the enchanted castle-第14部分

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〃All　right；　we'll　eat　like　lightning；〃　Gerald　promised。　〃Set　another
place；　there's　an　angel。〃　

They　kept　their　word。　The　dinner　it　was　minced　veal　and　potatoes
and　rice…pudding；　perhaps　the　dullest　food　in　the　world　was　over　in
a　quarter　of　an　hour。

〃And　now；〃　said　Mabel；　when　Eliza　and　a　jug　of　hot　water　had
disappeared　up　the　stairs　together；　〃where's　the　ring？　I　ought　to　put
it　back。〃　

〃I　haven't　had　a　turn　yet；〃　said　Jimmy。　〃When　we　find　it　Cathy　and
I　ought　to　have　turns　same　as　you　and　Gerald　did。〃　

〃When　you　find　it　？〃　Mabel's　pale　face　turned　paler　between　her
dark　locks。

〃I'm　very　sorry　we're　all　very　sorry；〃　began　Kathleen；　and　then　the
story　of　the　losing　had　to　be　told。

〃You　couldn't　have　looked　properly；〃　Mabel　protested。　〃It　can't
have　vanished。〃　

〃You　don't　know　what　it　can　do　no　more　do　we。　It's　no　use　getting
your　quills　up；　fair　lady。　Perhaps　vanishing　itself　is　just　what　it
does　do。　You　see；　it　came　off　my　hand　in　the　bed。　We　looked
everywhere。〃　

〃Would　you　mind　if　I　looked？〃　Mabel's　eyes　implored　her　little
hostess。　〃You　see；　if　it's　lost　it's　my　fault。　It's　almost　the　same　as
stealing。　That　Johnson　would　say　it　was　just　the　same。　I　know　he
would。〃　

〃Let's　all　look　again；〃　said　Cathy；　jumping　up。　〃We　were　rather　in　a
hurry　this　morning。〃　

So　they　looked；　and　they　looked。　In　the　bed；　under　the　bed；　under
the　carpet；　under　the　furniture。　They　shook　the　curtains；　they
explored　the　corners；　and　found　dust　and　flue；　but　no　ring。　They
looked；　and　they　looked。　Everywhere　they　looked。　Jimmy　even
looked　fixedly　at　the　ceiling；　as　though　he　thought　the　ring　might
have　bounced　up　there　and　stuck。　But　it　hadn't。

〃Then；〃　said　Mabel　at　last；　〃your　housemaid　must　have　stolen　it。
That's　all。　I　shall　tell　her　I　think　so。〃　

And　she　would　have　done　it　too；　but　at　that　moment　the　front　door
banged　and　they　knew　that　Eliza　had　gone　forth　in　all　the　glory　of
her　best　things　to　meet　her　〃gentleman　friend〃　。

〃It's　no　use；〃　Mabel　was　almost　in　tears；　〃look　here　will　you　leave
me　alone？　Perhaps　you　others　looking　distracts　me。　And　I'll　go
over　every　inch　of　the　room　by　myself。〃　

〃Respecting　the　emotion　of　their　guest；　the　kindly　charcoal…burners
withdrew；〃　said　Gerald。　And　they　closed　the　door　softly　from　the
outside　on　Mabel　and　her　search。

They　waited　for　hers　of　course　politeness　demanded　it；　and
besides；　they　had　to　stay　at　home　to　let　Mademoiselle　in；　though　it
was　a　dazzling　day；　and　Jimmy　had　just　remembered　that　Gerald's
pockets　were　full　of　the　money　earned　at　the　fair；　and　that　nothing
had　yet　been　bought　with　that　money；　except　a　few　buns　in　which
he　had　had　no　share。　And　of　course　they　waited　impatiently。

It　seemed　about　an　hour；　and　was　really　quite　ten　minutes；　before
they　heard　the　bedroom　door　open　and　Mabel's　feet　on　the　stairs。

〃She　hasn't　found　it；〃　Gerald　said。

〃How　do　you　know？〃　Jimmy　asked。

〃The　way　she　walks；〃　said　Gerald。　You　can；　in　fact；　almost　always
tell　whether　the　thing　has　been　found　that　people　have　gone　to　look
for　by　the　sound　of　their　feet　as　they　return。　Mabel's　feet　said　〃No
go〃　as　plain　as　they　could　speak。　And　her　face　confirmed　the
cheerless　news。

A　sudden　and　violent　knocking　at　the　back　door　prevented　anyone
from　having　to　be　polite　about　how　sorry　they　were；　or　fanciful
about　being　sure　the　ring　would　turn　up　soon。

