the great big treasury of beatrix potter-第5章

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eat　it；　because　it　is　a　party。　And　MY　pie　was　going　to　be　veal　and　ham。　A　pink　and　white　pie…dish！　and　so　is　mine；　just　like　Ribby's　dishes；　they　were　both　bought　at　Tabitha　Twitchit's。〃

Duchess　went　into　her　larder　and　took　the　pie　off　a　shelf　and　looked　at　it。

〃Oh　what　a　good　idea！　Why　shouldn't　I　rush　along　and　put　my　pie　into　Ribby's　oven　when　Ribby　isn't　there？〃

Ribby　in　the　meantime　had　received　Duchess's　answer；　and　as　soon　as　she　was　sure　that　the　little　dog　would　comeshe　popped　HER　pie　into　the　oven。　There　were　two　ovens；　one　above　the　other；　some　other　knobs　and　handles　were　only　ornamental　and　not　intended　to　open。　Ribby　put　the　pie　into　the　lower　oven；　the　door　was　very　stiff。

〃The　top　oven　bakes　too　quickly；〃　said　Ribby　to　herself。


Ribby　put　on　some　coal　and　swept　up　the　hearth。　Then　she　went　out　with　a　can　to　the　well；　for　water　to　fill　up　the　kettle。

Then　she　began　to　set　the　room　in　order；　for　it　was　the　sitting…room　as　well　as　the　kitchen。

When　Ribby　had　laid　the　table　she　went　out　down　the　field　to　the　farm；　to　fetch　milk　and　butter。

When　she　came　back；　she　peeped　into　the　bottom　oven；　the　pie　looked　very　comfortable。

Ribby　put　on　her　shawl　and　bonnet　and　went　out　again　with　a　basket；　to　the　village　shop　to　buy　a　packet　of　tea；　a　pound　of　lump　sugar；　and　a　pot　of　marmalade。

And　just　at　the　same　time；　Duchess　came　out　of　HER　house；　at　the　other　end　of　the　village。

Ribby　met　Duchess　half…way　down　the　street；　also　carrying　a　basket；　covered　with　a　cloth。　They　only　bowed　to　one　another；　they　did　not　speak；　because　they　were　going　to　have　a　party。


As　soon　as　Duchess　had　got　round　the　corner　out　of　sightshe　simply　ran！　Straight　away　to　Ribby's　house！

Ribby　went　into　the　shop　and　bought　what　she　required；　and　came　out；　after　a　pleasant　gossip　with　Cousin　Tabitha　Twitchit。

Ribby　went　on　to　Timothy　Baker's　and　bought　the　muffins。　Then　she　went　home。

There　seemed　to　be　a　sort　of　scuffling　noise　in　the　back　passage；　as　she　was　coming　in　at　the　front　door。　But　there　was　nobody　there。

Duchess　in　the　meantime；　had　slipped　out　at　the　back　door。

〃It　is　a　very　odd　thing　that　Ribby's　pie　was　NOT　in　the　oven　when　I　put　mine　in！　And　I　can't　find　it　anywhere；　I　have　looked　all　over　the　house。　I　put　MY　pie　into　a　nice　hot　oven　at　the　top。　I　could　not　turn　any　of　the　other　handles；　I　think　that　they　are　all　shams；〃　said　Duchess；　〃but　I　wish　I　could　have　removed　the　pie　made　of　mouse！　I　cannot　think　what　she　has　done　with　it？　I　heard　Ribby　coming　and　I　had　to　run　out　by　the　back　door！〃


Duchess　went　home　and　brushed　her　beautiful　black　coat；　and　then　she　picked　a　bunch　of　flowers　in　her　garden　as　a　present　for　Ribby；　and　passed　the　time　until　the　clock　struck　four。

Ribbyhaving　assured　herself　by　careful　search　that　there　was　really　no　one　hiding　in　the　cupboard　or　in　the　larderwent　upstairs　to　change　her　dress。

