Таинственный сад
VI. “There Was Someone Crying—there Was!”
Inoneroom,whichlookedlikealady’ssitting-room,thehangingswereallembroideredvelvet,andinacabinetwereaboutahundredlittleelephantsmadeofivory.Theywereofdifferentsizes,andsomehadtheirmahoutsorpalanquinsontheirbacks.Someweremuchbiggerthantheothersandsomeweresotinythattheyseemedonlybabies.MaryhadseencarvedivoryinIndiaandsheknewallaboutelephants.Sheopenedthedoorofthecabinetandstoodonafootstoolandplayedwiththeseforquitealongtime.Whenshegottiredshesettheelephantsinorderandshutthedoorofthecabinet.
Inallherwanderingsthroughthelongcorridorsandtheemptyrooms,shehadseennothingalive;butinthisroomshesawsomething.Justaftershehadclosedthecabinetdoorsheheardatinyrustlingsound.Itmadeherjumpandlookaroundatthesofabythefireplace,fromwhichitseemedtocome.Inthecornerofthesofatherewasacushion,andinthevelvetwhichcoveredittherewasahole,andoutoftheholepeepedatinyheadwithapairoffrightenedeyesinit.
Marycreptsoftlyacrosstheroomtolook.Thebrighteyesbelongedtoalittlegraymouse,andthemousehadeatenaholeintothecushionandmadeacomfortablenestthere.Sixbabymicewerecuddledupasleepnearher.Iftherewasnooneelsealiveinthehundredroomsthereweresevenmicewhodidnotlooklonelyatall.
“Iftheywouldn’tbesofrightenedIwouldtakethembackwithme,”saidMary.
Shehadwanderedaboutlongenoughtofeeltootiredtowanderanyfarther,andsheturnedback.
