Таємничий сад
XIX. “It Has Come!”
Thetruthwasthatinspiteofallhehadheardhehadnotintheleastunderstoodwhatthisboywouldbelikeandthathisfoxandhiscrowandhissquirrelsandhislambweresoneartohimandhisfriendlinessthattheyseemedalmosttobepartofhimself.Colinhadnevertalkedtoaboyinhislifeandhewassooverwhelmedbyhisownpleasureandcuriositythathedidnoteventhinkofspeaking.
ButDickondidnotfeeltheleastshyorawkward.Hehadnotfeltembarrassedbecausethecrowhadnotknownhislanguageandhadonlystaredandhadnotspokentohimthefirsttimetheymet.Creatureswerealwayslikethatuntiltheyfoundoutaboutyou.HewalkedovertoColin’ssofaandputthenew-bornlambquietlyonhislap,andimmediatelythelittlecreatureturnedtothewarmvelvetdressing-gownandbegantonuzzleandnuzzleintoitsfoldsandbuttitstight-curledheadwithsoftimpatienceagainsthisside.Ofcoursenoboycouldhavehelpedspeakingthen.
“Whatisitdoing?”criedColin.“Whatdoesitwant?”
“Itwantsitsmother,”saidDickon,smilingmoreandmore.“IbroughtittotheeabithungrybecauseIknowedtha’dliketoseeitfeed.”
Hekneltdownbythesofaandtookafeeding-bottlefromhispocket.
“Comeon,little’un,”hesaid,turningthesmallwoollywhiteheadwithagentlebrownhand.“Thisiswhattha’safter.Tha’llgetmoreouto’thisthantha’willouto’silkvelvetcoats.Therenow,”andhepushedtherubbertipofthebottleintothenuzzlingmouthandthelambbegantosuckitwithravenousecstasy.