She　came　downstairs　again；　and　made　the　tea；　and　put　the　teapot　on　the　hob。　She　peeped　again　into　the　BOTTOM　oven；　the　pie　had　become　a　lovely　brown；　and　it　was　steaming　hot。

She　sat　down　before　the　fire　to　wait　for　the　little　dog。　〃I　am　glad　I　used　the　BOTTOM　oven；〃　said　Ribby；　〃the　top　one　would　certainly　have　been　very　much　too　hot。〃

Very　punctually　at　four　o'clock；　Duchess　started　to　go　to　the　party。

At　a　quarter　past　four　to　the　minute；　there　came　a　most　genteel　little　tap…tappity。　〃Is　Mrs。　Ribston　at　home？〃　inquired　Duchess　in　the　porch。


〃Come　in！　and　how　do　you　do；　my　dear　Duchess？〃　cried　Ribby。　〃I　hope　I　see　you　well？〃

〃Quite　well；　I　thank　you；　and　how　do　YOU　do；　my　dear　Ribby？〃　said　Duchess。　〃I've　brought　you　some　flowers；　what　a　delicious　smell　of　pie！〃

〃Oh；　what　lovely　flowers！　Yes；　it　is　mouse　and　bacon！〃

〃I　think　it　wants　another　five　minutes；〃　said　Ribby。　〃Just　a　shade　longer；　I　will　pour　out　the　tea；　while　we　wait。　Do　you　take　sugar；　my　dear　Duchess？〃

〃Oh　yes；　please！　my　dear　Ribby；　and　may　I　have　a　lump　upon　my　nose？〃

〃With　pleasure；　my　dear　Duchess。〃

Duchess　sat　up　with　the　sugar　on　her　nose　and　sniffed

〃How　good　that　pie　smells！　I　do　love　veal　and　hamI　mean　to　say　mouse　and　bacon〃

She　dropped　the　sugar　in　confusion；　and　had　to　go　hunting　under　the　tea…　table；　so　did　not　see　which　oven　Ribby　opened　in　order　to　get　out　the　pie。


Ribby　set　the　pie　upon　the　table；　there　was　a　very　savoury　smell。

Duchess　came　out　from　under　the　table…cloth　munching　sugar；　and　sat　up　on　a　chair。

〃I　will　first　cut　the　pie　for　you；　I　am　going　to　have　muffin　and　marmalade；〃　said　Ribby。

〃I　think〃（thought　Duchess　to　herself）〃I　THINK　it　would　be　wiser　if　I　helped　myself　to　pie；　though　Ribby　did　not　seem　to　notice　anything　when　she　was　cutting　it。　What　very　small　fine　pieces　it　has　cooked　into！　I　did　not　remember　that　I　had　minced　it　up　so　fine；　I　suppose　this　is　a　quicker　oven　than　my　own。〃

The　pie…dish　was　emptying　rapidly！　Duchess　had　had　four　helps　already；　and　was　fumbling　with　the　spoon。

〃A　little　more　bacon；　my　dear　Duchess？〃　said　Ribby。

〃Thank　you；　my　dear　Ribby；　I　was　only　feeling　for　the　patty…pan。〃

〃The　patty…pan？　my　dear　Duchess？〃

〃The　patty　pan　that　held　up　the　pie…crust；〃　said　Duchess；　blushing　under　her　black　coat。


〃Oh；　I　didn't　put　one　in；　my　dear　Duchess；〃　said　Ribby；　〃I　don't　think　that　it　is　necessary　in　pies　made　of　mouse。〃

Duchess　fumbled　with　the　spoon　〃I　can't　find　it！〃　she　said　anxiously。

〃There　isn't　a　patty…pan；〃　said　Ribby；　looking　perplexed。

〃Yes；　indeed；　my　dear　Ribby；　where　can　it　have　gone　to？〃　said　Duchess。

Duchess　looked　very　much　alarmed；　and　continued　to　scoop　the　inside　of　the　pie…dish。

