Таємничий сад
XVI. “I Won’t!” Said Mary
“IfyousendDickonaway,I’llnevercomeintothisroomagain!”sheretorted.
“You’llhavetoifIwantyou,”saidColin.
“Iwon’t!”saidMary.
“I’llmakeyou,”saidColin.“Theyshalldragyouin.”
“Shallthey,Mr.Rajah!”saidMaryfiercely.“Theymaydragmeinbuttheycan’tmakemetalkwhentheygetmehere.I’llsitandclenchmyteethandnevertellyouonething.Iwon’tevenlookatyou.I’llstareatthefloor!”
Theywereaniceagreeablepairastheyglaredateachother.Iftheyhadbeentwolittlestreetboystheywouldhavesprungateachotherandhadarough-and-tumblefight.Asitwas,theydidthenextthingtoit.
“Youareaselfishthing!”criedColin.
“Whatareyou?”saidMary.“Selfishpeoplealwayssaythat.Anyoneisselfishwhodoesn’tdowhattheywant.You’remoreselfishthanIam.You’rethemostselfishboyIeversaw.”
“I’mnot!”snappedColin.“I’mnotasselfishasyourfineDickonis!HekeepsyouplayinginthedirtwhenheknowsIamallbymyself.He’sselfish,ifyoulike!”
Mary’seyesflashedfire.
“He’snicerthananyotherboythateverlived!”shesaid.“He’s—he’slikeanangel!”Itmightsoundrathersillytosaythatbutshedidnotcare.
“Aniceangel!”Colinsneeredferociously.“He’sacommoncottageboyoffthemoor!”
“He’sbetterthanacommonRajah!”retortedMary.“He’sathousandtimesbetter!”
Becauseshewasthestrongerofthetwoshewasbeginningtogetthebetterofhim.
