the water-babies-第10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！


retty　place；　I　will　come　back；　and　have　a　little　chat　about　all　I　have　seen　in　my　travels。　　Why；　what　a　huge　tree　this　is！　and　what　huge　leaves　on　it！〃

It　was　only　a　big　dock：　　but　you　know　the　dragon…fly　had　never　seen　any　but　little　water…trees；　starwort；　and　milfoil；　and　water…　crowfoot；　and　such　like；　so　it　did　look　very　big　to　him。　　Besides；　he　was　very　short…sighted；　as　all　dragon…flies　are；　and　never　could　see　a　yard　before　his　nose；　any　more　than　a　great　many　other　folks；　who　are　not　half　as　handsome　as　he。

The　dragon…fly　did　come　back；　and　chatted　away　with　Tom。　　He　was　a　little　conceited　about　his　fine　colours　and　his　large　wings；　but　you　know；　he　had　been　a　poor　dirty　ugly　creature　all　his　life　before；　so　there　were　great　excuses　for　him。　　He　was　very　fond　of　talking　about　all　the　wonderful　things　he　saw　in　the　trees　and　the　meadows；　and　Tom　liked　to　listen　to　him；　for　he　had　forgotten　all　about　them。　　So　in　a　little　while　they　became　great　friends。

And　I　am　very　glad　to　say；　that　Tom　learned　such　a　lesson　that　day；　that　he　did　not　torment　creatures　for　a　long　time　after。　　And　then　the　caddises　grew　quite　tame；　and　used　to　tell　him　strange　stories　about　the　way　they　built　their　houses；　and　changed　their　skins；　and　turned　at　last　into　winged　flies；　till　Tom　began　to　long　to　change　his　skin；　and　have　wings　like　them　some　day。

And　the　trout　and　he　made　it　up　（for　trout　very　soon　forget　if　they　have　been　frightened　and　hurt）。　　So　Tom　used　to　play　with　them　at　hare　and　hounds；　and　great　fun　they　had；　and　he　used　to　try　to　leap　out　of　the　water；　head　over　heels；　as　they　did　before　a　shower　came　on；　but　somehow　he　never　could　manage　it。　　He　liked　most；　though；　to　see　them　rising　at　the　flies；　as　they　sailed　round　and　round　under　the　shadow　of　the　great　oak；　where　the　beetles　fell　flop　into　the　water；　and　the　green　caterpillars　let　themselves　down　from　the　boughs　by　silk　ropes　for　no　reason　at　all；　and　then　changed　their　foolish　minds　for　no　reason　at　all　either；　and　hauled　themselves　up　again　into　the　tree；　rolling　up　the　rope　in　a　ball　between　their　paws；　which　is　a　very　clever　rope…dancer's　trick；　and　neither　Blondin　nor　Leotard　could　do　it：　　but　why　they　should　take　so　much　trouble　about　it　no　one　can　tell；　for　they　cannot　get　their　living；　as　Blondin　and　Leotard　do；　by　trying　to　break　their　necks　on　a　string。

And　very　often　Tom　caught　them　just　as　they　touched　the　water；　and　caught　the　alder…flies；　and　the　caperers；　and　the　cock…tailed　duns　and　spinners；　yellow；　and　brown；　and　claret；　and　gray；　and　gave　them　to　his　friends　the　trout。　　Perhaps　he　was　not　quite　kind　to　the　flies；　but　one　must　do　a　good　turn　to　one's　friends　when　one　can。

And　at　last　he　gave　up　catching　even　the　flies；　for　he　made　acquaintance　with　one　by　accident　and　found　him　a　very　merry　little　fellow。　　And　this　was　the　way　it　happened；　and　it　is　all　quite　true。

He　was　basking　at　the　top　of　the　water　one　hot　day　in　July；　catching　duns　and　feeding　the　trout；　when　he　saw　a　new　sort；　a　dark　gray　little　fellow　with　a　brown　head。　　He　was　a　very　little　fellow　indeed：　　but　he　made　the　most　of　himself；　as　people　ought　to　do。　He　cocked　up　his　head；　and　he　cocked　up　his　wings；　and　he　cocked　up　his　tail；　and　he　cocked　up　the　two　whisks　at　his　tail…end；　and；　in　short；　he　looked　the　cockiest　little　man　of　all　little　men。　　And　so　he　proved　to　be；　for　instead　of　getting　away；　he　hopped　upon　Tom's　finger；　and　sat　there　as　bold　as　nine　tailors；　and　he　cried　out　in　the　tiniest；　shrillest；　squeakiest　little　voice　you　ever　heard；

〃Much　obliged　to　you；　indeed；　but　I　don't　want　it　yet。〃

〃Want　what？〃　said　Tom；　quite　taken　aback　by　his　impudence。

〃Your　leg；　which　you　are　kind　enough　to　hold　out　for　me　to　sit　on。　I　must　just　go　and　see　after　my　wife　for　a　few　minutes。　　Dear　me！　what　a　troublesome　business　a　family　is！〃　（though　the　idle　little　rogue　did　nothing　at　all；　but　left　his　poor　wife　to　lay　all　the　eggs　by　herself）。　　〃When　I　come　back；　I　shall　be　glad　of　it；　if　you'll　be　so　good　as　to　keep　it　sticking　out　just　so；〃　and　off　he　flew。

