Біла пташка
Lock-Out Time
Theylikecrocusandhyacinthtimebestofall,astheyarepartialtoabitofcolour,buttulips(exceptwhiteones,whicharethefairy-cradles)theyconsidergarish,andtheysometimesputoffdressingliketulipsfordays,sothatthebeginningofthetulipweeksisalmostthebesttimetocatchthem.
Whentheythinkyouarenotlookingtheyskipalongprettylively,butifyoulookandtheyfearthereisnotimetohide,theystandquitestill,pretendingtobeflowers.Then,afteryouhavepassedwithoutknowingthattheywerefairies,theyrushhomeandtelltheirmotherstheyhavehadsuchanadventure.TheFairyBasin,youremember,isallcoveredwithground-ivy(fromwhichtheymaketheircastor-oil),withflowersgrowinginithereandthere.Mostofthemreallyareflowers,butsomeofthemarefairies.Younevercanbesureofthem,butagoodplanistowalkbylookingtheotherway,andthenturnroundsharply.Anothergoodplan,whichDavidandIsometimesfollow,istostarethemdown.Afteralongtimetheycan’thelpwinking,andthenyouknowforcertainthattheyarefairies.
TherearealsonumbersofthemalongtheBabyWalk,whichisafamousgentleplace,asspotsfrequentedbyfairiesarecalled.Oncetwenty-fourofthemhadanextraordinaryadventure.Theywereagirls’schooloutforawalkwiththegoverness,andallwearinghyacinthgowns,whenshesuddenlyputherfingertohermouth,andthentheyallstoodstillonanemptybedandpretendedtobehyacinths.Unfortunately,whatthegovernesshadheardwastwogardenerscomingtoplantnewflowersinthatverybed.
