Дни грёз
Mutabile Semper
Andthenwe’d—Oh,no!I’lltellyouwhatwe’ddo!We’djustsitinapuntanddabble!”
“Ofcoursewe’lldojustwhatyoulike,”Isaidhospitably;butalreadyIwasbeginningtofeelmylibertyofactionsomewhatcurtailedbythisexigentvisitorIhadsorashlyadmittedintomysanctum.
“Idon’tthinkwe’dboatatall,”shefinallydecided.“It’salwayssoWOBBLY.Wheredoyoucometonext?”
“Yougoupthesteps,”Icontinued,“andinatthedoor,andtheveryfirstplaceyoucometoistheChocolate-room!”
Shebrightenedupatthis,andIheardhermurmurwithgusto,“Chocolate-room!”
“It’sgoteverysortofchocolateyoucanthinkof,”Iwenton:“softchocolate,withstickystuffinside,whiteandpink,whatgirlslike;andhardshinychocolate,thatcrackswhenyoubiteit,andtakessuchanicelongtimetosuck!”
“Ilikethesoftstuffbest,”shesaid:“’cosyoucaneatsuchalotmoreofit!”
Thiswastomeanewaspectofthechocolatequestion,andIregardedherwithinterestandsomerespect.Withus,chocolatewasnonetoocommonathing,and,wheneverwehappenedtocomebyany,weresortedtothequaintestdevicesinordertomakeitlastout.Still,legendshadreachedusofchildrenwhoactuallyhad,fromtimetotime,asmuchchocolateastheycouldpossiblyeat;andhere,apparently,wasoneofthem.
“Youcanhaveallthecreams,”Isaidmagnanimously,“andI’lleatthehardsticks,’cosIlike’embest.”
“Oh,butyoumustn’t!”shecriedimpetuously.
