the great big treasury of beatrix potter-第18章

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To　conclude　the　adventures　of　Alexanderthe　policeman　sauntered　up　to　the　house　about　tea　time；　followed　by　a　damp　subdued　little　pig。　I　disposed　of　Alexander　in　the　neighborhood；　he　did　fairly　well　when　he　had　settled　down。

Pigling　Bland　went　on　alone　dejectedly；　he　came　to　cross　roads　and　a　sign…post〃To　Market…town　5　miles；〃　〃Over　the　Hills；　4　miles；〃　〃To　Pettitoes　Farm；　3　miles。〃

Pigling　Bland　was　shocked；　there　was　little　hope　of　sleeping　in　Market　Town；　and　tomorrow　was　the　hiring　fair；　it　was　deplorable　to　think　how　much　time　had　been

wasted　by　the　frivolity　of　Alexander。

He　glanced　wistfully　along　the　road　towards　the　hills；　and　then　set　off　walking　obediently　the　other　way；　buttoning　up　his　coat　against　the　rain。　He　had　never　wanted　to　go；　and　the　idea　of　standing　all　by　himself　in　a　crowded　market；　to　be　stared　at；　pushed；　and　hired　by　some　big　strange　farmer　was　very　disagreeable

〃I　wish　I　could　have　a　little　garden　and　grow　potatoes；〃　said　Pigling　Bland。

He　put　his　cold　hand　in　his　pocket　and　felt　his　paper；　he　put　his　other　hand　in　his　other　pocket　and　felt　another　paperAlexander's！　Pigling　squealed；　then　ran　back　frantically；　hoping　to　overtake　Alexander　and　the　policeman。

He　took　a　wrong　turnseveral　wrong　turns；　and　was　quite　lost。

It　grew　dark；　the　wind　whistled；　the　trees　creaked　and　groaned。

Pigling　Bland　became　frightened　and　cried　〃Wee；　wee；　wee！　I　can't　find　my　way　home！〃

After　an　hour's　wandering　he　got　out　of　the　wood；　the　moon　shone　through　the　clouds；　and　Pigling　Bland　saw　a　country　that　was　new　to　him。

The　road　crossed　a　moor；　below　was　a　wide　valley　with　a　river　twinkling　in　the　moonlight；　and　beyond　in　misty　distancelay　the　hills。

He　saw　a　small　wooden　hut；　made　his　way　to　it；　and　crept　inside　〃I　am　afraid　it　IS　a　hen　house；　but　what　can　I　do？〃　said　Pigling　Bland；　wet　and　cold　and　quite　tired　out。


〃Bacon　and　eggs；　bacon　and　eggs！〃　clucked　a　hen　on　a　perch。

〃Trap；　trap；　trap！　cackle；　cackle；　cackle！〃　scolded　the　disturbed　cockerel。　〃To　market；　to　market！　jiggettyjig！〃　clucked　a　broody　white　hen　roosting　next　to　him。　Pigling　Bland；　much　alarmed；　determined　to　leave　at　daybreak。　In　the　meantime；　he　and　the　hens　fell　asleep。

In　less　than　an　hour　they　were　all　awakened。　The　owner；　Mr。　Peter　Thomas　Piperson；　came　with　a　lantern　and　a　hamper　to　catch　six　fowls　to　take　to　market　in　the　morning。

He　grabbed　the　white　hen　roosting　next　to　the　cock；　then　his　eye　fell　upon　Pigling　Bland；　squeezed　up　in　a　corner。　He　made　a　singular　remark〃Hallo；　here's　another！〃　seized　Pigling　by　the　scruff　of　the　neck；　and　dropped　him　into　the　hamper。　Then　he　dropped　in　five　more　dirty；　kicking；　cackling　hens　upon　the　top　of　Pigling　Bland。

The　hamper　containing　six　fowls　and　a　young　pig　was　no　light　weight；　it　was　taken　down　hill；　unsteadily；　with　jerks。　Pigling；　although　nearly　scratched　to　pieces；　contrived　to　hide　the　papers　and　peppermints　inside　his　clothes。

At　last　the　hamper　was　bumped

down　upon　a　kitchen　floor；　the　lid　was　opened；　and　Pigling　was　lifted　out。　He　looked　up；　blinking；　and　saw　an　offensively　ugly　elderly　man；　grinning　from　ear　to　ear。

〃This　one's　come　of　himself；　whatever；〃　said　Mr。　Piperson；　turning　Pigling's　pockets　inside　out。　He　pushed　the　hamper　into　a　corner；　threw　a　sack　over　it　to　keep　the　hens　quiet；　put　a　pot　on　the　fire；　and　unlaced　his　boots。

Pigling　Bland　drew　forward　a　coppy　stool；　and　sat　on　the　edge　of　it；　shyly　warming　his　hands。　Mr。　Piperson　pulled　off　a　boot　and　threw　it　against　the　wainscot　at　the　further　end　of　the　kitchen。　There　was　a　smothered　noise〃Shut　up！〃　said　Mr。　Piperson。　Pigling　Bland　warmed　his　hands；　and　eyed　him。

Mr。　Piperson　pulled　off　the　other　boot　and　flung　it　after　the　first；　there　was　again　a　curious　noise　〃Be　quiet；　will　ye？〃　said　Mr。　Piperson。　Pigling　Bland　sat　on　the　very　edge　of　the　coppy　stool。

Mr。　Piperson　fetched　meal　from　a　chest　and　made　porridge；　it　seemed　to　Pigling　that　something　at　the　further　end　of　the　kitchen　was　taking　a　suppressed　interest　in　the　cooking；　but　he　was　too　hungry　to　be　troubled　by　noises。

