The Wonderful Wizard of Oz / Волшебник из страны Оз. Книга для чтения на английском языке

�They take me back – the touch of them, the feel of them through my fingers… It all comes back to me, the sunshine, and the smell of the veldt, the oxen – old Eb – all the boys – the evenings…’

There was a soft tap on the door.

Simeon said: �Put ’em back in the safe and bang it to[94 - and bang it to – (зд.) и захлопни дверцу].’ Then he called: �Come in.’

Horbury came in, soft and deferential. He said: �Tea is ready downstairs.’

III

Hilda said: �So there you are, David.

David did not answer for a minute. He was standing looking at a chair, a low chair with faded satin upholstery. He said abruptly: �That’s her chair… the chair she always sat in… just the same – it’s just the same. Only faded, of course.’

A little frown creased Hilda’s forehead. She said: �I see. Do let’s come out of here, David. It’s frightfully cold.

David took no notice. Looking round, he said: �She sat in here mostly. I remember sitting on that stool there while she read to me. Jack the Giant Killer – that was it – Jack the Giant Killer. I must have been six years old then.’

Hilda put a firm hand through his arm. �Come back to the drawing-room, dear. There’s no heating in this room.’

He turned obediently, but she felt a little shiver go through him.

�Just the same,’ he murmured.

Hilda looked worried. She said in a cheerful determined voice: �I wonder where the others are? It must be nearly tea-time.’

David disengaged his arm and opened another door. �There used to be a piano in here… Oh, yes, here it is! I wonder if it’s in tune[95 - it’s in tune – (разг.) настроено ли оно].’

He sat down and opened the lid, running his hands lightly over the keys.

�Yes, it’s evidently kept tuned.

He began to play. His touch was good, the melody flowed out from under his fingers.

Hilda asked: �What is that? I seem to know it, and I can’t quite remember.’

He said: �I haven’t played it for years. She used to play it. One of Mendelssohn[96 - Mendelssohn – Феликс Мендельсон (1809–1847), немецкий композитор]’s Songs Without Words.’

The sweet, over-sweet, melody filled the room.