the water-babies-第23章

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so　much　that　he　was　quite　eager　to　go；　and　wanted　to　set　out　that　minute。　　〃Only；〃　he　said；　〃if　I　might　see　Ellie　once　before　I　went！〃

〃Why　do　you　want　that？〃

〃Because　…　because　I　should　be　so　much　happier　if　I　thought　she　had　forgiven　me。〃

And　in　the　twinkling　of　an　eye　there　stood　Ellie；　smiling；　and　looking　so　happy　that　Tom　longed　to　kiss　her；　but　was　still　afraid　it　would　not　be　respectful；　because　she　was　a　lady　born。

〃I　am　going；　Ellie！〃　said　Tom。　　〃I　am　going；　if　it　is　to　the　world's　end。　　But　I　don't　like　going　at　all；　and　that's　the　truth。〃

〃Pooh！　pooh！　pooh！〃　said　the　fairy。　　〃You　will　like　it　very　well　indeed；　you　little　rogue；　and　you　know　that　at　the　bottom　of　your　heart。　　But　if　you　don't；　I　will　make　you　like　it。　　Come　here；　and　see　what　happens　to　people　who　do　only　what　is　pleasant。〃

And　she　took　out　of　one　of　her　cupboards　（she　had　all　sorts　of　mysterious　cupboards　in　the　cracks　of　the　rocks）　the　most　wonderful　waterproof　book；　full　of　such　photographs　as　never　were　seen。　　For　she　had　found　out　photography　（and　this　is　a　fact）　more　than　13；598；000　years　before　anybody　was　born；　and；　what　is　more；　her　photographs　did　not　merely　represent　light　and　shade；　as　ours　do；　but　colour　also；　and　all　colours；　as　you　may　see　if　you　look　at　a　black…cock's　tail；　or　a　butterfly's　wing；　or　indeed　most　things　that　are　or　can　be；　so　to　speak。　　And　therefore　her　photographs　were　very　curious　and　famous；　and　the　children　looked　with　great　delight　for　the　opening　of　the　book。

And　on　the　title…page　was　written；　〃The　History　of　the　great　and　famous　nation　of　the　Doasyoulikes；　who　came　away　from　the　country　of　Hardwork；　because　they　wanted　to　play　on　the　Jews'　harp　all　day　long。〃

In　the　first　picture　they　saw　these　Doasyoulikes　living　in　the　land　of　Readymade；　at　the　foot　of　the　Happy…go…lucky　Mountains；　where　flapdoodle　grows　wild；　and　if　you　want　to　know　what　that　is；　you　must　read　Peter　Simple。

They　lived　very　much　such　a　life　as　those　jolly　old　Greeks　in　Sicily；　whom　you　may　see　painted　on　the　ancient　vases；　and　really　there　seemed　to　be　great　excuses　for　them；　for　they　had　no　need　to　work。

Instead　of　houses　they　lived　in　the　beautiful　caves　of　tufa；　and　bathed　in　the　warm　springs　three　times　a　day；　and；　as　for　clothes；　it　was　so　warm　there　that　the　gentlemen　walked　about　in　little　beside　a　cocked　hat　and　a　pair　of　straps；　or　some　light　summer　tackle　of　that　kind；　and　the　ladies　all　gathered　gossamer　in　autumn　（when　they　were　not　too　lazy）　to　make　their　winter　dresses。

They　were　very　fond　of　music；　but　it　was　too　much　trouble　to　learn　the　piano　or　the　violin；　and　as　for　dancing；　that　would　have　been　too　great　an　exertion。　　So　they　sat　on　ant…hills　all　day　long；　and　played　on　the　Jews'　harp；　and；　if　the　ants　bit　them；　why　they　just　got　up　and　went　to　the　next　ant…hill；　till　they　were　bitten　there　likewise。

And　they　sat　under　the　flapdoodle…trees；　and　let　the　flapdoodle　drop　into　their　mouths；　and　under　the　vines；　and　squeezed　the　grape…juice　down　their　throats；　and；　if　any　little　pigs　ran　about　ready　roasted；　crying；　〃Come　and　eat　me；〃　as　was　their　fashion　in　that　country；　they　waited　till　the　pigs　ran　against　their　mouths；　and　then　took　a　bite；　and　were　content；　just　as　so　many　oysters　would　have　been。

They　needed　no　weapons；　for　no　enemies　ever　came　near　their　land；　and　no　tools；　for　everything　was　readymade　to　their　hand；　and　the　stern　old　fairy　Necessity　never　came　near　them　to　hunt　them　up；　and　make　them　use　their　wits；　or　die。

And　so　on；　and　so　on；　and　so　on；　till　there　were　never　such　comfortable；　easy…going；　happy…go…lucky　people　in　the　world。

