Дні мрій
The Reluctant Dragon
AllthiseveningI’vebeenlistening,withgriefandanguishunspeakable,totalesofmurder,theft,andwrong;rathertoohighlycoloured,perhaps,notalwaysquiteconvincing,butforminginthemainamostseriousrollofcrime.Historyteachesusthatthegreatestrascalsoftenpossessallthedomesticvirtues;andIfearthatyourcultivatedfriend,inspiteofthequalitieswhichhavewon(andrightly)yourregard,hasgottobespeedilyexterminated.”
“Oh,you’vebeentakinginalltheyarnsthosefellowshavebeentellingyou,”saidtheBoyimpatiently.“Why,ourvillagersarethebiggeststory-tellersinallthecountryround.It’saknownfact.You’reastrangerintheseparts,orelseyou’dhavehearditalready.AlltheywantisaFIGHT.They’rethemostawfulbeggarsforgettingupfights—it’smeatanddrinktothem.Dogs,bulls,dragons—anythingsolongasit’safight.Why,they’vegotapoorinnocentbadgerinthestablebehindhere,atthismoment.Theyweregoingtohavesomefunwithhimto-day,butthey’resavinghimupnowtillYOURlittleaffair’sover.AndI’venodoubtthey’vebeentellingyouwhataheroyouwere,andhowyouwereboundtowin,inthecauseofrightandjustice,andsoon;butletmetellyou,Icamedownthestreetjustnow,andtheywerebettingsixtofouronthedragonfreely!”
“Sixtofouronthedragon!”murmuredSt.Georgesadly,restinghischeekonhishand.“Thisisanevilworld,andsometimesIbegintothinkthatallthewickednessinitisnotentirelybottledupinsidethedragons.
