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第27章

dream days-第27章

小说: dream days 字数: 每页4000字

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accustomed to doze peacefully the long night through。  In days of

old each of us in turn had been jerked thrillingly round the room

on his precarious back; had dug our heels into his unyielding

sides; and had scratched our hands on the tin tacks that

secured his mane to his stiffly…curving neck。  Later; with

increasing stature; we came to overlook his merits as a beast of

burden; but how frankly; how good…naturedly; he had recognized

the new conditions; and adapted himself to them without a murmur!



When the military spirit was abroad; who so ready to be a

squadron of cavalry; a horde of Cossacks; or artillery pounding

into position?  He had even served with honour as a gun…boat;

during a period when naval strategy was the only theme; and no

false equine pride ever hindered him from taking the part of a

roaring locomotive; earth…shaking; clangorous; annihilating time

and space。  Really it was no longer clear how life; with its

manifold emergencies; was to be carried on at all without a

fellow like the spotty horse; ready to step in at critical

moments and take up just the part required of him。



In moments of mental depression; nothing is quite so

consoling as the honest smell of a painted animal; and

mechanically I turned towards the shelf that had been so long the

Ararat of our weather…beaten Ark。  The shelf was empty; the Ark

had cast off moorings and sailed away to Poplar; and had taken

with it its haunting smell; as well as that pleasant sense of

disorder that the best conducted Ark is always able to impart。 

The sliding roof had rarely been known to close entirely。  There

was always a pair of giraffe…legs sticking out; or an elephant…

trunk; taking from the stiffness of its outline; and reminding us

that our motley crowd of friends inside were uncomfortably

cramped for room and only too ready to leap in a cascade on the

floor and browse and gallop; flutter and bellow and neigh; and be

their natural selves again。  I think that none of us ever really

thought very much of Ham and Shem and Japhet。  They were only

there because they were in the story; but nobody really

wanted them。  The Ark was built for the animals; of course

animals with tails; and trunks; and horns; and at least three

legs apiece; though some unfortunates had been unable to retain

even that number。  And in the animals were of course included the

birdsthe dove; for instance; grey with black wings; and the

red…crested woodpeckeror was it a hoo…poe?and the insects;

for there was a dear beetle; about the same size as the dove;

that held its own with any of the mammalia。



Of the doll…department Charlotte had naturally been sole chief

for a long time; if the staff were not in their places to…day; it

was not I who had any official right to take notice。  And yet one

may have been member of a Club for many a year without ever

exactly understanding the use and object of the other members;

until one enters; some Christmas day or other holiday; and;

surveying the deserted armchairs; the untenanted sofas; the

barren hat…pegs; realizes; with depression; that those other

fellows had their allotted functions; after all。  Where was old

Jerry?  Where were Eugenie; Rosa; Sophy; Esmeralda?  We had long

drifted apart; it was true; we spoke but rarely; perhaps;

absorbed in new ambitions; new achievements; I had even come to

look down on these conservative; unprogressive members who were

so clearly content to remain simply what they were。  And now that

their corners were unfilled; their chairs unoccupiedwell; my

eyes were opened and I wanted 'em back!



However; it was no business of mine。  If grievances were the

question; I hadn't a leg to stand upon。  Though my catapults were

officially confiscated; I knew the drawer in which they were

incarcerated; and where the key of it was hidden; and I

could make life a burden; if I chose; to every living thing

within a square…mile radius; so long as the catapult was restored

to its drawer in due and decent time。  But I wondered how the

others were taking it。  The edict hit them more severely。  They

should have my moral countenance at any rate; if not more; in any

protest or countermine they might be planning。  And; indeed;

something seemed possible; from the dogged; sullen air with which

the two of them had trotted off in the direction of the

raspberry…canes。  Certain spots always had their insensible

attraction for certain moods。  In love; one sought the orchard。 

Weary of discipline; sick of convention; impassioned for the

road; the mining camp; the land across the border; one made for

the big meadow。  Mutinous; sulky; charged with plots and

conspiracies; one always got behind the shelter of the

raspberry…canes。





。   。   。   。   。   。   。



〃You can come too if you like;〃 said Harold; in a subdued sort of

way; as soon as he was aware that I was sitting up in bed

watching him。  〃We didn't think you'd care; 'cos you've got to

catapults。  But we're goin' to do what we've settled to do; so

it's no good sayin' we hadn't ought and that sort of thing; 'cos

we're goin' to!〃



The day had passed in an ominous peacefulness。  Charlotte and

Harold had kept out of my way; as well as out of everybody

else's; in a purposeful manner that ought to have bred suspicion。



In the evening we had read books; or fitfully drawn ships and

battles on fly…leaves; apart; in separate corners; void of

conversation or criticism; oppressed by the lowering tidiness of

the universe; till bedtime came; and disrobement; and

prayers even more mechanical than usual; and lastly bed itself

without so much as a giraffe under the pillow。  Harold had

grunted himself between the sheets with an ostentatious pretence

of overpowering fatigue; but I noticed that he pulled his pillow

forward and propped his head against the brass bars of his crib;

and; as I was acquainted with most of his tricks and subterfuges;

it was easy for me to gather that a painful wakefulness was his

aim that night。



I had dozed off; however; and Harold was out and on his feet;

poking under the bed for his shoes; when I sat up and grimly

regarded him。  Just as he said I could come if I liked; Charlotte

slipped in; her face rigid and set。  And then it was borne in

upon me that I was not on in this scene。  These youngsters had

planned it all out; the piece was their own; and the

mounting; and the cast。  My sceptre had fallen; my rule had

ceased。  In this magic hour of the summer night laws went for

nothing; codes were cancelled; and those who were most in touch

with the moonlight and the warm June spirit and the topsy…

turvydom that reigns when the clock strikes ten; were the true

lords and lawmakers。



Humbly; almost timidly; I followed without a protest in the wake

of these two remorseless; purposeful young persons; who were

marching straight for the schoolroom。  Here in the moonlight the

grim big box stood visiblethe box in which so large a portion

of our past and our personality lay entombed; cold; swathed in

paper; awaiting the carrier of the morning who should speed them

forth to the strange; cold; distant Children's Hospital; where

their little failings would all be misunderstood and no one

would make allowances。  A dreamy spectator; I stood idly by

while Harold propped up the lid and the two plunged in their arms

and probed and felt and grappled。



〃Here's Rosa;〃 said Harold; suddenly。  〃I know the feel of her

hair。  Will you have Rosa out?〃



〃Oh; give me Rosa!〃 cried Charlotte with a sort of gasp。  And

when Rosa had been dragged forth; quite unmoved apparently;

placid as ever in her moonfaced contemplation of this comedy…

world with its ups and downs; Charlotte retired with her to the

window…seat; and there in the moonlight the two exchanged their

private confidences; leaving Harold to his exploration alone。



〃Here's something with sharp corners;〃 said Harold; presently。 

〃Must be Leotar

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