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第19章

dream days-第19章

小说: dream days 字数: 每页4000字

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expedition anyhow and something was sure to come out of it。



Charlotte took me across another field or two; and through a

copse; and into a fresh road; and I began to feel sure it was

only her confounded pride that made her go on pretending to see

dragon…tracks instead of owning she was entirely at fault; like a

reasonable person。  At last she dragged me excitedly through a

gap in a hedge of an obviously private character; the waste; open

world of field and hedge…row disappeared; and we found

ourselves in a garden; well…kept; secluded; most un…dragon…

haunted in appearance。  Once inside; I knew where we were。  This

was the garden of my friend the circus…man; though I had never

approached it before by a lawless gap; from this unfamiliar side。



And here was the circus…man himself; placidly smoking a pipe as

he strolled up and down the walks。  I stepped up to him and asked

him politely if he had lately seen a Beast。



〃May I inquire;〃 he said; with all civility; 〃what particular

sort of a Beast you may happen to be looking for?〃



〃It's a LIZARDY sort of Beast;〃 I explained。  〃Charlotte says

it's a dragon; but she doesn't really know much about beasts。〃



The circus…man looked round about him slowly。  〃I don't

THINK;〃 he said; 〃that I've seen a dragon in these parts

recently。  But if I come across one I'll know it belongs to

you; and I'll have him taken round to you at once。〃



〃Thank you very much;〃 said Charlotte; 〃but don't TROUBLE

about it; please; 'cos p'raps it isn't a dragon after all。  Only

I thought I saw his little footprints in the snow; and we

followed 'em up; and they seemed to lead right in here; but maybe

it's all a mistake; and thank you all the same。〃



〃Oh; no trouble at all;〃 said the circus…man; cheerfully。  〃I

should be only too pleased。  But of course; as you say; it MAY

be a mistake。  And it's getting dark; and he seems to have got

away for the present; whatever he is。  You'd better come in and

have some tea。  I'm quite alone; and we'll make a roaring fire;

and I've got the biggest Book of Beasts you ever saw。  It's got

every beast in the world; and all of 'em coloured; and we'll try

and find YOUR beast in it!〃



We were always ready for tea at any time; and especially when

combined with beasts。  There was marmalade; too; and apricot…jam;

brought in expressly for us; and afterwards the beast…book was

spread out; and; as the man had truly said; it contained every

sort of beast that had ever been in the world。



The striking of six o'clock set the more prudent Charlotte

nudging me; and we recalled ourselves with an effort from Beast…

land; and reluctantly stood up to go。



〃Here; I'm coming along with you;〃 said the circus…man。  〃I want

another pipe; and a walk'll do me good。  You needn't talk to me

unless you like。〃



Our spirits rose to their wonted level again。  The way had seemed

so long; the outside world so dark and eerie; after the bright

warm room and the highly…coloured beast…book。  But a walk with a

real Manwhy; that was a treat in itself!  We set off

briskly; the Man in the middle。  I looked up at him and wondered

whether I should ever live to smoke a big pipe with that careless

sort of majesty!  But Charlotte; whose young mind was not set on

tobacco as a possible goal; made herself heard from the other

side。



〃Now; then;〃 she said; 〃tell us a story; please; won't you?〃



The Man sighed heavily and looked about him。  〃I knew it;〃 he

groaned。  〃I KNEW I should have to tell a story。  Oh; why did

I leave my pleasant fireside?  Well; I WILL tell you a story。 

Only let me think a minute。〃



So he thought a minute; and then he told us this story。





Long agomight have been hundreds of years agoin a cottage

half…way between this village and yonder shoulder of the Downs up

there; a shepherd lived with his wife and their little son。 

Now the shepherd spent his daysand at certain times of the year

his nights tooup on the wide ocean…bosom of the Downs; with

only the sun and the stars and the sheep for company; and the

friendly chattering world of men and women far out of sight and

hearing。  But his little son; when he wasn't helping his father;

and often when he was as well; spent much of his time buried in

big volumes that he borrowed from the affable gentry and

interested parsons of the country round about。  And his parents

were very fond of him; and rather proud of him too; though they

didn't let on in his hearing; so he was left to go his own way

and read as much as he liked; and instead of frequently getting a

cuff on the side of the head; as might very well have happened to

him; he was treated more or less as an equal by his parents; who

sensibly thought it a very fair division of labour that they

should supply the practical knowledge; and he the book…learning。 

They knew that book…learning often came in useful at a pinch; in

spite of what their neighbours said。  What the Boy chiefly

dabbled in was natural history and fairy…tales; and he just took

them as they came; in a sandwichy sort of way; without making any

distinctions; and really his course of reading strikes one as

rather sensible。



One evening the shepherd; who for some nights past had been

disturbed and preoccupied; and off his usual mental balance; came

home all of a tremble; and; sitting down at the table where his

wife and son were peacefully employed; she with her seam; he in

following out the adventures of the Giant with no Heart in his

Body; exclaimed with much agitation:



〃It's all up with me; Maria!  Never no more can I go up on them

there Downs; was it ever so!〃



〃Now don't you take on like that;〃 said his wife; who was a

VERY sensible woman: 〃but tell us all about it first; whatever

it is as has given you this shake…up; and then me and you and the

son here; between us; we ought to be able to get to the bottom of

it!〃



〃It began some nights ago;〃 said the shepherd。  〃You know that

cave up thereI never liked it; somehow; and the sheep never

liked it neither; and when sheep don't like a thing there's

generally some reason for it。  Well; for some time past there's

been faint noises coming from that cavenoises like heavy

sighings; with grunts mixed up in them; and sometimes a snoring;

far away downREAL snoring; yet somehow not HONEST

snoring; like you and me o'nights; you know!〃



〃_I_ know;〃 remarked the Boy; quietly。



〃Of course I was terrible frightened;〃 the shepherd went on; 〃yet

somehow I couldn't keep away。  So this very evening; before

I come down; I took a cast round by the cave; quietly。  And

thereO Lord! there I saw him at last; as plain as I see you!〃



〃Saw WHO?〃 said his wife; beginning to share in her husband's

nervous terror。



〃Why HIM; I'm a telling you!〃 said the shepherd。  〃He was

sticking half…way out of the cave; and seemed to be enjoying of

the cool of the evening in a poetical sort of way。  He was as big

as four cart…horses; and all covered with shiny scalesdeep…blue

scales at the top of him; shading off to a tender sort o' green

below。  As he breathed; there was that sort of flicker over his

nostrils that you see over our chalk roads on a baking windless

day in summer。  He had his chin on his paws; and I should say he

was meditating about things。  Oh; yes; a peaceable sort o' beast

enough; and not ramping or carrying on or doing anything

but what was quite right and proper。  I admit all that。  And yet;

what am I to do?  SCALES; you know; and claws; and a tail for

certain; though I didn't see that end of himI ain't USED to

'em; and I don't HOLD with 'em; and that's a fact!〃



The Boy; who had apparently been absorbed in his book during his

father's recital; now closed the volume; yawned; clasped his

hands behind his head; and said sleepily:



〃It's all right; father。  Don't you worry。  It's only a dragon。〃



〃Only a dragon?〃 cried his father。  〃What do you mean; sitting

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