"Andre Norton - The Magic Books 06 - Red Hart Magic" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

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RED HART MAGIC
Andre Norton




All rights reserved. Copyright ┬й 1976 by Andre Norton




The writer wishes to express her appreciation to Ms. Marge Geddes,
the present owner of "Red Hart Inn," who very kindly permitted the use of
one of her treasures for the background of this story. And she wishes to
express her appreciation also to Ms. Marian Maeve O'Brien, in whose
book Collectors' Guide to Dollhouses and Dollhouse Miniatures, the writer
first came across the photograph and story of the inn.




1
We're Not a Family
Chris Fitton's shoulders were against the wall, his hands thrust deep
into the pockets of his jeans. Behind his glasses, his eyes were half closed
in a way he had been many times told was sullen.

The carpet was green and shaggy, like grass which needed a closer
cutting. While it looked fine against the white-cream walls of the room,
the color certainly did not match the furniture standing around on it, as if
each chair, each table, and the divan would rather be in another place.

One of these chairs was just the wrong shade of green against the
grass-green carpet. Another was orange, bright enough to make your eyes
ache, while the divan was a mustard-yellow and along it were scattered a
lot of fat cushions, each of a different pattern. After one quick glance in
that direction, however, Chris turned his eyes resolutely to the two big
windows, because she was sitting there.

Nan Mallory had planted her feet close together in a show of
determination she did not in the least feel. Her hands were locked in her
lap, her elbows nudged two stiff cushions which were never made to
provide anyone any comfort, rather to show off Aunt Elizabeth's skill at