〃Well；　that　is　a　jolly　life；〃　said　Tom。

〃You　think　so？〃　said　the　fairy。　　〃Do　you　see　that　great　peaked　mountain　there　behind；〃　said　the　fairy；　〃with　smoke　coming　out　of　its　top？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃And　do　you　see　all　those　ashes；　and　slag；　and　cinders　lying　about？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Then　turn　over　the　next　five　hundred　years；　and　you　will　see　what　happens　next。〃

And　behold　the　mountain　had　blown　up　like　a　barrel　of　gunpowder；　and　then　boiled　over　like　a　kettle；　whereby　one…third　of　the　Doasyoulikes　were　blown　into　the　air；　and　another　third　were　smothered　in　ashes；　so　that　there　was　only　one…third　left。

〃You　see；〃　said　the　fairy；　〃what　comes　of　living　on　a　burning　mountain。〃

〃Oh；　why　did　you　not　warn　them？〃　said　little　Ellie。

〃I　did　warn　them　all　that　I　could。　　I　let　the　smoke　come　out　of　the　mountain；　and　wherever　there　is　smoke　there　is　fire。　　And　I　laid　the　ashes　and　cinders　all　about；　and　wherever　there　are　cinders；　cinders　may　be　again。　　But　they　did　not　like　to　face　facts；　my　dears；　as　very　few　people　do；　and　so　they　invented　a　cock…and…bull　story；　which；　I　am　sure；　I　never　told　them；　that　the　smoke　was　the　breath　of　a　giant；　whom　some　gods　or　other　had　buried　under　the　mountain；　and　that　the　cinders　were　what　the　dwarfs　roasted　the　little　pigs　whole　with；　and　other　nonsense　of　that　kind。　　And；　when　folks　are　in　that　humour；　I　cannot　teach　them；　save　by　the　good　old　birch…rod。〃

And　then　she　turned　over　the　next　five　hundred　years：　　and　there　were　the　remnant　of　the　Doasyoulikes；　doing　as　they　liked；　as　before。　　They　were　too　lazy　to　move　away　from　the　mountain；　so　they　said；　If　it　has　blown　up　once；　that　is　all　the　more　reason　that　it　should　not　blow　up　again。　　And　they　were　few　in　number：　　but　they　only　said；　The　more　the　merrier；　but　the　fewer　the　better　fare。　However；　that　was　not　quite　true；　for　all　the　flapdoodle…trees　were　killed　by　the　volcano；　and　they　had　eaten　all　the　roast　pigs；　who；　of　course；　could　not　be　expected　to　have　little　ones。　　So　they　had　to　live　very　hard；　on　nuts　and　roots　which　they　scratched　out　of　the　ground　with　sticks。　　Some　of　them　talked　of　sowing　corn；　as　their　ancestors　used　to　do；　before　they　came　into　the　land　of　Readymade；　but　they　had　forgotten　how　to　make　ploughs　（they　had　forgotten　even　how　to　make　Jews'　harps　by　this　time）；　and　had　eaten　all　the　seed…corn　which　they　brought　out　of　the　land　of　Hardwork　years　since；　and　of　course　it　was　too　much　trouble　to　go　away　and　find　more。　　So　they　lived　miserably　on　roots　and　nuts；　and　all　the　weakly　little　children　had　great　stomachs；　and　then　died。

〃Why；〃　said　Tom；　〃they　are　growing　no　better　than　savages。〃

〃And　look　how　ugly　they　are　all　getting；〃　said　Ellie。

〃Yes；　when　people　live　on　poor　vegetables　instead　of　roast　beef　and　plum…pudding；　their　jaws　grow　large；　and　their　lips　grow　coarse；　like　the　poor　Paddies　who　eat　potatoes。〃

And　she　turned　over　the　next　five　hundred　years。　　And　there　they　were　all　living　up　in　trees；　and　making　nests　to　keep　off　the　rain。　And　underneath　the　trees　lions　were　prowling　about。

〃Why；〃　said　Ellie；　〃the　lions　seem　to　have　eaten　a　good　many　of　them；　for　there　are　very　few　left　now。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　fairy；　〃you　see　it　was　only　the　strongest　and　most　active　ones　who　could　climb　the　trees；　and　so　escape。〃

〃But　what　great；　hulking；　broad…shouldered　chaps　they　are；〃　said　Tom；　〃they　are　a　rough　lot　as　ever　I　saw。〃

〃Yes；　they　are　getting　very　strong　now；　for　the　ladies　will　not　marry　any　but　the　very　strongest　and　fiercest　gentlemen；　who　can　help　them　up　the　trees　out　of　the　lions'　way。〃

And　she　turned　over　the　next　five　hundred　years。　　And　in　that　they　were　fewer　still；　and　stronger；　and　fiercer；　but　their　feet　had　changed　shape　very　oddly；　for　they　laid　hold　of　the　branches　with　their　great　toes；　as　if　they　had　been　thumbs；　just　as　a　Hindoo　tailor　uses　his　toes　to　thread　his　needle。

