the water-babies-第29章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ad never come there。 And then he would only touch them； and he did； and then he would only taste one； and he did； and then he would only eat one； and he did； and then he would only eat two； and then three； and so on； and then he was terrified lest she should come and catch him； and began gobbling them down so fast that he did not taste them； or have any pleasure in them； and then he felt sick； and would have only one more； and then only one more again； and so on till he had eaten them all up。
And all the while； close behind him； stood Mrs。 Bedonebyasyoudid。
Some people may say； But why did she not keep her cupboard locked？ Well； I know。 … It may seem a very strange thing； but she never does keep her cupboard locked； every one may go and taste for themselves； and fare accordingly。 It is very odd； but so it is； and I am quite sure that she knows best。 Perhaps she wishes people to keep their fingers out of the fire； by having them burned。
She took off her spectacles； because she did not like to see too much； and in her pity she arched up her eyebrows into her very hair； and her eyes grew so wide that they would have taken in all the sorrows of the world； and filled with great big tears； as they too often do。
But all she said was：
〃Ah； you poor little dear！ you are just like all the rest。〃
But she said it to herself； and Tom neither heard nor saw her。 Now； you must not fancy that she was sentimental at all。 If you do； and think that she is going to let off you； or me； or any human being when we do wrong； because she is too tender…hearted to punish us； then you will find yourself very much mistaken； as many a man does every year and every day。
But what did the strange fairy do when she saw all her lollipops eaten？
Did she fly at Tom； catch him by the scruff of the neck； hold him； howk him； hump him； hurry him； hit him； poke him； pull him； pinch him； pound him； put him in the corner； shake him； slap him； set him on a cold stone to reconsider himself； and so forth？
Not a bit。 You may watch her at work if you know where to find her。 But you will never see her do that。 For； if she had； she knew quite well Tom would have fought； and kicked； and bit； and said bad words； and turned again that moment into a naughty little heathen chimney…sweep； with his hand； like Ishmael's of old； against every man； and every man's hand against him。
Did she question him； hurry him； frighten him； threaten him； to make him confess？ Not a bit。 You may see her； as I said； at her work often enough if you know where to look for her： but you will never see her do that。 For； if she had； she would have tempted him to tell lies in his fright； and that would have been worse for him； if possible； than even becoming a heathen chimney…sweep again。
No。 She leaves that for anxious parents and teachers （lazy ones； some call them）； who； instead of giving children a fair trial； such as they would expect and demand for themselves； force them by fright to confess their own faults … which is so cruel and unfair that no judge on the bench dare do it to the wickedest thief or murderer； for the good British law forbids it … ay； and even punish them to make them confess； which is so detestable a crime that it is never committed now； save by Inquisitors； and Kings of Naples； and a few other wretched people of whom the world is weary。 And then they say； 〃We have trained up the child in the way he should go； and when he grew up he has departed from it。 Why then did Solomon say that he would not depart from it？〃 But perhaps the way of beating； and hurrying and frightening； and questioning； was not the way that the child should go； for it is not even the way in which a colt should go if you want to break it in and make it a quiet serviceable horse。
Some folks may say； 〃Ah！ but the Fairy does not need to do that if she knows everything already。〃 True。 But； if she did not know； she would not surely behave worse than a British judge and jury； and no more should parents and teachers either。
So she just said nothing at all about the matter； not even when Tom came next day with the rest for sweet things。 He was horribly afraid of coming： but he was still more afraid of staying away； lest any one should suspect him。 He was dreadfully afraid； too； lest there should be no sweets … as was to be expected； he having eaten them all … and lest then the fairy should inquire who had taken them。 But； behold！ she pulled out just as many as ever； which astonished Tom； and frightened him still more。
And； when the fairy looked him full in the face； he shook from head to foot： however she gave him his share like the rest； and he thought within himself that she could not have found him out。
But； when he put the sweets into his mouth； he hated the taste of them； and they made him so sick that he had to get away as fast as he could； and terribly sick he was； and very cross and unhappy； all the week after。
Then； when next week came； he had his share again； and again the fairy looked him full in the face； but more sadly than she had ever looked。 And he could not bear the sweets： but took them again in spite of himself。
And when Mrs。 Doasyouwouldbedoneby came； he wanted to be cuddled like the rest； but she said very seriously：
〃I should like to cuddle you； but I cannot； you are so horny and prickly。〃
And Tom looked at himself： and he was all over prickles； just like a sea…egg。
Which was quite natural； for you must know and believe that people's souls make their bodies just as a snail makes its shell （I am not joking； my little man； I am in serious； solemn earnest）。 And therefore； when Tom's soul grew all prickly with naughty tempers； his body could not help growing prickly； too； so that nobody would cuddle him； or play with him； or even like to look at him。
What could Tom do now but go away and hide in a corner and cry？ For nobody would play with him； and he knew full well why。
And he was so miserable all that week that when the ugly fairy came and looked at him once more full in the face； more seriously and sadly than ever； he could stand it no longer； and thrust the sweetmeats away； saying； 〃No； I don't want any： I can't bear them now；〃 and then burst out crying； poor little man； and told Mrs。 Bedonebyasyoudid every word as it happened。
He was horribly frightened when he had done so； for he expected her to punish him very severely。 But； instead； she only took him up and kissed him； which was not quite pleasant； for her chin was very bristly indeed； but he was so lonely…hearted； he thought that rough kissing was better than none。
〃I will forgive you； little man；〃 she said。 〃I always forgive every one the moment they tell me the truth of their own accord。〃
〃Then you will take away all these nasty prickles？〃
〃That is a very different matter。 You put them there yourself； and only you can take them away。〃
〃But how can I do that？〃 asked Tom； crying afresh。
〃Well； I think it is time for you to go to school； so I shall fetch you a schoolmistress； who will teach you how to get rid of your prickles。〃 And so she went away。
Tom was frightened at the notion of a school…mistress； for he thought she would certainly come with a birch…rod or a cane； but he comforted himself； at last； that she might be something like the old woman in Vendale … which she was not in the least； for； when the fairy brought her； she was the most beautiful little girl that ever was seen； with long curls floating behind her like a golden cloud； and long robes floating all round her like a silver one。
〃There he is；〃 said the fairy； 〃and you must teach him to be good； whether you like or not。〃
〃I know；〃 said the little girl； but she did not seem quite to like； for she put her finger in her mouth； and looked at Tom under her brows； and Tom put his finger in his mouth； and looked at her under his brows； for he was horribly ashamed of himself。
The little girl seemed hardly to know how to begin； and perhaps she would never have begun at all if poor Tom had not burst out crying； and begged her to teach him to be good and help him to cure his prickles； and at that she grew so tender…hearted that she began teaching him as prettily as ever child