Tom　thought　him　a　very　cool　sort　of　personage；　and　still　more　so；　when；　in　five　minutes　he　came　back；　and　said　…　〃Ah；　you　were　tired　waiting？　　Well；　your　other　leg　will　do　as　well。〃

And　he　popped　himself　down　on　Tom's　knee；　and　began　chatting　away　in　his　squeaking　voice。

〃So　you　live　under　the　water？　　It's　a　low　place。　　I　lived　there　for　some　time；　and　was　very　shabby　and　dirty。　　But　I　didn't　choose　that　that　should　last。　　So　I　turned　respectable；　and　came　up　to　the　top；　and　put　on　this　gray　suit。　　It's　a　very　business…like　suit；　you　think；　don't　you？〃

〃Very　neat　and　quiet　indeed；〃　said　Tom。

〃Yes；　one　must　be　quiet　and　neat　and　respectable；　and　all　that　sort　of　thing　for　a　little；　when　one　becomes　a　family　man。　　But　I'm　tired　of　it；　that's　the　truth。　　I've　done　quite　enough　business；　I　consider；　in　the　last　week；　to　last　me　my　life。　　So　I　shall　put　on　a　ball　dress；　and　go　out　and　be　a　smart　man；　and　see　the　gay　world；　and　have　a　dance　or　two。　　Why　shouldn't　one　be　jolly　if　one　can？〃

〃And　what　will　become　of　your　wife？〃

〃Oh！　she　is　a　very　plain　stupid　creature；　and　that's　the　truth；　and　thinks　about　nothing　but　eggs。　　If　she　chooses　to　come；　why　she　may；　and　if　not；　why　I　go　without　her；　…　and　here　I　go。〃

And；　as　he　spoke；　he　turned　quite　pale；　and　then　quite　white。

〃Why；　you're　ill！〃　said　Tom。　　But　he　did　not　answer。

〃You're　dead；〃　said　Tom；　looking　at　him　as　he　stood　on　his　knee　as　white　as　a　ghost。

〃No；　I　ain't！〃　answered　a　little　squeaking　voice　over　his　head。　〃This　is　me　up　here；　in　my　ball…dress；　and　that's　my　skin。　　Ha；　ha！　you　could　not　do　such　a　trick　as　that！〃

And　no　more　Tom　could；　nor　Houdin；　nor　Robin；　nor　Frikell；　nor　all　the　conjurors　in　the　world。　　For　the　little　rogue　had　jumped　clean　out　of　his　own　skin；　and　left　it　standing　on　Tom's　knee；　eyes；　wings；　legs；　tail；　exactly　as　if　it　had　been　alive。

〃Ha；　ha！〃　he　said；　and　he　jerked　and　skipped　up　and　down；　never　stopping　an　instant；　just　as　if　he　had　St。　Vitus's　dance。　　〃Ain't　I　a　pretty　fellow　now？〃

And　so　he　was；　for　his　body　was　white；　and　his　tail　orange；　and　his　eyes　all　the　colours　of　a　peacock's　tail。　　And　what　was　the　oddest　of　all；　the　whisks　at　the　end　of　his　tail　had　grown　five　times　as　long　as　they　were　before。

〃Ah！〃　said　he；　〃now　I　will　see　the　gay　world。　　My　living；　won't　cost　me　much；　for　I　have　no　mouth；　you　see；　and　no　inside；　so　I　can　never　be　hungry　nor　have　the　stomach…ache　neither。〃

No　more　he　had。　　He　had　grown　as　dry　and　hard　and　empty　as　a　quill；　as　such　silly　shallow…hearted　fellows　deserve　to　grow。

But；　instead　of　being　ashamed　of　his　emptiness；　he　was　quite　proud　of　it；　as　a　good　many　fine　gentlemen　are；　and　began　flirting　and　flipping　up　and　down；　and　singing　…


〃My　wife　shall　dance；　and　I　shall　sing；　So　merrily　pass　the　day；　For　I　hold　it　for　quite　the　wisest　thing；　To　drive　dull　care　away。〃


And　he　danced　up　and　down　for　three　days　and　three　nights；　till　he　grew　so　tired；　that　he　tumbled　into　the　water；　and　floated　down。　But　what　became　of　him　Tom　never　knew；　and　he　himself　never　minded；　for　Tom　heard　him　singing　to　the　last；　as　he　floated　down　…


