Дні мрій
The Reluctant Dragon
Well,nowyoutellmeitHASgotadragon,andsoTHAT’Sallright.I’mnothalfasmuchsurprisedaswhenyoutoldmeitHADN’Tgotadragon.Rulesalwayscomerightifyouwaitquietly.Now,please,justleavethisalltome.AndI’llstrollupto-morrowmorning—no,inthemorningIcan’t,I’vegotawholeheapofthingstodo—well,perhapsintheevening,ifI’mquitefree,I’llgoupandhaveatalktohim,andyou’llfindit’llbeallright.Only,please,don’tyougoworryingroundtherewithoutme.Youdon’tunderstand’emabit,andthey’reverysensitive,youknow!”
“He’squiteright,father,”saidthesensiblemother.“Ashesays,dragonsishislineandnotours.He’swonderfulknowingaboutbook-beasts,aseveryoneallows.Andtotellthetruth,I’mnothalfhappyinmyownmind,thinkingofthatpooranimallyingaloneupthere,withoutabito’hotsupperoranyonetochangethenewswith;andmaybewe’llbeabletodosomethingforhim;andifheain’tquiterespectableourBoy’llfinditoutquickenough.He’sgotapleasantsorto’waywithhimthatmakeseverybodytellhimeverything.”
Nextday,afterhe’dhadhistea,theBoystrolledupthechalkytrackthatledtothesummitoftheDowns;andthere,sureenough,hefoundthedragon,stretchedlazilyontheswardinfrontofhiscave.Theviewfromthatpointwasamagnificentone.
