the great big treasury of beatrix potter-第9章

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Jemima　Puddle…duck　became　quite　desperate。　She　determined　to　make　a　nest　right　away　from　the　farm。


She　set　off　on　a　fine　spring　afternoon　along　the　cart　road　that　leads　over　the　hill。

She　was　wearing　a　shawl　and　a　poke　bonnet。

When　she　reached　the　top　of　the　hill；　she　saw　a　wood　in　the　distance。

She　thought　that　it　looked　a　safe　quiet　spot。

Jemima　Puddle…duck　was　not　much　in　the　habit　of　flying。　She　ran　downhill　a　few　yards　flapping　her　shawl；　and　then　she　jumped　off　into　the　air。


She　flew　beautifully　when　she　had　got　a　good　start。


She　skimmed　along　over　the　treetops　until　she　saw　an　open　place　in　the　middle　of　the　wood；　where　the　trees　and　brushwood　had　been　cleared。

Jemima　alighted　rather　heavily　and　began　to　waddle　about　in　search　of　a　convenient　dry　nesting　place。　She　rather　fancied　a　tree　stump　amongst　some　tall　foxgloves。

Butseated　upon　the　stump；　she　was　startled　to　find　an　elegantly　dressed　gentleman　reading　a　newspaper。　He　had　black　prick　ears　and　sandy　colored　whiskers。

〃Quack？〃　said　Jemima　Puddle…　duck；　with　her　head　and　her　bonnet　on　the　one　side〃Quack？〃

The　gentleman　raised　his　eyes　above　his　newspaper　and　looked　curiously　at　Jemima

〃Madam；　have　you　lost　your　way？〃　said　he。　He　had　a　long　bushy　tail　which　he　was　sitting　upon；　as　the　stump　was　somewhat　damp。

Jemima　thought　him　mighty　civil　and　handsome。　She　explained　that　she　had　not　lost　her　way；　but　that　she　was　trying　to　find　a　convenient　dry　nesting　place。


〃Ah！　is　that　so？　Indeed！〃　said　the　gentleman　with　sandy　whiskers；　looking　curiously　at　Jemima。　He　folded　up　the　newspaper　and　put　it　in　his　coattail　pocket。

Jemima　complained　of　the　superfluous　hen。

〃Indeed！　How　interesting！　I　wish　I　could　meet　with　that　fowl。　I　would　teach　it　to　mind　its　own　business！

〃But　as　to　a　nestthere　is　no　difficulty：　I　have　a　sackful　of　feathers　in　my　woodshed。　No；　my　dear　madam；　you　will　be　in　nobody's　way。　You　may　sit　there　as　long　as　you　like；〃　said　the　bushy　long…tailed　gentleman。

He　led　the　way　to　a　very　retired；　dismal…looking　house　amongst　the　foxgloves。

It　was　built　of　faggots　and　turf；　and　there　were　two　broken　pails；　one　on　top　of　another；　by　way　of　a　chimney。

〃This　is　my　summer　residence；　you　would　not　find　my　earthmy　winter　houseso　convenient；〃　said　the　hospitable　gentleman。

There　was　a　tumbledown　shed　at　the　back　of　the　house；　made　of　old　soap　boxes。　The　gentleman　opened　the　door　and　showed　Jemima　in。


The　shed　was　almost　quite　full　of　feathersit　was　almost　suffocating；　but　it　was　comfortable　and　very　soft。

Jemima　Puddle…duck　was　rather　surprised　to　find　such　a　vast　quantity　of　feathers。　But　it　was　very　comfortable；　and　she　made　a　nest　without　any　trouble　at　all。

When　she　came　out；　the　sandy…　whiskered　gentleman　was　sitting　on　a　log　reading　the　newspaperat　least　he　had　it　spread　out；　but　he　was　looking　over　the　top　of　it。

He　was　so　polite　that　he　seemed　almost　sorry　to　let　Jemima　go　home　for　the　night。　He　promised　to　take　great　care　of　her　nest　until　she　came　back　again　the　next　day。

He　said　he　loved　eggs　and　ducklings；　he　should　be　proud　to　see　a　fine　nestful　in　his　woodshed。

Jemima　Puddle…duck　came　every　afternoon；　she　laid　nine　eggs　in　the　nest。　They　were　greeny　white　and　very　large。　The　foxy　gentleman　admired　them　immensely。　He　used　to　turn　them　over　and　count　them　when　Jemima　was　not　there。

At　last　Jemima　told　him　that　she　intended　to　begin　to　sit　next　day〃and　I　will　bring　a　bag　of　corn　with　me；　so　that　I　need　never　leave　my　nest　until　the　eggs　are　hatched。　They　might　catch　cold；〃　said　the　conscientious　Jemima。


〃Madam；　I　beg　you　not　to　trouble　yourself　with　a　bag；　I　will　provide　oats。　But　before　you　commence　your　tedious　sitting；　I　intend　to　give　you　a　treat。　Let　us　have　a　dinner　party　all　to　ourselves！

〃May　I　ask　you　to　bring　up　some　herbs　from　the　farm　garden　to　make　a　savory　omelet？　Sage　and　thyme；　and　mint　and　two　onions；　and　some　parsley。　I　will　provide　lard　for　the　stufflard　for　the　omelet；〃　said　the　hospitable　gentleman　with　sandy　whiskers。