Mr。　Piperson　poured　out　three　platefuls：　for　himself；　for　Pigling；　and　a　third…after　glaring　at　Pigling　he　put　away　with　much　scuffling；　and　locked　up。　Pigling　Bland　ate　his　supper　discreetly。

After　supper　Mr。　Piperson　consulted　an　almanac；　and　felt　Pigling's　ribs；　it　was　too　late　in　the　season　for　curing　bacon；　and　he　grudged　his　meal。　Besides；　the　hens　had　seen　this　pig。

He　looked　at　the　small　remains　of　a　flitch　＇side　of　bacon＇；　and　then　looked　undecidedly　at　Pigling。　〃You

may　sleep　on　the　rug；〃　said　Mr。　Peter　Thomas　Piperson。

Pigling　Bland　slept　like　a　top。　In　the　morning　Mr。　Piperson　made　more　porridge；　the　weather　was　warmer。　He　looked　how　much　meal　was　left　in　the　chest；　and　seemed　dissatisfied〃You'll　likely　be　moving　on　again？〃　said　he　to　Pigling　Bland。

Before　Pigling　could　reply；　a　neighbor；　who　was　giving　Mr。　Piperson　and　the　hens　a　lift；　whistled　from　the　gate。　Mr。　Piperson　hurried　out　with　the　hamper；　enjoining　Pigling　to　shut　the　door　behind　him　and　not　meddle　with　nought；　or　〃I'll　come　back　and　skin　ye！〃　said　Mr。　Piperson。

It　crossed　Pigling's　mind　that　if　HE　had　asked　for　a　lift；　too；　he　might　still　have　been　in　time　for　market。

But　he　distrusted　Peter　Thomas。

After　finishing　breakfast　at　his　leisure；　Pigling　had　a　look　round　the　cottage；　everything　was　locked　up。　He　found　some　potato　peelings　in　a　bucket　in　the　back　kitchen。　Pigling　ate　the　peel；　and　washed　up　the　porridge　plates　in　the　bucket。　He　sang　while　he　worked

　　　　　〃Tom　with　his　pipe　made　such　a　noise；　　　　　　He　called　up　all　the　girls　and　boys　　　　　　〃And　they　all　ran　to　hear　him　play；　　　　　　　　　　　〃Over　the　hills　and　far　away！〃

Suddenly　a　little　smothered　voice　chimed　in

　　　　　〃Over　the　hills　and　a　great　way　off；　　　　　　The　wind　shall　blow　my　top　knot　　　　　　　　　　　off。〃

Pigling　Bland　put　down　a　plate　which　he　was　wiping；　and　listened。

After　a　long　pause；　Pigling　went　on　tiptoe　and　peeped　round　the　door　into　the　front　kitchen；　there　was　nobody　there。

After　another　pause；　Pigling　approached　the　door　of　the　locked　cupboard；　and　snuffed　at　the　keyhole。　It　was　quite　quiet。

After　another　long　pause；　Pigling　pushed　a　peppermint　under　the　door。　It　was　sucked　in　immediately。

In　the　course　of　the　day　Pigling　pushed　in　all　his　remaining　six　peppermints。

When　Mr。　Piperson　returned；　he　found　Pigling　sitting　before　the　fire；　he　had　brushed　up　the　hearth　and　put　on　the　pot　to　boil；　the　meal　was　not　get…at…able。

Mr。　Piperson　was　very　affable；　he　slapped　Pigling　on　the　back；　made　lots　of　porridge　and　forgot　to　lock　the　meal　chest。　He　did　lock　the　cup…　board　door；　but　without　properly　shutting　it。　He　went　to　bed　early；　and　told　Pigling　upon　no　account　to　disturb　him　next　day　before　twelve　o'clock。

Pigling　Bland　sat　by　the　fire；　eating　his　supper。


All　at　once　at　his　elbow；　a　little　voice　spoke〃My　name　is　Pig…wig。　Make　me　more　porridge；　please！〃　Pigling　Bland　jumped；　and　looked　round。

A　perfectly　lovely　little　black　Berkshire　pig　stood　smiling　beside　him。　She　had　twinkly　little　screwed　up　eyes；　a　double　chin；　and　a　short　turned　up　nose。

She　pointed　at　Pigling's　plate；　he　hastily　gave　it　to　her；　and　fled　to　the　meal　chest〃How　did　you　come　here？〃　asked　Pigling　Bland。

〃Stolen；〃　replied　Pig…wig；　with　her　mouth　full。　Pigling　helped　himself　to　meal　without　scruple。　〃What　for？〃　〃Bacon；　hams；〃　replied　Pig…　wig　cheerfully。　〃Why　on　earth　don't　you　run　away？〃　exclaimed　the　horrified　Pigling。

〃I　shall　after　supper；〃　said　Pig…　wig　decidedly。

Pigling　Bland　made　more　porridge　and　watched　her　shyly。

She　finished　a　second　plate；　got　up；　and　looked　about　her；　as　though　she　were　going　to　start。

〃You　can't　go　in　the　dark；〃　said　Pigling　Bland。

Pig…wig　looked　anxious。

〃Do　you　know　your　way　by　day…　light？〃

〃I　know　we　can　see　this　little　white　house　from　the　hills　across　the　river。　Which　way　are　_you_　going；　Mr。　Pig？〃

〃To　marketI　have　two　pig　papers。　I　might　take　you　to　the　bridge；　if　you　have　no　objection；〃　said

Pigling　much　confused　and　sitting　on　the　edge　of　his　coppy　stool。　Pig…　wig's　gratitude　was　such　and　she　asked　so　many　questions　that　it　became　embarrassing　to　Pigl