Біла пташка
The Little House
“Oh,la!”repliedtheoakbitingly,“howdeliciouslycosyitistostandherebuttonedtotheneckandwatchyoupoornakedcreaturesshivering!”
Thismadethemsulkythoughtheyhadreallybroughtitonthemselves,andtheydrewforMaimieaverygloomypictureoftheperilsthatfacedherifsheinsistedongoingtotheball.
Shelearnedfromapurplefilbertthatthecourtwasnotinitsusualgoodtemperatpresent,thecausebeingthetantalisingheartoftheDukeofChristmasDaisies.HewasanOrientalfairy,verypoorlyofadreadfulcomplaint,namely,inabilitytolove,andthoughhehadtriedmanyladiesinmanylandshecouldnotfallinlovewithoneofthem.QueenMab,whorulesintheGardens,hadbeenconfidentthathergirlswouldbewitchhim,butalas,hisheart,thedoctorsaid,remainedcold.Thisratherirritatingdoctor,whowashisprivatephysician,felttheDuke’sheartimmediatelyafteranyladywaspresented,andthenalwaysshookhisbaldheadandmurmured,“Cold,quitecold!”NaturallyQueenMabfeltdisgraced,andfirstshetriedtheeffectoforderingthecourtintotearsfornineminutes,andthensheblamedtheCupidsanddecreedthattheyshouldwearfools’capsuntiltheythawedtheDuke’sfrozenheart.
“HowIshouldlovetoseetheCupidsintheirdearlittlefools’caps!”Maimiecried,andawaysherantolookforthemveryrecklessly,fortheCupidshatetobelaughedat.
