Біла пташка
Lock-Out Time
Theywerewheelingahandcartwiththeflowersinit,andwerequitesurprisedtofindthebedoccupied.“Pitytoliftthemhyacinths,”saidtheoneman.“Duke’sorders,”repliedtheother,and,havingemptiedthecart,theyduguptheboarding-schoolandputthepoor,terrifiedthingsinitinfiverows.Ofcourse,neitherthegovernessnorthegirlsdareletonthattheywerefairies,sotheywerecartedfarawaytoapotting-shed,outofwhichtheyescapedinthenightwithouttheirshoes,buttherewasagreatrowaboutitamongtheparents,andtheschoolwasruined.
Asfortheirhouses,itisnouselookingforthem,becausetheyaretheexactoppositeofourhouses.Youcanseeourhousesbydaybutyoucan’tseethembydark.Well,youcanseetheirhousesbydark,butyoucan’tseethembyday,fortheyarethecolourofnight,andIneverheardofanyoneyetwhocouldseenightinthedaytime.Thisdoesnotmeanthattheyareblack,fornighthasitscoloursjustasdayhas,buteversomuchbrighter.Theirbluesandredsandgreensarelikeourswithalightbehindthem.Thepalaceisentirelybuiltofmany-colouredglasses,andisquitetheloveliestofallroyalresidences,butthequeensometimescomplainsbecausethecommonpeoplewillpeepintoseewhatsheisdoing.Theyareveryinquisitivefolk,andpressquitehardagainsttheglass,andthatiswhytheirnosesaremostlysnubby.Thestreetsaremileslongandverytwisty,andhavepathsoneachsidemadeofbrightworsted.