Jemima　Puddle…duck　was　a　simpleton：　not　even　the　mention　of　sage　and　onions　made　her　suspicious。

She　went　round　the　farm　garden；　nibbling　off　snippets　of　all　the　different　sorts　of　herbs　that　are　used　for　stuffing　roast　duck。

And　she　waddled　into　the　kitchen　and　got　two　onions　out　of　a　basket。

The　collie　dog　Kep　met　her　coming　out；　〃What　are　you　doing　with　those　onions？　Where　do　you　go　every　afternoon　by　yourself；　Jemima　Puddle…duck？〃

Jemima　was　rather　in　awe　of　the　collie；　she　told　him　the　whole　story。

The　collie　listened；　with　his　wise　head　on　one　side；　he　grinned　when　she　described　the　polite　gentleman　with　sandy　whiskers。


He　asked　several　questions　about　the　wood　and　about　the　exact　position　of　the　house　and　shed。

Then　he　went　out；　and　trotted　down　the　village。　He　went　to　look　for　two　foxhound　puppies　who　were　out　at　walk　with　the　butcher。

Jemima　Puddle…duck　went　up　the　cart　road　for　the　last　time；　on　a　sunny　afternoon。　She　was　rather　burdened　with　bunches　of　herbs　and　two　onions　in　a　bag。

She　flew　over　the　wood；　and　alighted　opposite　the　house　of　the　bushy　long…tailed　gentleman。

He　was　sitting　on　a　log；　he　sniffed　the　air　and　kept　glancing　uneasily　round　the　wood。　When　Jemima　alighted　he　quite　jumped。

〃Come　into　the　house　as　soon　as　you　have　looked　at　your　eggs。　Give　me　the　herbs　for　the　omelet。　Be　sharp！〃

He　was　rather　abrupt。　Jemima　Puddle…duck　had　never　heard　him　speak　like　that。

She　felt　surprised　and　uncomfortable。

While　she　was　inside　she　heard　pattering　feet　round　the　back　of　the　shed。　Someone　with　a　black　nose　sniffed　at　the　bottom　of　the　door；　and　them　locked　it。

Jemima　became　much　alarmed。

A　moment　afterward　there　were　most　awful　noisesbarking；　baying；　growls　and　howls；　squealing　and　groans。

And　nothing　more　was　ever　seen　of　that　foxy…whiskered　gentleman。

Presently　Kep　opened　the　door　of　the　shed　and　let　out　Jemima　Puddle…　duck。

Unfortunately　the　puppies　rushed　in　and　gobbled　up　all　the　eggs　before　he　could　stop　them。

He　had　a　bite　on　his　ear；　and　both　the　puppies　were　limping。


Jemima　Puddle…duck　was　escorted　home　in　tears　on　account　of　those　eggs。

She　laid　some　more　in　June；　and　she　was　permitted　to　keep　them　herself：　but　only　four　of　them　hatched。

Jemima　Puddle…duck　said　that　it　was　because　of　her　nerves；　but　she　had　always　been　a　bad　sitter。




THE　ROLY…POLY　PUDDING

＇In　Remembrance　of　〃Sammy；〃　the　Intelligent　Pink…Eyed　Representative　of　a　Persecuted　（But　Irrepressible）　Race。　An　Affectionate　Little　Friend；　and　Most　Accomplished　Thief！＇




Once　upon　a　time　there　was　an　old　cat；　called　Mrs。　Tabitha　Twitchit；　who　was　an　anxious　parent。　She　used　to　lose　her　kittens　continually；　and　whenever　they　were　lost　they　were　always　in　mischief！

On　baking　day　she　determined　to　shut　them　up　in　a　cupboard。

She　caught　Moppet　and　Mittens；　but　she　could　not　find　Tom。

Mrs。　Tabitha　went　up　and　down　all　over　the　house；　mewing　for　Tom　Kitten。　She　looked　in　the　pantry　under　the　staircase；　and　she　searched　the　best　spare　bedroom　that　was　all　covered　up　with　dust　sheets。　She　went　right　upstairs　and　looked　into　the　attics；　but　she　could　not　find　him　anywhere。

It　was　an　old；　old　house；　full　of　cupboards　and　passages。　Some　of　the　walls　were　four　feet　thick；　and　there　used　to　be　queer　noises　inside　them；　as　if　there　might　be　a　little　secret　staircase。　Certainly　there　were　odd　little　jagged　doorways　in　the　wainscot；　and　things　disappeared　at　night　especially　cheese　and　bacon。

Mrs。　Tabitha　became　more　and　more　distracted　and　mewed　dreadfully。

While　their　mother　was　searching　the　house；　Moppet　and　Mittens　had　got　into　mischief。


The　cupboard　door　was　not　locked；　so　they　pushed　it　open　and　came　out。

They　went　straight　to　the　dough　which　was　set　to　rise　in　a　pan　before　the　fire。

They　patted　it　with　their　little　soft　paws〃Shall　we　make　dear　little　muffins？〃　said　Mittens　to　Moppet。

But　just　at　that　moment　somebody　knocked　at　the　front　door；　and　Moppet　jumped　into　the　flour　barrel　in　a　fright。

Mittens　ran　away　to　the　dairy　and　hid　in　an　empty　jar　on　the　stone　shelf　where　the　milk　pans　stand。


The　visitor　was　a　neighbor；　Mrs。