Дни грёз
A Saga Of The Seas
Elelenaofthenursery.AsIclimbedthestair,mythoughtsrevertedsomehowtoagamewehadbeenplayingthatverymorning.
ItwasthegoodoldgameofRafts,—agamethatwillbeplayedtillalltheoceansaredryandallthetreesintheworldarefelled—andafter.Andwewereallcrowdedtogetherontheprecariouslittleplatform,andSelinaoccupiedeverybitasmuchroomasIdid,andCharlotte’slegsdidn’tdangleoveranymorethanHarold’s.Thepitilesssunoverheadbeatonusallwithtropicimpartiality,andthehungrysharks,whosefinsscoredthelimitlessPacificstretchingoutoneveryside,wereimpelledbyanappetitethatmadenoexceptionsastosex.Whenwesharedtheultimatebiscuitandcirculatedthelastwater-keg,thegirlsgotanabsolutefourthapiece,andneithermorenorless;andtheonlypartialityshownwasentirelyinfavourofCharlotte,whowasallowedtoperceiveandtohailthesaviour-sailonthehorizon.Andthiswasonlybecauseitwasherturntodoso,notbecauseshehappenedtobethisorthat.Surely,therulesoftheraftweretherulesoflife,andinwhat,then,didthesevisitor-ladies’grievanceconsist?
Puzzledandalittlesulky,Ipushedopenthedoorofthedesertednursery,wheretheraftthathadrockedbeneathsomanyhopesandfearsstilloccupiedtheocean-floor.Tothedulleye,thatmerelytarriesupontheoutsidesofthings,itmighthaveappearedunromanticandevenunraftlike,consistingonlyasitdidofaroundsponge-bathonabalddealtowel-horseplacedflatonthefloor.
