Таємничий сад
XVII. A Tantrum
Sheslappeditopenwithherhandandranacrosstheroomtothefour-postedbed.
“Youstop!”shealmostshouted.“Youstop!Ihateyou!Everybodyhatesyou!Iwisheverybodywouldrunoutofthehouseandletyouscreamyourselftodeath!Youwillscreamyourselftodeathinaminute,andIwishyouwould!”
Anicesympatheticchildcouldneitherhavethoughtnorsaidsuchthings,butitjusthappenedthattheshockofhearingthemwasthebestpossiblethingforthishystericalboywhomnoonehadeverdaredtorestrainorcontradict.
Hehadbeenlyingonhisfacebeatinghispillowwithhishandsandheactuallyalmostjumpedaround,heturnedsoquicklyatthesoundofthefuriouslittlevoice.Hisfacelookeddreadful,whiteandredandswollen,andhewasgaspingandchoking;butsavagelittleMarydidnotcareanatom.
“Ifyouscreamanotherscream,”shesaid,“I’llscreamtoo—andIcanscreamlouderthanyoucanandI’llfrightenyou,I’llfrightenyou!”
Heactuallyhadstoppedscreamingbecauseshehadstartledhimso.Thescreamwhichhadbeencomingalmostchokedhim.Thetearswerestreamingdownhisfaceandheshookallover.
“Ican’tstop!”hegaspedandsobbed.“Ican’t—Ican’t!”
“Youcan!”shoutedMary.“Halfthatailsyouishystericsandtemper—justhysterics—hysterics—hysterics!”andshestampedeachtimeshesaidit.
“Ifeltthelump—Ifeltit,”chokedoutColin.“IknewIshould.IshallhaveahunchonmybackandthenIshalldie,”andhebegantowritheagainandturnedonhisfaceandsobbedandwailedbuthedidn’tscream.