〃To　drive　dull　care　away…ay…ay！〃


And　if　he　did　not　care；　why　nobody　else　cared　either。

But　one　day　Tom　had　a　new　adventure。　　He　was　sitting　on　a　water…　lily　leaf；　he　and　his　friend　the　dragon…fly；　watching　the　gnats　dance。　　The　dragon…fly　had　eaten　as　many　as　he　wanted；　and　was　sitting　quite　still　and　sleepy；　for　it　was　very　hot　and　bright。　The　gnats　（who　did　not　care　the　least　for　their　poor　brothers'　death）　danced　a　foot　over　his　head　quite　happily；　and　a　large　black　fly　settled　within　an　inch　of　his　nose；　and　began　washing　his　own　face　and　combing　his　hair　with　his　paws：　　but　the　dragon…fly　never　stirred；　and　kept　on　chatting　to　Tom　about　the　times　when　he　lived　under　the　water。

Suddenly；　Tom　heard　the　strangest　noise　up　the　stream；　cooing；　and　grunting；　and　whining；　and　squeaking；　as　if　you　had　put　into　a　bag　two　stock…doves；　nine　mice；　three　guinea…pigs；　and　a　blind　puppy；　and　left　them　there　to　settle　themselves　and　make　music。

He　looked　up　the　water；　and　there　he　saw　a　sight　as　strange　as　the　noise；　a　great　ball　rolling　over　and　over　down　the　stream；　seeming　one　moment　of　soft　brown　fur；　and　the　next　of　shining　glass：　　and　yet　it　was　not　a　ball；　for　sometimes　it　broke　up　and　streamed　away　in　pieces；　and　then　it　joined　again；　and　all　the　while　the　noise　came　out　of　it　louder　and　louder。

Tom　asked　the　dragon…fly　what　it　could　be：　　but；　of　course；　with　his　short　sight；　he　could　not　even　see　it；　though　it　was　not　ten　yards　away。　　So　he　took　the　neatest　little　header　into　the　water；　and　started　off　to　see　for　himself；　and；　when　he　came　near；　the　ball　turned　out　to　be　four　or　five　beautiful　creatures；　many　times　larger　than　Tom；　who　were　swimming　about；　and　rolling；　and　diving；　and　twisting；　and　wrestling；　and　cuddling；　and　kissing　and　biting；　and　scratching；　in　the　most　charming　fashion　that　ever　was　seen。　And　if　you　don't　believe　me；　you　may　go　to　the　Zoological　Gardens　（for　I　am　afraid　that　you　won't　see　it　nearer；　unless；　perhaps；　you　get　up　at　five　in　the　morning；　and　go　down　to　Cordery's　Moor；　and　watch　by　the　great　withy　pollard　which　hangs　over　the　backwater；　where　the　otters　breed　sometimes）；　and　then　say；　if　otters　at　play　in　the　water　are　not　the　merriest；　lithest；　gracefullest　creatures　you　ever　saw。

But；　when　the　biggest　of　them　saw　Tom；　she　darted　out　from　the　rest；　and　cried　in　the　water…language　sharply　enough；　〃Quick；　children；　here　is　something　to　eat；　indeed！〃　and　came　at　poor　Tom；　showing　such　a　wicked　pair　of　eyes；　and　such　a　set　of　sharp　teeth　in　a　grinning　mouth；　that　Tom；　who　had　thought　her　very　handsome；　said　to　himself；　HANDSOME　IS　THAT　HANDSOME　DOES；　and　slipped　in　between　the　water…lily　roots　as　fast　as　he　could；　and　then　turned　round　and　made　faces　at　her。

〃Come　out；〃　said　the　wicked　old　otter；　〃or　it　will　be　worse　for　you。〃

But　Tom　looked　at　her　from　between　two　thick　roots；　and　shook　them　with　all　his　might；　making　horrible　faces　all　the　while；　just　as　he　used　to　grin　through　the　railings　at　the　old　women；　when　he　lived　before。　　It　was　not　quite　well　bred；　no　doubt；　but　you　know；　Tom　had　not　finished　his　education　yet。

〃Come；　away；　children；〃　said　the　otter　in　disgust；　〃it　is　not　worth　eating；　after　all。　　It　is　only　a　nasty　eft；　which　nothing　eats；　not　even　those　vulgar　pike　in　the　pond。〃

〃I　am　not　an　eft！〃　said　Tom；　〃efts　have　tails。〃

〃You　are　an　eft；〃　said　the　otter；　very　positively；　〃I　see　your　two　hands　quite　plain；　and　I　know　you　have　a　tail。〃

〃I　tell　you　I　have　not；〃　said　Tom。　　〃Look　here！〃　and　he　turned　his　pretty　little　self　quite　round；　and；　sure　enough；　he　had　no　more　tail　than　you。

The　otter　might　have　got　out　of　it　by　saying　that　Tom　was　a　frog：　but；　like　a　great　many　other　people；　when　she　had　once　said　a　thing；　she　stood　to　it；　right　or　wrong；　so　she　answered：

〃I　say　you　are　an　eft；　and　therefore　you　are；　and　not　fit　food　for　gentlefolk　like　me　and　my　children。　　You　may　stay　there　till　the　salmon　eat　you　（she　knew　the　salmon　would　not；　but　she　wanted　to　frighten　poor　Tom）。　　Ha！　ha！　they　will　eat　you；　and　we　will　eat　them；〃　and　the　otter　laughed