dream days(做梦的日子)-第12章
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calls； though she pretended to dislike it； just to keep on the soft side of
public opinion。 So I thought it extremely mean in her to have the earache
on that particular afternoon when Aunt Eliza ordered the pony…carriage
and went on the war…path。 I was ordered also； in the same breath as the
pony…carriage； and； as we eventually trundled off； it seemed to me that the
utter waste of that afternoon； for which I had planned so much； could
never be made up nor atoned for in all the tremendous stretch of years that
still lay before me。
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The house that we were bound for on this occasion was a 〃big house；〃
a generic title applied by us to the class of residence that had a long
carriage…drive through rhododendrons； and a portico propped by fluted
pillars； and a grave butler who bolted back swing…doors； and came down
steps； and pretended to have entirely forgotten his familiar intercourse
with you at less serious moments； and a big hall； where no boots or shoes
or upper garments were allowed to lie about frankly and easily； as with us；
and where； finally； people were apt to sit about dressed up as if they were
going on to a party。
The lady who received us was effusive to Aunt Eliza and hollowly
gracious to me。 In ten seconds they had their heads together and were
hard at it talking CLOTHES。 I was left high and dry on a straight…backed
chair； longing to kick the legs of it； yet not daring。 For a time I was
content to stare； there was lots to stare at； high and low and around。
Then the inevitable fidgets came on； and scratching one's legs mitigated
slightly； but did not entirely disperse them。 My two warders were still
deep in clothes； I slipped off my chair and edged cautiously around the
room； exploring； examining； recording。
Many strange； fine things lay along my routepictures and gimcracks
on the walls； trinkets and globular old watches and snuff…boxes on the
tables； and I took good care to finger everything within reach thoroughly
and conscientiously。 Some articles； in addition； I smelt。 At last in my
orbit I happened on an open door； half concealed by the folds of a curtain。
I glanced carefully around。 They were still deep in clothes； both talking
together； and I slipped through。
This was altogether a more sensible sort of room that I had got into；
for the walls were honestly upholstered with books； though these for the
most part glimmered provokingly through the glass doors of their tall
cases。 I read their titles longingly； breathing on every accessible pane of
glass； for I dared not attempt to open the doors； with the enemy encamped
so near。 In the window； though； on a high sort of desk； there lay； all by
itself； a most promising…looking book； gorgeously bound。 I raised the
leaves by one corner； and like scent from a pot…pourri jar there floated out
a brief vision of blues and reds； telling of pictures； and pictures all highly
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coloured！ Here was the right sort of thing at last； and my afternoon
would not be entirely wasted。 I inclined an ear to the door by which I
had entered。 Like the brimming tide of a full…fed river the grand； eternal；
inexhaustible clothes…problem bubbled and eddied and surged along。 It
seemed safe enough。 I slid the book off its desk with some difficulty； for
it was very fine and large； and staggered with it to the hearthrugthe only
fit and proper place for books of quality； such as this。
They were excellent hearthrugs in that house； soft and wide； with the
thickest of pile； and one's knees sank into them most comfortably。 When
I got the book open there was a difficulty at first in making the great stiff
pages lie down。 Most fortunately the coal…scuttle was actually at my
elbow； and it was easy to find a flat bit of coal to lay on the refractory page。
Really； it was just as if everything had been arranged for me。 This was
not such a bad sort of house after all。
The beginnings of the thing were gay bordersscrolls and strap… work
and diapered backgrounds； a maze of colour； with small misshapen figures
clambering cheerily up and down everywhere。 But first I eagerly
scanned what text there was in the middle； in order to get a hint of what it
was all about。 Of course I was not going to waste any time in reading。
A clue； a sign…board； a finger…post was all I required。 To my dismay and
disgust it was all in a stupid foreign language！ Really； the perversity of
some people made one at times almost despair of the whole race。
However； the pictures remained； pictures never lied； never shuffled nor
evaded； and as for the story； I could invent it myself。
Over the page I went； shifting the bit of coal to a new position； and； as
the scheme of the picture disengaged itself from out the medley of colour
that met my delighted eyes； first there was a warm sense of familiarity；
then a dawning recognition； and then O then！ along with blissful
certainty came the imperious need to clasp my stomach with both hands；
in order to repress the shout of rapture that struggled to escapeit was my
own little city！
I knew it well enough； I recognized it at once； though I had never been
quite so near it before。 Here was the familiar gateway； to the left that
strange； slender tower with its grim； square head shot far above the walls；
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to the right； outside the town； the hillas of oldbroke steeply down to the
sea。 But to…day everything was bigger and fresher and clearer； the walls
seemed newly hewn； gay carpets were hung out over them； fair ladies and
long…haired children peeped and crowded on the battlements。 Better still；
the portcullis was upI could even catch a glimpse of the sunlit square
withinand a dainty company was trooping through the gate on horseback；
two and two。 Their horses； in trappings that swept the ground； were gay
as themselves； and THEY were the gayest crew； for dress and bearing； I
had ever yet beheld。 It could mean nothing else but a wedding； I thought；
this holiday attire； this festal and solemn entry； and； wedding or whatever
it was； I meant to be there。 This time I would not be balked by any grim
portcullis； this time I would slip in with the rest of the crowd； find out just
what my little town was like； within those exasperating walls that had so
long confronted me； and； moreover； have my share of the fun that was
evidently going on inside。 Confident； yet breathless with expectation； I
turned the page。
Joy！ At last I was in it； at last I was on the right side of those
provoking walls； and； needless to say； I looked about me with much
curiosity。 A public place； clearly； though not such as I was used to。 The
houses at the back stood on a sort of colonnade； beneath which the people
jostled and crowded。 The upper stories were all painted with wonderful
pictures。 Above the straight line of the roofs the deep blue of a cloudless
sky stretched from side to side。 Lords and ladies thronged the
foreground； while on a dais in the centre a gallant gentleman； just alighted
off his horse； stooped to the fingers of a girl as bravely dressed out as
Selina's lady between the saints； and round about stood venerable
personages； robed in the most variegated clothing。 There were boys； too；
in plenty； with tiny red caps on their thick hair； and their shirts had
bunched up and worked out at the waist； just as my own did so often； after
chasing anybody； and each boy of them wore an odd pair of stockings； one
blue and the other red。 This system of attire went straight to my heart。 I
had tried the same thing so often； and had met with so much
discouragement； and here； at last； was my justification； painted
deliberately in a grown…up book！ I looked about for my saint…friends
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the armour man and the other fellowbut they were not to be seen。
Evidently they were unable to get off duty； even for a wedding； and still
stood on guard in that green meadow down below。 I was disappointed；
too； that not an angel was visible。 One or two of them； surely； could
easily have been spared for an hour； to run up and see the show； and they
would have been thoroughly at home here； in the midst of all the colour
and the movement and the fun。
But it was time to get on； for clearly the interest was only just
beginning。 Over went the next page； and there we were； the whole crowd
of us； assembled in a noble church。 It was not easy to make out exactly
what was going on； but in the throng I was delighted to recognize my
angels at last； happy and very much at home。 They had managed to get
leave off； evidently； and must have run up the hill and scampered
breathlessly through the gate； and perhaps they cried a little when they
found the square empty； and thought the fun must be all over。 Two of
them had got hold of a great wax candle apiece； as much as they could
stagger under； and were tittering sideways at each other as the grease ran
bountifully over their clothes。 A third had strolled in among the company；
and was chatting to a youn
