the water-babies-第2章

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　may　see；　too；　here；　which　bubbles　up　under　the　warm　sandbank　in　the　hollow　lane　by　the　great　tuft　of　lady　ferns；　and　makes　the　sand　dance　reels　at　the　bottom；　day　and　night；　all　the　year　round；　not　such　a　spring　as　either　of　those；　but　a　real　North　country　limestone　fountain；　like　one　of　those　in　Sicily　or　Greece；　where　the　old　heathen　fancied　the　nymphs　sat　cooling　themselves　the　hot　summer's　day；　while　the　shepherds　peeped　at　them　from　behind　the　bushes。　　Out　of　a　low　cave　of　rock；　at　the　foot　of　a　limestone　crag；　the　great　fountain　rose；　quelling；　and　bubbling；　and　gurgling；　so　clear　that　you　could　not　tell　where　the　water　ended　and　the　air　began；　and　ran　away　under　the　road；　a　stream　large　enough　to　turn　a　mill；　among　blue　geranium；　and　golden　globe…flower；　and　wild　raspberry；　and　the　bird…cherry　with　its　tassels　of　snow。

And　there　Grimes　stopped；　and　looked；　and　Tom　looked　too。　　Tom　was　wondering　whether　anything　lived　in　that　dark　cave；　and　came　out　at　night　to　fly　in　the　meadows。　　But　Grimes　was　not　wondering　at　all。　Without　a　word；　he　got　off　his　donkey；　and　clambered　over　the　low　road　wall；　and　knelt　down；　and　began　dipping　his　ugly　head　into　the　spring　…　and　very　dirty　he　made　it。

Tom　was　picking　the　flowers　as　fast　as　he　could。　　The　Irishwoman　helped　him；　and　showed　him　how　to　tie　them　up；　and　a　very　pretty　nosegay　they　had　made　between　them。　　But　when　he　saw　Grimes　actually　wash；　he　stopped；　quite　astonished；　and　when　Grimes　had　finished；　and　began　shaking　his　ears　to　dry　them；　he　said：

〃Why；　master；　I　never　saw　you　do　that　before。〃

〃Nor　will　again；　most　likely。　　'Twasn't　for　cleanliness　I　did　it；　but　for　coolness。　　I'd　be　ashamed　to　want　washing　every　week　or　so；　like　any　smutty　collier　lad。〃

〃I　wish　I　might　go　and　dip　my　head　in；〃　said　poor　little　Tom。　　〃It　must　be　as　good　as　putting　it　under　the　town…pump；　and　there　is　no　beadle　here　to　drive　a　chap　away。〃

〃Thou　come　along；〃　said　Grimes；　〃what　dost　want　with　washing　thyself？　　Thou　did　not　drink　half　a　gallon　of　beer　last　night；　like　me。〃

〃I　don't　care　for　you；〃　said　naughty　Tom；　and　ran　down　to　the　stream；　and　began　washing　his　face。

Grimes　was　very　sulky；　because　the　woman　preferred　Tom's　company　to　his；　so　he　dashed　at　him　with　horrid　words；　and　tore　him　up　from　his　knees；　and　began　beating　him。　　But　Tom　was　accustomed　to　that；　and　got　his　head　safe　between　Mr。　Grimes'　legs；　and　kicked　his　shins　with　all　his　might。

〃Are　you　not　ashamed　of　yourself；　Thomas　Grimes？〃　cried　the　Irishwoman　over　the　wall。

Grimes　looked　up；　startled　at　her　knowing　his　name；　but　all　he　answered　was；　〃No；　nor　never　was　yet；〃　and　went　on　beating　Tom。

〃True　for　you。　　If　you　ever　had　been　ashamed　of　yourself；　you　would　have　gone　over　into　Vendale　long　ago。〃

〃What　do　you　know　about　Vendale？〃　shouted　Grimes；　but　he　left　off　beating　Tom。

〃I　know　about　Vendale；　and　about　you；　too。　　I　know；　for　instance；　what　happened　in　Aldermire　Copse；　by　night；　two　years　ago　come　Martinmas。〃

〃You　do？〃　shouted　Grimes；　and　leaving　Tom；　he　climbed　up　over　the　wall；　and　faced　the　woman。　　Tom　thought　he　was　going　to　strike　her；　but　she　looked　him　too　full　and　fierce　in　the　face　for　that。

〃Yes；　I　was　there；〃　said　the　Irishwoman　quietly。

〃You　are　no　Irishwoman；　by　your　speech；〃　said　Grimes；　after　many　bad　words。

〃Never　mind　who　I　am。　　I　saw　what　I　saw；　and　if　you　strike　that　boy　again；　I　can　tell　what　I　know。〃

Grimes　seemed　quite　cowed；　and　got　on　his　donkey　without　another　word。

〃Stop！〃　said　the　Irishwoman。　　〃I　have　one　more　word　for　you　both；　for　you　will　both　see　me　again　before　all　is　over。　　Those　that　wish　to　be　clean；　clean　they　will　be；　and　those　that　wish　to　be　foul；　foul　they　will　be。　　Remember。〃