〃I　have　only　four　patty…pans；　and　they　are　all　in　the　cupboard。〃

Duchess　set　up　a　howl。

〃I　shall　die！　I　shall　die！　I　have　swallowed　a　patty…pan！　Oh；　my　dear　Ribby；　I　do　feel　so　ill！〃

〃It　is　impossible；　my　dear　Duchess；　there　was　not　a　patty…pan。〃

〃Yes　there　WAS；　my　dear　Ribby；　I　am　sure　I　have　swallowed　it！〃

〃Let　me　prop　you　up　with　a　pillow；　my　dear　Duchess；　where　do　you　think　you　feel　it？〃

〃Oh　I　do　feel　so　ill　ALL　OVER　me；　my　dear　Ribby。〃

〃Shall　I　run　for　the　doctor？〃


〃Oh　yes；　yes！　fetch　Dr。　Maggotty；　my　dear　Ribby：　he　is　a　Pie　himself；　he　will　certainly　understand。〃

Ribby　settled　Duchess　in　an　armchair　before　the　fire；　and　went　out　and　hurried　to　the　village　to　look　for　the　doctor。

She　found　him　at　the　smithy。

Ribby　explained　that　her　guest　had　swallowed　a　patty…pan。

Dr。　Maggotty　hopped　so　fast　that　Ribby　had　to　run。　It　was　most　conspicuous。　All　the　village　could　see　that　Ribby　was　fetching　the　doctor。

But　while　Ribby　had　been　hunting　for　the　doctora　curious　thing　had　happened　to　Duchess；　who　had　been　left　by　herself；　sitting　before　the　fire；　sighing　and　groaning　and　feeling　very　unhappy。

〃How　COULD　I　have　swallowed　it！　such　a　large　thing　as　a　patty…pan！〃

She　sat　down　again；　and　stared　mournfully　at　the　grate。　The　fire　crackled　and　danced；　and　something　sizz…z…zled！

Duchess　started！　She　opened　the　door　of　the　TOP　oven；out　came　a　rich　steamy　flavour　of　veal　and　ham；　and　there　stood　a　fine　brown　pie；　and　through　a　hole　in　the　top　of　the　pie…crust　there　was　a　glimpse　of　a　little　tin　patty…pan！

Duchess　drew　a　long　breath


〃Then　I　must　have　been　eating　MOUSE！　。　。　。　No　wonder　I　feel　ill。　。　。　。　But　perhaps　I　should　feel　worse　if　I　had　really　swallowed　a　patty…pan！〃　Duchess　reflected〃What　a　very　awkward　thing　to　have　to　explain　to　Ribby！　I　think　I　will　put　MY　pie　in　the　back…yard　and　say　nothing　about　it。　When　I　go　home；　I　will　run　round　and　take　it　away。〃　She　put　it　outside　the　back…door；　and　say　down　again　by　the　fire；　and　shut　her　eyes；　when　Ribby　arrived　with　the　doctor；　she　seemed　fast　asleep。

〃I　am　feeling　very　much　better；〃　said　Duchess；　waking　up　with　a　jump。

〃I　am　truly　glad　to　hear　it！　He　has　brought　you　a　pill；　my　dear　Duchess！〃

〃I　think　I　should　feel　QUITE　well　if　he　only　felt　my　pulse；〃　said　Duchess；　backing　away　from　the　magpie；　who　sidled　up　with　something　in　his　beak。

〃It　is　only　a　bread　pill；　you　had　much　better　take　it；　drink　a　little　milk；　my　dear　Duchess！〃

〃I　am　feeling　very　much　better；　my　dear　Ribby；〃　said　Duchess。　〃Do　you　not　think　that　I　had　better　go　home　before　it　gets　dark？〃


〃Perhaps　it　might　be　wise；　my　dear　Duchess。〃

Ribby　and　Duchess　said　good…bye　affectionately；　and　Duchess　started　home。　Half…way　up　the　lane　she　stopped　and　looked　back；　Ribby　had　gone　in　and　shut　her　door。　Duchess　slipped　through　the　fence；　and　ran　round　to　the　back　of　Ribby's　house；　and　peeped　into　the　yard。

