Mrs.Medlockgavemeth’placeouto’kindness.ShetoldmeshecouldneverhavedoneitifMisselthwaitehadbeenlikeotherbighouses.”
“Areyougoingtobemyservant?”Maryasked,stillinherimperiouslittleIndianway.
Marthabegantorubhergrateagain.
“I’mMrs.Medlock’sservant,”shesaidstoutly.“An’she’sMr.Craven’s—butI’mtodothehousemaid’sworkupherean’waitonyouabit.Butyouwon’tneedmuchwaitin’on.”
“Whoisgoingtodressme?”demandedMary.
Marthasatuponherheelsagainandstared.ShespokeinbroadYorkshireinheramazement.
“Canna’tha’dressthysen!”shesaid.
“Whatdoyoumean?Idon’tunderstandyourlanguage,”saidMary.
“Eh!Iforgot,”Marthasaid.“Mrs.MedlocktoldmeI’dhavetobecarefuloryouwouldn’tknowwhatIwassayin’.Imeancan’tyouputonyourownclothes?”
“No,”answeredMary,quiteindignantly.“Ineverdidinmylife.MyAyahdressedme,ofcourse.”
“Well,”saidMartha,evidentlynotintheleastawarethatshewasimpudent,“it’stimetha’shouldlearn.Tha’cannotbeginyounger.It’lldotheegoodtowaitonthysenabit.Mymotheralwayssaidshecouldn’tseewhygrandpeople’schildrendidn’tturnoutfairfools—whatwithnursesan’bein’washedan’dressedan’tookouttowalkasiftheywaspuppies!”
“ItisdifferentinIndia,”saidMistressMarydisdainfully.Shecouldscarcelystandthis.
ButMarthawasnotatallcrushed.
