Маленькие мужчины / Little men. Уровень 4

A holiday isn’t a holiday without plenty of freedom and fun,” Mrs. Bhaer used to say.

Nat sat with Tommy Bangs and Mrs. Bhaer.

“Who is that boy next the girl down at the other end?” whispered Nat to his young neighbor.

“That’s Demi Brooke. Mr. Bhaer is his uncle. He knows much and reads a lot.”

“Who is the fat one next him?”

“Oh, that’s Stuffy Cole. His name is George, but we call him Stuffy because he eats so much. The little fellow next Father Bhaer is his boy Rob, and then there’s big Franz his nephew; he teaches something.

“He plays the flute, doesn’t he?” asked Nat.

Tommy nodded, and said,

“Yes. And we dance sometimes, and do gymnastics to music[3 - to music – под музыку]. I like a drum myself, and want to learn as soon as I can.”

“I like a fiddle best; I can play one too,” said Nat.

“Can you?” and Tommy. “Mr. Bhaer’s got an old fiddle, and he’ll let you play on it if you want to.”

“Oh, I would like it ever so much.

“Wasn’t that fun?” cried Tommy, much impressed.

“No, it was horrid; so cold in winter, and hot in summer. And I got tired; and they were cross sometimes; and I didn’t get enough to eat. But I loved my little fiddle, and I miss it. Nicolo took it away when father died.”

“You’ll belong to the band[4 - You’ll belong to the band. – Ты попадёшь в оркестр.

“Do you have a band here?” Nat’s eyes sparkled.

“Yes we do; a jolly band, all boys; and they have concerts. You just see what happens tomorrow night.”

After this pleasantly exciting remark, Tommy returned to his supper.

Mrs. Bhaer heard all they said. She put roly-poly[5 - roly-poly – бойкий] Nat next to Tommy, because she wanted to get the key to the new boy’s character. In the letter which Mr. Laurence had sent with Nat, he had said:

“Dear Jo, this poor lad is an orphan now, sick and friendless.

I found him in a cellar, mourning for his dead father, and his lost violin. I think there is something in him. You will cure his body, Fritz will help his mind, and when he is ready I’ll see if he is a genius or only a boy with a talent which may earn his bread for him,

Teddy.”

“Of course we will!” cried Mrs. Bhaer, as she read the letter.