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！
〃because I have told him he is not to。〃
Now the gooseberry garden had two doors by which it
might be entered； and once a small person like Nicholas
could slip in there he could effectually disappear from
view amid the masking growth of artichokes； raspberry
canes； and fruit bushes。 The aunt had many other things
to do that afternoon； but she spent an hour or two in
trivial gardening operations among flower beds and
shrubberies； whence she could keep a watchful eye on the
two doors that led to the forbidden paradise。 She was a
woman of few ideas； with immense powers of concentration。
Nicholas made one or two sorties into the front
garden； wriggling his way with obvious stealth of purpose
towards one or other of the doors； but never able for a
moment to evade the aunt's watchful eye。 As a matter of
fact； he had no intention of trying to get into the
gooseberry garden； but it was extremely convenient for
him that his aunt should believe that he had； it was a
belief that would keep her on self…imposed sentry…duty
for the greater part of the afternoon。 Having thoroughly
confirmed and fortified her suspicions Nicholas slipped
back into the house and rapidly put into execution a plan
of action that had long germinated in his brain。 By
standing on a chair in the library one could reach a
shelf on which reposed a fat； important…looking key。 The
key was as important as it looked； it was the instrument
which kept the mysteries of the lumber…room secure from
unauthorised intrusion； which opened a way only for aunts
and such…like privileged persons。 Nicholas had not had
much experience of the art of fitting keys into keyholes
and turning locks； but for some days past he had
practised with the key of the schoolroom door； he did not
believe in trusting too much to luck and accident。 The
key turned stiffly in the lock； but it turned。 The door
opened； and Nicholas was in an unknown land； compared
with which the gooseberry garden was a stale delight； a
mere material pleasure。
Often and often Nicholas had pictured to himself
what the lumber…room might be like； that region that was
so carefully sealed from youthful eyes and concerning
which no questions were ever answered。 It came up to his
expectations。 In the first place it was large and dimly
lit； one high window opening on to the forbidden garden
being its only source of illumination。 In the second
place it was a storehouse of unimagined treasures。 The
aunt…by…assertion was one of those people who think that
things spoil by use and consign them to dust and damp by
way of preserving them。 Such parts of the house as
Nicholas knew best were rather bare and cheerless； but
here there were wonderful things for the eye to feast on。
First and foremost there was a piece of framed tapestry
that was evidently meant to be a fire…screen。 To
Nicholas it was a living； breathing story； he sat down on
a roll of Indian hangings； glowing in wonderful colours
beneath a layer of dust； and took in all the details of
the tapestry picture。 A man； dressed in the hunting
costume of some remote period； had just transfixed a stag
with an arrow； it could not have been a difficult shot
because the stag was only one or two paces away from him；
in the thickly…growing vegetation that the picture
suggested it would not have been difficult to creep up to
a feeding stag； and the two spotted dogs that were
springing forward to join in the chase had evidently been
trained to keep to heel till the arrow was discharged。
That part of the picture was simple； if interesting； but
did the huntsman see； what Nicholas saw； that four
galloping wolves were coming in his direction through the
wood？ There might be more than four of them hidden
behind the trees； and in any case would the man and his
dogs be able to cope with the four wolves if they made an
attack？ The man had only two arrows left in his quiver；
and he might miss with one or both of them； all one knew
about his skill in shooting was that he could hit a large
stag at a ridiculously short range。 Nicholas sat for
many golden minutes revolving the possibilities of the
scene； he was inclined to think that there were more than
four wolves and that the man and his dogs were in a tight
corner。
But there were other objects of delight and interest
claiming his instant attention： there were quaint twisted
candlesticks in the shape of snakes； and a teapot
fashioned like a china duck； out of whose open beak the
tea was supposed to come。 How dull and shapeless the
nursery teapot seemed in comparison！ And there was a
carved sandal…wood box packed tight with aromatic
cottonwool； and between the layers of cottonwool were
little brass figures； hump…necked bulls； and peacocks and
goblins； delightful to see and to handle。 Less promising
in appearance was a large square book with plain black
covers； Nicholas peeped into it； and； behold； it was full
of coloured pictures of birds。 And such birds！ In the
garden； and in the lanes when he went for a walk；
Nicholas came across a few birds； of which the largest
were an occasional magpie or wood…pigeon； here were
herons and bustards； kites； toucans； tiger…bitterns；
brush turkeys； ibises； golden pheasants； a whole portrait
gallery of undreamed…of creatures。 And as he was
admiring the colouring of the mandarin duck and assigning
a life…history to it； the voice of his aunt in shrill
vociferation of his name came from the gooseberry garden
without。 She had grown suspicious at his long
disappearance； and had leapt to the conclusion that he
had climbed over the wall behind the sheltering screen of
the lilac bushes； she was now engaged in energetic and
rather hopeless search for him among the artichokes and
raspberry canes。
〃Nicholas； Nicholas！〃 she screamed； 〃you are to come
out of this at once。 It's no use trying to hide there； I
can see you all the time。〃
It was probably the first time for twenty years that
anyone had smiled in that lumber…room。
Presently the angry repetitions of Nicholas' name
gave way to a shriek； and a cry for somebody to come
quickly。 Nicholas shut the book； restored it carefully
to its place in a corner； and shook some dust from a
neighbouring pile of newspapers over it。 Then he crept
from the room； locked the door； and replaced the key
exactly where he had found it。 His aunt was still
calling his name when he sauntered into the front garden。
〃Who's calling？〃 he asked。
〃Me；〃 came the answer from the other side of the
wall； 〃didn't you hear me？ I've been looking for you in
the gooseberry garden； and I've slipped into the rain…
water tank。 Luckily there's no water in it； but the
sides are slippery and I can't get out。 Fetch the little
ladder from under the cherry tree … 〃
〃I was told I w