Дни грёз
The Reluctant Dragon
You’llhavetobeexterminated,accordingtotheirwayoflookingatit!You’reascourge,andapest,andabanefulmonster!”
“Notawordoftruthinit,”saidthedragon,wagginghisheadsolemnly.“Character’llbearthestrictestinvestigation.Andnow,there’salittlesonnet-thingIwasworkingonwhenyouappearedonthescene—”
“Oh,ifyouWON’Tbesensible,”criedtheBoy,gettingup,“I’mgoingoffhome.No,Ican’tstopforsonnets;mymother’ssittingup.I’lllookyouupto-morrow,sometimeorother,anddoforgoodness’saketryandrealizethatyou’reapestilentialscourge,oryou’llfindyourselfinamostawfulfix.Good-night!”
TheBoyfounditaneasymattertosetthemindofhisparents’ateaseabouthisnewfriend.Theyhadalwaysleftthatbranchtohim,andtheytookhiswordwithoutamurmur.Theshepherdwasformallyintroducedandmanycomplimentsandkindinquirieswereexchanged.Hiswife,however,thoughexpressingherwillingnesstodoanythingshecould—tomendthings,orsetthecavetorights,orcookalittlesomethingwhenthedragonhadbeenporingoversonnetsandforgottenhismeals,asmalethingsWILLdo,couldnotbebroughttorecognizehimformally.Thefactthathewasadragonand“theydidn’tknowwhohewas”seemedtocountforeverythingwithher.