The　children　were　very　much　surprised；　and　asked　the　fairy　whether　that　was　her　doing。

〃Yes；　and　no；〃　she　said；　smiling。　　〃It　was　only　those　who　could　use　their　feet　as　well　as　their　hands　who　could　get　a　good　living：　　or；　indeed；　get　married；　so　that　they　got　the　best　of　everything；　and　starved　out　all　the　rest；　and　those　who　are　left　keep　up　a　regular　breed　of　toe…thumb…men；　as　a　breed　of　short…horns；　or　are　skye…　terriers；　or　fancy　pigeons　is　kept　up。〃

〃But　there　is　a　hairy　one　among　them；〃　said　Ellie。

〃Ah！〃　said　the　fairy；　〃that　will　be　a　great　man　in　his　time；　and　chief　of　all　the　tribe。〃

And；　when　she　turned　over　the　next　five　hundred　years；　it　was　true。

For　this　hairy　chief　had　had　hairy　children；　and　they　hairier　children　still；　and　every　one　wished　to　marry　hairy　husbands；　and　have　hairy　children　too；　for　the　climate　was　growing　so　damp　that　none　but　the　hairy　ones　could　live：　　all　the　rest　coughed　and　sneezed；　and　had　sore　throats；　and　went　into　consumptions；　before　they　could　grow　up　to　be　men　and　women。

Then　the　fairy　turned　over　the　next　five　hundred　years。　　And　they　were　fewer　still。

〃Why；　there　is　one　on　the　ground　picking　up　roots；〃　said　Ellie；　〃and　he　cannot　walk　upright。〃

No　more　he　could；　for　in　the　same　way　that　the　shape　of　their　feet　had　altered；　the　shape　of　their　backs　had　altered　also。

〃Why；〃　cried　Tom；　〃I　declare　they　are　all　apes。〃

〃Something　fearfully　like　it；　poor　foolish　creatures；〃　said　the　fairy。　　〃They　are　grown　so　stupid　now；　that　they　can　hardly　think：　for　none　of　them　have　used　their　wits　for　many　hundred　years。　　They　have　almost　forgotten；　too；　how　to　talk。　　For　each　stupid　child　forgot　some　of　the　words　it　heard　from　its　stupid　parents；　and　had　not　wits　enough　to　make　fresh　words　for　itself。　　Beside；　they　are　grown　so　fierce　and　suspicious　and　brutal　that　they　keep　out　of　each　other's　way；　and　mope　and　sulk　in　the　dark　forests；　never　hearing　each　other's　voice；　till　they　have　forgotten　almost　what　speech　is　like。　　I　am　afraid　they　will　all　be　apes　very　soon；　and　all　by　doing　only　what　they　liked。〃

And　in　the　next　five　hundred　years　they　were　all　dead　and　gone；　by　bad　food　and　wild　beasts　and　hunters；　all　except　one　tremendous　old　fellow　with　jaws　like　a　jack；　who　stood　full　seven　feet　high；　and　M。　Du　Chaillu　came　up　to　him；　and　shot　him；　as　he　stood　roaring　and　thumping　his　breast。　　And　he　remembered　that　his　ancestors　had　once　been　men；　and　tried　to　say；　〃Am　I　not　a　man　and　a　brother？〃　but　had　forgotten　how　to　use　his　tongue；　and　then　he　had　tried　to　call　for　a　doctor；　but　he　had　forgotten　the　word　for　one。　　So　all　he　said　was　〃Ubboboo！〃　and　died。

And　that　was　the　end　of　the　great　and　jolly　nation　of　the　Doasyoulikes。　　And；　when　Tom　and　Ellie　came　to　the　end　of　the　book；　they　looked　very　sad　and　solemn；　and　they　had　good　reason　so　to　do；　for　they　really　fancied　that　the　men　were　apes；　and　never　thought；　in　their　simplicity；　of　asking　whether　the　creatures　had　hippopotamus　majors　in　their　brains　or　not；　in　which　case；　as　you　have　been　told　already；　they　could　not　possibly　have　been　apes；　though　they　were　more　apish　than　the　apes　of　all　aperies。

〃But　could　you　not　have　saved　them　from　becoming　apes？〃　said　little　Ellie；　at　last。

〃At　first；　my　dear；　if　only　they　would　have　behaved　like　men；　and　set　to　work　to　do　what　they　did　not　like。　　But　the　longer　they　waited；　and　behaved　like　the　dumb　beasts；　who　only　do　what　they　like；　the　stupider　and　clumsier　they　grew；　till　at　last　they　were　past　all　cure；　for　they　had　thrown　their　own　wits　away。　　It　is　such　things　as　this　that　help　to　make　me　so　ugly；　that　I　know　not　when　I　shall　grow　fair。〃

〃And　where　are　they　all　now？〃　asked　Ellie。

〃Exactly　where　they　ought　to　be；　my　dear。〃

〃Yes！〃　said　the　fairy；　so