Біла пташка

           Pathsfromeverywherecrowdlikechildrentothepond.Someofthemareordinarypaths,whichhavearailoneachside,andaremadebymenwiththeircoatsoff,butothersarevagrants,wideatonespotandatanothersonarrowthatyoucanstandastridethem.TheyarecalledPathsthathaveMadeThemselves,andDaviddidwishhecouldseethemdoingit.But,likeallthemostwonderfulthingsthathappenintheGardens,itisdone,weconcluded,atnightafterthegatesareclosed.WehavealsodecidedthatthepathsmakethemselvesbecauseitistheironlychanceofgettingtotheRoundPond.

           Oneofthesegypsypathscomesfromtheplacewherethesheepgettheirhaircut.WhenDavidshedhiscurlsatthehair-dresser’s,Iamtold,hesaidgood-byetothemwithoutatremor,thoughMaryhasneverbeenquitethesamebrightcreaturesince,sohedespisesthesheepastheyrunfromtheirshearerandcallsouttauntingly,“Cowardy,cowardycustard!”ButwhenthemangripsthembetweenhislegsDavidshakesafistathimforusingsuchbigscissors.Anotherstartlingmomentiswhenthemanturnsbackthegrimywoolfromthesheeps’shouldersandtheylooksuddenlylikeladiesinthestallsofatheatre.Thesheeparesofrightenedbytheshearingthatitmakesthemquitewhiteandthin,andassoonastheyaresetfreetheybegintonibblethegrassatonce,quiteanxiously,asiftheyfearedthattheywouldneverbewortheating.Davidwonderswhethertheyknoweachother,nowthattheyaresodifferent,andifitmakesthemfightwiththewrongones.