Таємничий сад
XXIV. “Let Them Laugh”
Presentlyhedidafewgentlywhilehestooduponhisalreadysteadiedfeet.Marybegantodothemalso.Soot,whowaswatchingtheperformance,becamemuchdisturbedandlefthisbranchandhoppedaboutrestlesslybecausehecouldnotdothemtoo.
Fromthattimetheexerciseswerepartoftheday’sdutiesasmuchastheMagicwas.ItbecamepossibleforbothColinandMarytodomoreofthemeachtimetheytried,andsuchappetitesweretheresultsthatbutforthebasketDickonputdownbehindthebusheachmorningwhenhearrivedtheywouldhavebeenlost.ButthelittleoveninthehollowandMrs.Sowerby’sbountiesweresosatisfyingthatMrs.MedlockandthenurseandDr.Cravenbecamemystifiedagain.Youcantriflewithyourbreakfastandseemtodisdainyourdinnerifyouarefulltothebrimwithroastedeggsandpotatoesandrichlyfrothednewmilkandoatcakesandbunsandheatherhoneyandclottedcream.
“Theyareeatingnexttonothing,”saidthenurse.“They’lldieofstarvationiftheycan’tbepersuadedtotakesomenourishment.Andyetseehowtheylook.”
“Look!”exclaimedMrs.Medlockindignantly.“Eh!I’mmoitheredtodeathwiththem.They’reapairofyoungSatans.BurstingtheirjacketsonedayandthenextturninguptheirnosesatthebestmealsCookcantemptthemwith.Notamouthfulofthatlovelyyoungfowlandbreadsaucedidtheysetaforkintoyesterday—andthepoorwomanfairinventedapuddingforthem—andbackit’ssent.Shealmostcried.She’safraidshe’llbeblamediftheystarvethemselvesintotheirgraves.”
Dr.