And　she　turned　away；　and　through　a　gate　into　the　meadow。　　Grimes　stood　still　a　moment；　like　a　man　who　had　been　stunned。　　Then　he　rushed　after　her；　shouting；　〃You　come　back。〃　　But　when　he　got　into　the　meadow；　the　woman　was　not　there。

Had　she　hidden　away？　　There　was　no　place　to　hide　in。　　But　Grimes　looked　about；　and　Tom　also；　for　he　was　as　puzzled　as　Grimes　himself　at　her　disappearing　so　suddenly；　but　look　where　they　would；　she　was　not　there。

Grimes　came　back　again；　as　silent　as　a　post；　for　he　was　a　little　frightened；　and；　getting　on　his　donkey；　filled　a　fresh　pipe；　and　smoked　away；　leaving　Tom　in　peace。

And　now　they　had　gone　three　miles　and　more；　and　came　to　Sir　John's　lodge…gates。

Very　grand　lodges　they　were；　with　very　grand　iron　gates　and　stone　gate…posts；　and　on　the　top　of　each　a　most　dreadful　bogy；　all　teeth；　horns；　and　tail；　which　was　the　crest　which　Sir　John's　ancestors　wore　in　the　Wars　of　the　Roses；　and　very　prudent　men　they　were　to　wear　it；　for　all　their　enemies　must　have　run　for　their　lives　at　the　very　first　sight　of　them。

Grimes　rang　at　the　gate；　and　out　came　a　keeper　on　the　spot；　and　opened。

〃I　was　told　to　expect　thee；〃　he　said。　　〃Now　thou'lt　be　so　good　as　to　keep　to　the　main　avenue；　and　not　let　me　find　a　hare　or　a　rabbit　on　thee　when　thou　comest　back。　　I　shall　look　sharp　for　one；　I　tell　thee。〃

〃Not　if　it's　in　the　bottom　of　the　soot…bag；〃　quoth　Grimes；　and　at　that　he　laughed；　and　the　keeper　laughed　and　said：

〃If　that's　thy　sort；　I　may　as　well　walk　up　with　thee　to　the　hall。〃

〃I　think　thou　best　had。　　It's　thy　business　to　see　after　thy　game；　man；　and　not　mine。〃

So　the　keeper　went　with　them；　and；　to　Tom's　surprise；　he　and　Grimes　chatted　together　all　the　way　quite　pleasantly。　　He　did　not　know　that　a　keeper　is　only　a　poacher　turned　outside　in；　and　a　poacher　a　keeper　turned　inside　out。

They　walked　up　a　great　lime　avenue；　a　full　mile　long；　and　between　their　stems　Tom　peeped　trembling　at　the　horns　of　the　sleeping　deer；　which　stood　up　among　the　ferns。　　Tom　had　never　seen　such　enormous　trees；　and　as　he　looked　up　he　fancied　that　the　blue　sky　rested　on　their　heads。　　But　he　was　puzzled　very　much　by　a　strange　murmuring　noise；　which　followed　them　all　the　way。　　So　much　puzzled；　that　at　last　he　took　courage　to　ask　the　keeper　what　it　was。

He　spoke　very　civilly；　and　called　him　Sir；　for　he　was　horribly　afraid　of　him；　which　pleased　the　keeper；　and　he　told　him　that　they　were　the　bees　about　the　lime　flowers。

〃What　are　bees？〃　asked　Tom。

〃What　make　honey。〃

〃What　is　honey？〃　asked　Tom。

〃Thou　hold　thy　noise；〃　said　Grimes。

〃Let　the　boy　be；〃　said　the　keeper。　　〃He's　a　civil　young　chap　now；　and　that's　more　than　he'll　be　long　if　he　bides　with　thee。〃

Grimes　laughed；　for　he　took　that　for　a　compliment。

〃I　wish　I　were　a　keeper；〃　said　Tom；　〃to　live　in　such　a　beautiful　place；　and　wear　green　velveteens；　and　have　a　real　dog…whistle　at　my　button；　like　you。〃

The　keeper　laughed；　he　was　a　kind…hearted　fellow　enough。

〃Let　well　alone；　lad；　and　ill　too　at　times。　　Thy　life's　safer　than　mine　at　all　events；　eh；　Mr。　Grimes？〃

And　Grimes　laughed　again；　and　then　the　two　men　began　talking；　quite　low。　　Tom　could　hear；　though；　that　it　was　about　some　poaching　fight；　and　at　last　Grimes　said　surlily；　〃Hast　thou　anything　against　me？〃

〃Not　now。〃

〃Then　don't　ask　me　any　questions　till　thou　hast；　for　I　am　a　man　of　honour。〃

And　at　that　they　both　laughed　again；　and　thought　it　a　very　good　joke。

And　by　this　time　they　were　come　up　to　the　great　iron　gates　in　front　of　the　house；　and　Tom　stared　through　them　at　the　rhododendrons　and　azaleas；　which　were　all　in　flower；　and　then　at　the　house　itself；　and　wondered　how　many　chimneys　there　were　in　it；　and　how　long　ago　it　was　built；　and　what　was　the　man's　name　that　built　it；　and　whether　he　got　much　money　for　his　job？

