dream days(做梦的日子)-第25章
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have； I could tell it on you at once； and I should just like your candid
opinion about some little things I threw off lightly； when I was down there。
I'm awfully pleased to have met you； and I'm hoping the other neighbours
will be equally agreeable。 There was a very nice old gentleman up here
only last night； but he didn't seem to want to intrude。〃
〃That was my father；〃 said the boy； 〃and he IS a nice old gentleman；
and I'll introduce you some day if you like。〃
〃Can't you two come up here and dine or something to…morrow？〃
asked the dragon eagerly。 〃Only； of course； if you've got nothing better
to do；〃 he added politely。
〃Thanks awfully；〃 said the Boy； 〃but we don't go out anywhere without
my mother； and； to tell you the truth； I'm afraid she mightn't quite approve
of you。 You see there's no getting over the hard fact that you're a dragon；
is there？ And when you talk of settling down； and the neighbours； and so
on； I can't help feeling that you don't quite realize your position。 You're
an enemy of the human race； you see！〃
〃Haven't got an enemy in the world；〃 said the dragon； cheerfully。
Too lazy to make 'em； to begin with。 And if I DO read other fellows
my poetry； I'm always ready to listen to theirs！〃
〃Oh； dear！〃 cried the boy； 〃I wish you'd try and grasp the situation
properly。 When the other people find you out； they'll come after you
with spears and swords and all sorts of things。 You'll have to be
exterminated； according to their way of looking at it！ You're a scourge；
and a pest； and a baneful monster！〃
〃Not a word of truth in it；〃 said the dragon； wagging his head solemnly。
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〃Character'll bear the strictest investigation。 And now； there's a little
sonnet…thing I was working on when you appeared on the scene〃
〃Oh； if you WON'T be sensible；〃 cried the Boy； getting up； 〃I'm going
off home。 No； I can't stop for sonnets； my mother's sitting up。 I'll look
you up to…morrow； sometime or other； and do for goodness' sake try and
realize that you're a pestilential scourge； or you'll find yourself in a most
awful fix。 Good… night！〃
The Boy found it an easy matter to set the mind of his parents' at ease
about his new friend。 They had always left that branch to him； and they
took his word without a murmur。 The shepherd was formally introduced
and many compliments and kind inquiries were exchanged。 His wife；
however； though expressing her willingness to do anything she couldto
mend things； or set the cave to rights； or cook a little something when the
dragon had been poring over sonnets and forgotten his meals； as male
things WILL do； could not be brought to recognize him formally。 The
fact that he was a dragon and 〃they didn't know who he was〃 seemed to
count for everything with her。 She made no objection； however； to her
little son spending his evenings with the dragon quietly； so long as he was
home by nine o'clock： and many a pleasant night they had； sitting on the
sward； while the dragon told stories of old； old times； when dragons were
quite plentiful and the world was a livelier place than it is now； and life
was full of thrills and jumps and surprises。
What the Boy had feared； however； soon came to pass。 The most
modest and retiring dragon in the world； if he's as big as four cart…horses
and covered with blue scales； cannot keep altogether out of the public
view。 And so in the village tavern of nights the fact that a real live
dragon sat brooding in the cave on the Downs was naturally a subject for
talk。 Though the villagers were extremely frightened； they were rather
proud as well。 It was a distinction to have a dragon of your own； and it
was felt to be a feather in the cap of the village。 Still； all were agreed
that this sort of thing couldn't be allowed to go on。
The dreadful beast must be exterminated； the country…side must be
freed from this pest； this terror； this destroying scourge。 The fact that not
even a hen roost was the worse for the dragon's arrival wasn't allowed to
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have anything to do with it。 He was a dragon； and he couldn't deny it；
and if he didn't choose to behave as such that was his own lookout。 But
in spite of much valiant talk no hero was found willing to take sword and
spear and free the suffering village and win deathless fame； and each
night's heated discussion always ended in nothing。 Meanwhile the
dragon； a happy Bohemian； lolled on the turf； enjoyed the sunsets； told
antediluvian anecdotes to the Boy； and polished his old verses while
meditating on fresh ones。
One day the Boy； on walking in to the village； found everything
wearing a festal appearance which was not to be accounted for in the
calendar。 Carpets and gay…coloured stuffs were hung out of the windows；
the church…bells clamoured noisily； the little street was flower…strewn； and
the whole population jostled each other along either side of it； chattering；
shoving； and ordering each other to stand back。 The Boy saw a friend of
his own age in the crowd and hailed him。
〃What's up？〃 he cried。 〃Is it the players； or bears； or a circus； or
what？〃
〃It's all right；〃 his friend hailed back。 〃He's a…coming。〃
〃WHO'S a…coming？〃 demanded the Boy； thrusting into the throng。
〃Why； St。 George； of course；〃 replied his friend。 〃He's heard tell of
our dragon； and he's comin' on purpose to slay the deadly beast； and free
us from his horrid yoke。 O my！ won't there be a jolly fight！〃
Here was news indeed！ The Boy felt that he ought to make quite sure
for himself； and he wriggled himself in between the legs of his good…
natured elders； abusing them all the time for their unmannerly habit of
shoving。 Once in the front rank； he breathlessly awaited the arrival。
Presently from the far…away end of the line came the sound of cheering。
Next； the measured tramp of a great war…horse made his heart beat quicker；
and then he found himself cheering with the rest； as； amidst welcoming
shouts； shrill cries of women； uplifting of babies and waving of
handkerchiefs； St。 George paced slowly up the street。 The Boy's heart
stood still and he breathed with sobs； the beauty and the grace of the hero
were so far beyond anything he had yet seen。 His fluted armour was
inlaid with gold； his plumed helmet hung at his saddle…bow； and his thick
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fair hair framed a face gracious and gentle beyond expression till you
caught the sternness in his eyes。 He drew rein in front of the little inn；
and the villagers crowded round with greetings and thanks and voluble
statements of their wrongs and grievances and
