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第29章

the water-babies-第29章

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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 

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