Дни грёз
The Reluctant Dragon
“Iwanttotalktoyouaboutthislittlematterofthedragon,ifyou’renottiredofitbythistime.”
“Yes,comein,Boy,”saidtheSaintkindly.“Anothertaleofmiseryandwrong,Ifearme.Isitakindparent,then,ofwhomthetyranthasbereftyou?Orsometendersisterorbrother?Well,itshallsoonbeavenged.”
“Nothingofthesort,”saidtheBoy.“There’samisunderstandingsomewhere,andIwanttoputitright.Thefactis,thisisaGOODdragon.”
“Exactly,”saidSt.George,smilingpleasantly,“Iquiteunderstand.AgoodDRAGON.Believeme,Idonotintheleastregretthatheisanadversaryworthyofmysteel,andnofeeblespecimenofhisnoxioustribe.”
“Buthe’sNOTanoxioustribe,”criedtheBoydistressedly.“Ohdear,ohdear,howSTUPIDmenarewhentheygetanideaintotheirheads!Itellyouhe’saGOODdragon,andafriendofmine,andtellsmethemostbeautifulstoriesyoueverheard,allaboutoldtimesandwhenhewaslittle.Andhe’sbeensokindtomother,andmother’ddoanythingforhim.Andfatherlikeshimtoo,thoughfatherdoesn’tholdwithartandpoetrymuch,andalwaysfallsasleepwhenthedragonstartstalkingaboutSTYLE.Butthefactis,nobodycanhelplikinghimwhenoncetheyknowhim.He’ssoengagingandsotrustful,andassimpleasachild!”
“Sitdown,anddrawyourchairup,”saidSt.George.“Ilikeafellowwhosticksupforhisfriends,andI’msurethedragonhashisgoodpoints,ifhe’sgotafriendlikeyou.Butthat’snotthequestion.