All　the　servants　except　Eliza　were　away　on　their　holidays；　so　the
children　went　together　to　open　the　door；　because；　as　Gerald　said；　if
it　was　the　baker　they　could　buy　a　cake　from　him　and　eat　it　for
dessert。　〃That　kind　of　dinner　sort　of　needs　dessert；〃　he　said。

But　it　was　not　the　baker；　When　they　opened　the

door　they　saw　in　the　paved　court　where　the　pump　is；　and　the
dust…bin；　and　the　water…butt；　a　young　man；　with　his　hat　very　much
on　one　side；　his　mouth　open　under　his　fair　bristly　mustache；　and
his　eyes　as　nearly　round　as　human　eyes　can　be。　He　wore　a　suit　of　a
bright　mustard　colour；　a　blue　necktie；　and　a　goldish　watch…chain
across　his　waistcoat。　His　body　was　thrown　back　and　his　right　arm
stretched　out　towards　the　door；　and　his　expression　was　that　of　a
person　who　is　being　dragged　somewhere　against　his　will。　He
looked　so　strange　that　Kathleen　tried　to　shut　the　door　in　his　face；
murmuring；　〃Escaped　insane。〃　But　the　door　would　not　close。　There
was　something　in　the　way。

〃Leave　go　of　me！〃　said　the　young　man。

〃Ho　yus！　I'll　leave　go　of　you！〃　It　was　the　voice　of　Eliza　but　no　Eliza
could　be　seen。

〃Who's　got　hold　of　you？〃　asked　Kathleen。

〃She　has；　miss；〃　replied　the　unhappy　stranger。

〃Who's　she？〃　asked　Kathleen；　to　gain　time；　as　she　afterwards
explained；　for　she　now　knew　well　enough　that　what　was　keeping
the　door　open　was　Eliza's　unseen　foot。

〃My　fyongsay；　miss。　At　least　it　sounds　like　her　voice；　and　it　feels
like　her　bones；　but　something's　come　over　me；　miss；　an　I　can't　see
her。〃　

〃That's　what　he　keeps　on　saying；〃　said　Eliza's　voice。　〃E's　my
gentleman　friend；　is　'e　gone　dotty；　or　is　it　me？〃

〃Both；　I　shouldn't　wonder；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃Now；〃　said　Eliza；　〃you　call　yourself　a　man；　you　look　me　in　the
face　and　say　you　can't　see　me。〃　

〃Well　I　can't；〃　said　the　wretched　gentleman　friend。

〃If　I'd　stolen　a　ring；〃　said　Gerald；　looking　at　the　sky；　〃I　should　go
indoors　and　be　quiet；　not　stand　at　the　back　door　and　make　an
exhibition　of　myself。〃　

〃Not　much　exhibition　about　her；〃　whispered　Jimmy；　〃good　old
ring！〃　

〃I　haven't　stolen　anything；〃　said　the　gentleman　friend。　〃Here；　you
leave　me　be。　It's　my　eyes　has　gone　wrong。　Leave　go　of　me；　d'ye
hear？〃

Suddenly　his　hand　dropped　and　he　staggered　back　against　the
water…butt。　Eliza　had　〃left　go〃　of　him。　She　pushed　past　the
children；　shoving　them　aside　with　her　invisible　elbows。　Gerald
caught　her　by　the　arm　with　one　hand；　felt　for　her　ear　with　the
other；　and　whispered；　〃You　stand　still　and　don't　say　a　word。　If　you
do　well；　what's　to　stop　me　from　sending　for　the　police？〃

Eliza　did　not　know　what　there　was　to　stop　him。　So　she　did　as　she
was　told；　and　stood　invisible　and　silent；　save　for　a　sort　of　blowing；
snorting　noise　peculiar　to　her　when　she　was　out　of　breath。

The　mustard…coloured　young　man　had　recovered　his　balance；　and
stood　looking　at　the　children　with　eyes；　if　possible；　rounder　than
before。

〃What　is　it？〃　he　gasped　feebly。　〃What's　up？　What's　it　all　about？〃

〃If　you　don't　know；　I'm　afraid　we　can't　tell　you；〃　said　Gerald
politely。

〃Have　I　been　talking　very　strange…like？〃　he　asked；　taking　off　his
hat　and　passing　his　hand　over　his　forehead。

〃Very；〃　said　Mabel。

〃I　hope　I　haven't　said　anything　that　wasn't　good　manners；〃　he　said
anxiously。

〃Not　at　all；〃　said　Kathleen。　〃You　only　said　your　fiancee　had　hold
of　your　hand；　and　that　you　couldn't　see　her。〃　

〃No　more　I　can。〃　

〃No　more　can　we；〃　said　Mabel。

〃But　I　couldn't　have　dreamed　it；　and　then　come　along　here　making
a　penny　show　of　myself　like　this；　could　I？〃

