Таинственный сад
I. There Is No One Left
Shewaswithafairyoungmanandtheystoodtalkingtogetherinlowstrangevoices.Maryknewthefairyoungmanwholookedlikeaboy.ShehadheardthathewasaveryyoungofficerwhohadjustcomefromEngland.Thechildstaredathim,butshestaredmostathermother.Shealwaysdidthiswhenshehadachancetoseeher,becausetheMemSahib—Maryusedtocallherthatoftenerthananythingelse—wassuchatall,slim,prettypersonandworesuchlovelyclothes.Herhairwaslikecurlysilkandshehadadelicatelittlenosewhichseemedtobedisdainingthings,andshehadlargelaughingeyes.Allherclotheswerethinandfloating,andMarysaidtheywere“fulloflace.”Theylookedfulleroflacethaneverthismorning,buthereyeswerenotlaughingatall.Theywerelargeandscaredandliftedimploringlytothefairboyofficer’sface.
“Isitsoverybad?Oh,isit?”Maryheardhersay.
“Awfully,”theyoungmanansweredinatremblingvoice.“Awfully,Mrs.Lennox.Yououghttohavegonetothehillstwoweeksago.”
TheMemSahibwrungherhands.
“Oh,IknowIought!”shecried.“Ionlystayedtogotothatsillydinnerparty.WhatafoolIwas!”
Atthatverymomentsuchaloudsoundofwailingbrokeoutfromtheservants’quartersthatsheclutchedtheyoungman’sarm,andMarystoodshiveringfromheadtofoot.Thewailinggrewwilderandwilder.“Whatisit?Whatisit?”Mrs.Lennoxgasped.
“Someonehasdied,”answeredtheboyofficer.“Youdidnotsayithadbrokenoutamongyourservants.”
“Ididnotknow!”theMemSahibcried.