These　last　were　very　difficult　questions　to　answer。　　For　Harthover　had　been　built　at　ninety　different　times；　and　in　nineteen　different　styles；　and　looked　as　if　somebody　had　built　a　whole　street　of　houses　of　every　imaginable　shape；　and　then　stirred　them　together　with　a　spoon。


For　the　attics　were　Anglo…Saxon。　The　third　door　Norman。　The　second　Cinque…cento。　The　first…floor　Elizabethan。　The　right　wing　Pure　Doric。　The　centre　Early　English；　with　a　huge　portico　copied　from　the　Parthenon。　The　left　wing　pure　Boeotian；　which　the　country　folk　admired　most　of　all；　became　it　was　just　like　the　new　barracks　in　the　town；　only　three　times　as　big。　The　grand　staircase　was　copied　from　the　Catacombs　at　Rome。　The　back　staircase　from　the　Tajmahal　at　Agra。　　This　was　built　by　Sir　John's　great…great…great…uncle；　who　won；　in　Lord　Clive's　Indian　Wars；　plenty　of　money；　plenty　of　wounds；　and　no　more　taste　than　his　betters。　The　cellars　were　copied　from　the　caves　of　Elephanta。　The　offices　from　the　Pavilion　at　Brighton。


And　the　rest　from　nothing　in　heaven；　or　earth；　or　under　the　earth。

So　that　Harthover　House　was　a　great　puzzle　to　antiquarians；　and　a　thorough　Naboth's　vineyard　to　critics；　and　architects；　and　all　persons　who　like　meddling　with　other　men's　business；　and　spending　other　men's　money。　　So　they　were　all　setting　upon　poor　Sir　John；　year　after　year；　and　trying　to　talk　him　into　spending　a　hundred　thousand　pounds　or　so；　in　building；　to　please　them　and　not　himself。　But　he　always　put　them　off；　like　a　canny　North…countryman　as　he　was。　　One　wanted　him　to　build　a　Gothic　house；　but　he　said　he　was　no　Goth；　and　another　to　build　an　Elizabethan；　but　he　said　he　lived　under　good　Queen　Victoria；　and　not　good　Queen　Bess；　and　another　was　bold　enough　to　tell　him　that　his　house　was　ugly；　but　he　said　he　lived　inside　it；　and　not　outside；　and　another；　that　there　was　no　unity　in　it；　but　he　said　that　that　was　just　why　he　liked　the　old　place。　　For　he　liked　to　see　how　each　Sir　John；　and　Sir　Hugh；　and　Sir　Ralph；　and　Sir　Randal；　had　left　his　mark　upon　the　place；　each　after　his　own　taste；　and　he　had　no　more　notion　of　disturbing　his　ancestors'　work　than　of　disturbing　their　graves。　　For　now　the　house　looked　like　a　real　live　house；　that　had　a　history；　and　had　grown　and　grown　as　the　world　grew；　and　that　it　was　only　an　upstart　fellow　who　did　not　know　who　his　own　grandfather　was；　who　would　change　it　for　some　spick　and　span　new　Gothic　or　Elizabethan　thing；　which　looked　as　if　it　bad　been　all　spawned　in　a　night；　as　mushrooms　are。　From　which　you　may　collect　（if　you　have　wit　enough）　that　Sir　John　was　a　very　sound…headed；　sound…hearted　squire；　and　just　the　man　to　keep　the　country　side　in　order；　and　show　good　sport　with　his　hounds。

But　Tom　and　his　master　did　not　go　in　through　the　great　iron　gates；　as　if　they　had　been　Dukes　or　Bishops；　but　round　the　back　way；　and　a　very　long　way　round　it　was；　and　into　a　little　back…door；　where　the　ash…boy　let　them　in；　yawning　horribly；　and　then　in　a　passage　the　housekeeper　met　them；　in　such　a　flowered　chintz　dressing…gown；　that　Tom　mistook　her　for　My　Lady　herself；　and　she　gave　Grimes　solemn　orders　about　〃You　will　take　care　of　this；　and　take　care　of　that；〃　as　if　he　was　going　up　the　chimneys；　and　not　Tom。　　And　Grimes　listened；　and　said　every　now　and　then；　under　his　voice；　〃You'll　mind　that；　you　little　beggar？〃　and　Tom　did　mind；　all　at　least　that　he　could。　　And　then　the　housekeeper　turned　them　into　a　grand　room；　all　covered　up　in　sheets　of　brown　paper；　and　bade　them　begin；　in　a　lofty　and　tremendous　voice；　and　so　after　a　whimper　or　two；　and　a　kick　from　his　master；　into　the　grate　Tom　went；　and　up　the　chimney；　while　a　housemaid　stayed　in　the　room　to　watch　the　furniture；　to　whom　Mr。　Grimes　paid　many　playful　and　chivalrous　compl