"Aiken, Joan - Wolves of Willoughby Chase 01 - The Wolves of Willoughby Chase UC" - читать интересную книгу автора (Aiken Joan)

"Nonsense, Miss Bonnie dearЧdon't worry your
pretty head with thoughts like that," replied Pattern.
"You know the porters and stationmaster have been

The Wolves of WHloughby Chnse 11

practicing with their muskets and fowling pieces all
the week."

At that moment there was a commotion from down-
stairs, and Bonnie turned, her face alight with ex-
pectancy. As the noise of dogs barking, men shout-
ing, and the doorbell clanging continued, she flew
recklessly along the huge expanse of nursery floor,
gleaming and polished as glass, and down the main
staircase to the entrance hall. Her impetuosity brought
her in a heap to the feet of an immensely tall, thin
lady, clad from neck to toe in a traveling dress of
swathed gray twill, with a stiff collar, dark glasses.
and dull green buttoned boots. Bonnie's headlong
rush nearly sent this person flying, and she recovered
her balance with an exclamation of annoyance.

"Who is guilty of this unmannerly irruption?" she
said, settling her glasses once more upon her nose.
"Can this hoydenish creature be my new pupil?"

"IЧI beg your pardoni" Bonnie exclaimed, picking
herself up.

"So I should hope! Am I right in supposing that
you are Miss Green? I am Miss Slighcarp, your new
governess. I am also your fourth cousin, once re-
moved," the lady added haughtily, as if she found
the removal hardly sufficient.

"Oh," Bonnie stammered, "I didn't knowЧthat is,
I thought you were not expected until tomorrow. I
was looking for my cousin Sylvia, who is arriving
this evening."

"I am aware of the fact," Miss Slighcarp replied
coldly, "but that does not excuse bad manners. Where,
pray, is your curtsy?"

Rather flustered. Bonnie performed this formality
with less than her usual grace.

12 Joan Aiken