the grey brethren(阴郁的教友们)-第13章
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the hole and crept away to a new one。 She really was a naughty fairy。
She blew on the buttercups so that they thought the morning breeze had
come to wake them up； and opened their cups in a great hurry。 She
buzzed outside the clover and made it talk in its sleep； so that it said in a
cross； sleepy voice … 〃Go away； you stupid busy bee； and don't wake me up
in the middle of the night。〃
She pulled the tail of the nightingale who was singing to his lady… love
in the hawthorn bush； and he lost his place in his song and nearly tumbled
over backwards into the garden。 Then to her joy she met an elderly；
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domestic puss taking an evening walk with a view to field…mice。
Here was sport。 Fluffikins hid in the grass and squeaked； and when
the elderly cat came tearing up she pulled his whiskers and flew away （I
forgot to tell you that she had little； soft wings）； and the elderly cat jumped
and said …
〃Mouse…traps and mince…meat！ Fancy a cat of my age and
experience taking a bat for a mouse！ But by my claws I heard a mouse's
squeak。〃
Fairy Fluffikins often met the poor elderly cat； and always led him
some dreadful dance； now and then taking a ride on his back into the
bargain； till he thought he must have got the nightmare。
One day Fairy Fluffikins was well paid out for some of her
naughtiness。 She was flying away from a tree where she had just
wrapped a sleeping bat's head up in a large cobweb； when she heard the
sweep of wings； felt a sharp nip … and in less time than it takes to tell found
herself in the nest of the Ancient Owl。
〃My wig！〃 said the Ancient Owl； much surprised； 〃I thought you were
a bat。〃 And he called his wife and three children to look。
Now when Fairy Fluffikins saw five pairs of large round eyes blinking
and staring at her she lost her head and cried out … 〃Please； please； Mr
Ancient Owl； don't be angry with me and I will never play tricks with
mice any more；〃 and so told the Ancient Owl what he had never even
suspected before。
Then the Ancient Owl was MOST DREADFULLY ANGRY and read
Fairy Fluffikins a long sermon about the wickedness of deceiving Ancient
Owls。 The sermon took two hours and a half； and when it was over all
the owls hooted at her and pecked her； and Fairy Fluffikins was very glad
indeed when at last Mrs Ancient Owl gave her a push and said …
〃Go along； you impertinent brown minx；〃 and she was able to go out
into the night。
Even this sad adventure did not cure Fairy Fluffikins of getting into
mischief … although she never teased the owls any more； you may be sure
of that … she took to tormenting the squirrels instead。 She used to find their
stores of nuts and carry them away and fill the holes with pebbles； and this；
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The Grey Brethren
when you are a hard…working squirrel with a large family to support； is
very trying to the temper。 Then she would tie acorns to their tails； and
she would clap her hands to frighten them； and pull the baby…squirrels'
ears； till at last they offered a reward to anyone who could catch Fairy
Fluffikins and bring her to be punished。
No one caught Fairy Fluffikins； but she caught herself； as you shall
hear。
She was poking about round a haystack one night； trying to find
something naughty to do； when she came upon a sweet little house with
pretty wire walls and a wooden door standing invitingly open。 In hopped
Fluffikins； thinking she was going to have some new kind of fun。 There
was a little white thing dangling from the roof； and she laid hold of it。
Immediately there was a bang； the wooden door slammed； and Fluffikins
was caught。
How she cried and stamped and pushed at the door； and promised to be
a good fairy and a great many other things！ But all to no purpose： the
door was tight shut； and Fluffikins was not like some fortunate fairies who
can get out of anywhere。
There she remained； and in the morning one of the labourers found her；
and； thinking she was some kind of dormouse； he carried her home to his
little girl； and if you call on Mary Ann Smith you will see Fairy Fluffikins
there still in a little cage。 They give her nuts and cheese and bread； and
all the things she doesn't like； and there is no one to tease and no mischief
to get into； so if there is a miserable little Fairy anywhere it is Fairy
Fluffikins； and I'm not sure it doesn't serve her quite right。
The Story of the Tinkle…Tinkle。
ONCE upon a time there lived a Tinkle…Tinkle。 I cannot tell you
what he was like； because no man knows； not even the Tinkle…Tinkle
himself。 Sometimes he lived on the ground； sometimes in a tree；
sometimes in the water； sometimes in a cave； and I can't tell you what he
lived on； for no man knows； not even the Tinkle…Tinkle himself。
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One day the Tinkle…Tinkle was going through a wood； when he heard a
piteous weeping。 He stopped； for he was a kindly Tinkle…Tinkle； and
found two small dormice sobbing under a tree because they had been
cruelly deserted by their parents。 He wiped their eyes tenderly and took
them to his cave home； but I cannot tell you how he went； for no man
knows； not even the Tinkle…Tinkle。 However； when he got there he put
the dormice to bed in his grandmother's boots； for which he had never
found any use before； and fed them on periwinkles and tea； and was very
kind to them； and when they grew older he bought them caps and aprons；
and they became the Tinkle… Tinkle's housemaid and parlourmaid。
Now I must tell you that it was a great grief to the Tinkle…Tinkle not to
know what he was； or how he lived； or where he was going to； and it often
made him depressed； but he always concealed it from the dormice；
appearing a most cheerful and contented creature。
One day he found a poor green bird lying on the ground with its leg
broken。 Fortunately Tinkle…Tinkle had his grandmother's black silk
reticule with him which had never been of any service to him before。 He
gently placed the green bird in the bottom and carried it to the cave。
The dormice laid the poor sufferer on a soft bed and put the broken leg
up carefully in plaster of Paris； and they nursed the green bird with the
greatest attention so that it was soon well enough to hop about on crutches；
and it sang so beautifully that all the inhabitants round gave it money； and
its fame spread abroad； but it was so tenderly attached to the Tinkle…Tinkle
and the dormice that it would not leave them。
Now it happened on a certain evening that the Tinkle…Tinkle was
travelling over the sea； when suddenly in the depths he caught sight of a
most beautiful Cr
