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！
〃Why weren't there any flowers？〃
〃Because the pigs had eaten them all；〃 said the bachelor promptly。
〃The gardeners had told the Prince that you couldn't have pigs and
flowers； so he decided to have pigs and no flowers。〃
There was a murmur of approval at the excellence of the Prince's
decision； so many people would have decided the other way。
〃There were lots of other delightful things in the park。 There were
ponds with gold and blue and green fish in them； and trees with beautiful
parrots that said clever things at a moment's notice； and humming birds
that hummed all the popular tunes of the day。 Bertha walked up and
down and enjoyed herself immensely； and thought to herself： 'If I were
not so extraordinarily good I should not have been allowed to come into
this beautiful park and enjoy all that there is to be seen in it；' and her
three medals clinked against one another as she walked and helped to
142
… Page 143…
BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
remind her how very good she really was。 Just then an enormous wolf
came prowling into the park to see if it could catch a fat little pig for
its supper。〃
〃What colour was it？〃 asked the children； amid an immediate
quickening of interest。
〃Mud…colour all over； with a black tongue and pale grey eyes that
gleamed with unspeakable ferocity。 The first thing that it saw in the
park was Bertha； her pinafore was so spotlessly white and clean that it
could be seen from a great distance。 Bertha saw the wolf and saw
that it was stealing towards her； and she began to wish that she had never
been allowed to come into the park。 She ran as hard as she could； and
the wolf came after her with huge leaps and bounds。 She managed to
reach a shrubbery of myrtle bushes and she hid herself in one of the
thickest of the bushes。 The wolf came sniffing among the branches； its
black tongue lolling out of its mouth and its pale grey eyes glaring with
rage。 Bertha was terribly frightened； and thought to herself： 'If I had
not been so extraordinarily good I should have been safe in the town at
this moment。' However； the scent of the myrtle was so strong that the
wolf could not sniff out where Bertha was hiding； and the bushes were
so thick that he might have hunted about in them for a long time
without catching sight of her； so he thought he might as well go off and
catch a little pig instead。 Bertha was trembling very much at having the
wolf prowling and sniffing so near her； and as she trembled the medal
for obedience clinked against the medals for good conduct and
punctuality。 The wolf was just moving away when he heard the sound
of the medals clinking and stopped to listen； they clinked again in a bush
quite near him。 He dashed into the bush； his pale grey eyes gleaming
with ferocity and triumph； and dragged Bertha out and devoured her to
the last morsel。 All that was left of her were her shoes； bits of clothing；
and the three medals for goodness。〃 〃Were any of the little pigs
killed？〃
〃No； they all escaped。〃
〃The story began badly；〃 said the smaller of the small girls； 〃but it
had a beautiful ending。〃
143
… Page 144…
BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
〃It is the most beautiful story that I ever heard；〃 said the bigger of
the small girls； with immense decision。
〃It is the ONLY beautiful story I have ever heard；〃 said Cyril。
A dissentient opinion came from the aunt。
〃A most improper story to tell to young children！ You have
undermined the effect of years of careful teaching。〃
〃At any rate；〃 said the bachelor； collecting his belongings
preparatory to leaving the carriage； 〃I kept them quiet for ten minutes；
which was more than you were able to do。〃
〃Unhappy woman！〃 he observed to himself as he walked down the
platform of Templecombe station； 〃for the next six months or so those
children will assail her in public with demands for an improper story！〃
144
… Page 145…
BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
A DEFENSIVE DIAMOND
TREDDLEFORD sat in an easeful arm…chair in front of a
slumberous fire； with a volume of verse in his hand and the comfortable
consciousness that outside the club windows the rain was dripping and
pattering with persistent purpose。 A chill； wet October afternoon was
merging into a bleak； wet October evening； and the club smoking…room
seemed warmer and cosier by contrast。 It was an afternoon on which to
be wafted away from one's climatic surroundings； and 〃The Golden
journey to Samarkand〃 promised to bear Treddleford well and bravely
into other lands and under other skies。 He had already migrated from
London the rain…swept to Bagdad the Beautiful； and stood by the Sun
Gate 〃in the olden time〃 when an icy breath of imminent annoyance
seemed to creep between the book and himself。 Amblecope； the man
with the restless； prominent eyes and the mouth ready mobilised for
conversational openings； had planted himself in a neighbouring arm…
chair。 For a twelvemonth and some odd weeks Treddleford had
skilfully avoided making the acquaintance of his voluble fellow…
clubman； he had marvellously escaped from the infliction of his
relentless record of tedious personal achievements； or alleged
achievements； on golf links； turf； and gaming table； by flood and field
and covert…side。 Now his season of immunity was coming to an end。
There was no escape； in another moment he would be numbered among
those who knew Amblecope to speak to … or rather； to suffer being
spoken to。