Upon　the　roof　of　the　pig…stye　sat　Dr。　Maggotty　and　three　jackdaws。　The　jackdaws　were　eating　piecrust；　and　the　magpie　was　drinking　gravy　out　of　a　patty…pan。

Duchess　ran　home　feeling　uncommonly　silly！

When　Ribby　came　out　for　a　pailful　of　water　to　wash　up　the　tea…things；　she　found　a　pink　and　white　pie…dish　lying　smashed　in　the　middle　of　the　yard。

Ribby　stared　with　amazement　〃Did　you　ever　see　the　like！　so　there　really　WAS　a　patty…pan？　。　。　。　But　MY　patty…pans　are　all　in　the　kitchen　cupboard。　Well　I　never　did！　。　。　。　Next　time　I　want　to　give　a　partyI　will　invite　Cousin　Tabitha　Twitchit！〃




THE　TALE　OF　MR。　JEREMY　FISHER

＇For　Stephanie　from　Cousin　B。＇


Once　upon　a　time　there　was　a　frog　called　Mr。　Jeremy　Fisher；　he　lived　in　a　little　damp　house　amongst　the　buttercups　at　the　edge　of　a　pond。

The　water　was　all　slippy…sloppy　in　the　larder　and　in　the　back　passage。


But　Mr。　Jeremy　liked　getting　his　feet　wet；　nobody　ever　scolded　him；　and　he　never　caught　a　cold！

He　was　quite　pleased　when　he　looked　out　and　saw　large　drops　of　rain；　splashing　in　the　pond


〃I　will　get　some　worms　and　go　fishing　and　catch　a　dish　of　minnows　for　my　dinner；〃　said　Mr。　Jeremy　Fisher。　〃If　I　catch　more　than　five　fish；　I　will　invite　my　friends　Mr。　Alderman　Ptolemy　Tortoise　and　Sir　Isaac　Newton。　The　Alderman；　however；　eats　salad。〃

Mr。　Jeremy　put　on　a　mackintosh；　and　a　pair　of　shiny　galoshes；　he　took　his　rod　and　basket；　and　set　off　with　enormous　hops　to　the　place　where　he　kept　his　boat。

The　boat　was　round　and　green；　and　very　like　the　other　lily…leaves。　It　was　tied　to　a　water…plant　in　the　middle　of　the　pond。


Mr。　Jeremy　took　a　reed　pole；　and　pushed　the　boat　out　into　open　water。　〃I　know　a　good　place　for　minnows；〃　said　Mr。　Jeremy　Fisher。

Mr。　Jeremy　stuck　his　pole　into　the　mud　and　fastened　the　boat　to　it。

Then　he　settled　himself　cross…　legged　and　arranged　his　fishing　tackle。　He　had　the　dearest　little　red　float。　His　rod　was　a　tough　stalk　of　grass；　his　line　was　a　fine　long　white　horse…hair；　and　he　tied　a　little　wriggling　worm　at　the　end。

The　rain　trickled　down　his　back；　and　for　nearly　an　hour　he　stared　at　the　float。

〃This　is　getting　tiresome；　I　think　I　should　like　some　lunch；〃　said　Mr。　Jeremy　Fisher。


He　punted　back　again　amongst　the　water…plants；　and　took　some　lunch　out　of　his　basket。

〃I　will　eat　a　butterfly　sandwich；　and　wait　till　the　shower　is　over；〃　said　Mr。　Jeremy　Fisher。

A　great　big　water…beetle　came　up　underneath　the　lily　leaf　and　tweaked　the　toe　of　one　of　his　galoshes。

Mr。　Jeremy　crossed　his　legs　up　shorter；　out　of　reach；　and　went　on　eating　his　sandwich。

Once　or　twice　something　moved　about　with　a　rustle　and　a　splash　amongst　the　rushes　at　the　side　of　the　pond。

〃I　trust　that　is　not　a　rat