Маленькие мужчины / Little men. Уровень 4

”

“Say, �No, ma’am,’” whispered Nat.

“How old are you?”

“About fourteen.”

“You look older. What can you do?”

“Almost anything.”

“If you stay here we shall want you to do as the others do, work and study as well as play. Are you willing to agree to that?”

“I can try.”

“Well, you can stay a few days, and we will see how we get on together. Take him out, Nat, and amuse him till Mr. Bhaer comes home,” said Mrs. Jo.

She did not know how to get on with this cool young person, who fixed his big black eyes on her with a hard, suspicious expression, sorrowfully unboyish.

“Come on, Nat,” Dan said.

“Thank you, ma’am,” added Nat, as he followed him.

“The fellows are having a circus[12 - are having a circus – играют в цирк] out in the barn; don’t you want to come and see it?” he asked, as they came down the wide steps on to the lawn.

“Are they big fellows?” said Dan.

“No; the big ones are gone fishing.

“Let’s go, then,” said Dan.

Nat led him to the great barn and introduced him to the boys. A large circle was marked out with hay on the wide floor, and in the middle stood Demi with a long whip, while Tommy, mounted on Toby, was a monkey.

“You must pay a pin, or you can’t see the show,” said Stuffy, who stood by the wheelbarrow.

“I’ll pay for both,” said Nat, handsomely, as he stuck two crooked pins in the dried mushroom which served as money-box.

With a nod to the company they seated themselves on a couple of boards, and the performance went on. Ned was jumping over an old chair, and running up and down ladders. Then Demi danced a jig. Nat wrestled with Stuffy. After this, Tommy proudly advanced to turn a somersault. His somersault was received with great applause, and he was about to retire, flushed with pride, when he heard a scornful voice,

“Ho! That is nothing!”

“Say that again, will you?” and Tommy bristled up like an angry turkey-cock.

“Do you want to fight?” said Dan, promptly descending from the barrel.

“No, I don’t;” and the candid Thomas retired.

“Fighting isn’t allowed!” cried the others, much excited.

“I see,” sneered Dan.

“If you don’t behave, you won’t stay,” said Nat.

“I’d like to see what he can do, that’s all,” observed Tommy, with a swagger.