〃You　know　best；〃　said　Gerald　courteously。

〃But；〃　the　mustard…coloured　victim　almost　screamed；　〃do　you
mean　to　tell　me。。。〃　

〃I　don't　mean　to　tell　you　anything；〃　said　Gerald　quite　truly；　〃but　I'll
give　you　a　bit　of　advice。　You　go　home　and　lie　down　a　bit　and　put　a
wet　rag　on　your　head。　You'll　be　all　right　tomorrow。〃　

〃But　I　haven't　〃

〃I　should；〃　said　Mabel；　〃the　sun's　very　hot；　you　know。〃　

〃I　feel　all　right　now；〃　he　said；　〃but　well；　I　can　only　say　I'm　sorry；
that's　all　I　can　say。　I've　never　been　taken　like　this　before；　miss。　I'm
not　subject　to　it　don't　you　think　that。　But　I　could　have　sworn　Eliza　
Ain't　she　gone　out　to　meet　me？〃

〃Eliza's　in…doors；〃　said　Mabel。　〃She　can't　come　out　to　meet
anybody　today。〃　

〃You　won't　tell　her　about　me　carrying　on　this　way；　will　you；　miss？
It　might　set　her　against　me　if　she　thought　I　was　liable　to　fits；　which
I　never　was　from　a　child。〃　

〃We　won't　tell　Eliza　anything　about　you。〃　

〃And　you'll　overlook　the　liberty？〃

〃Of　course。　We　know　you　couldn't　help　it；〃　said　Kathleen。　〃You　go
home　and　lie　down。　I'm　sure　you　must　need　it。　Good　afternoon。〃　

〃Good　afternoon；　I'm　sure；　miss；〃　he　said　dreamily。　〃All　the　same　I
can　feel　the　print　of　her　finger…bones　on　my　hand　while　I'm　saying
it。　And　you　won't　let　it　get　round　to　my　boss　my　employer　I　mean？
Fits　of　all　sorts　are　against　a　man　in　any　trade。〃　

〃No；　no；　no；　it's　all　right　good…bye；〃　said　everyone。　And　a　silence
fell　as　he　went　slowly　round　the　water…butt　and　the　green　yard…gate
shut　behind　him。　The　silence　was　broken　by　Eliza。

〃Give　me　up！〃　she　said。　〃Give　me　up　to　break　my　heart　in　a　prison
cell！〃　

There　was　a　sudden　splash；　and　a　round　wet　drop　lay　on　the
doorstep。

〃Thunder　shower；〃　said　Jimmy；　but　it　was　a　tear　from　Eliza。

〃Give　me　up；〃　she　went　on；　〃give　me　up〃　splash　〃but　don't　let　me
be　took　here　in　the　town　where　I'm　known　and　respected〃　splash。
〃I'll　walk　ten　miles　to　be　took　by　a　strange　police　not　Johnson　as
keeps　company　with　my　own　cousin〃　splash。　〃But　I　do　thank　you
for　one　thing。　You　didn't　tell　Elf　as　I'd　stolen　the　ring。　And　I　didn't
splash　　I　only　sort　of　borrowed　it；　it　being　my　day　out；　and　my
gentleman　friend　such　a　toff；　like　you　can　see　for　yourselves。〃　

The　children　had　watched；　spellbound；　the　interesting　tears　that
became　visible　as　they　rolled　off　the　invisible　nose　of　the
miserable　Eliza。　Now　Gerald　roused　himself；　and　spoke。

〃It's　no　use　your　talking；〃　he　said。　〃We　can't　see　you！〃　

〃That's　what　he　said；〃　said　Eliza's　voice；　〃but　〃

〃You　can't　see　yourself；〃　Gerald　went　on。　〃Where's　your　hand？〃

Eliza；　no　doubt；　tried　to　see　it；　and　of　course　failed；　for　instantly；
with　a　shriek　that　might　have　brought　the　police　if　there　had　been
any　about；　she　went　into　a　violent　fit　of　hysterics。　The　children　did
what　they　could；　everything　that　they　had　read　of　in　books　as
suitable　to　such　occasions；　but　it　is　extremely　difficult　to　do　the
right　thing　with　an　invisible　housemaid　in　strong　hysterics　and　her
best　clothes。　That　was　why　the　best　hat　was　found；　later　on；　to　be
completely　ruined；　and　why　the　best　blue　dress　was　never　quite
itself　again。　And　as　they　were　burning　bits　of　the　feather
dusting…brush　as　nearly　under　Eliza's　nose　as　they　could　guess；　a
sudden　spurt　of　flame　and　a