the enchanted castle-第15部分

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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　horrible　smell；　as　the　flame　died
between　the　quick　hands　of　Gerald；　showed　but　too　plainly　that
Eliza's　feather　boa　had　tried　to　help。

It　did　help。　Eliza　〃came　to〃　with　a　deep　sob　and　said；　〃Don't　burn
me　real　ostrich　stole；　I'm　better　now。〃　

They　helped　her　up　and　she　sat　down　on　the　bottom　step；　and　the
children　explained　to　her　very　carefully　and　quite　kindly　that　she
really　was　invisible；　and　that　if　you　steal　or　even　borrow　rings　you
can　never　be　sure　what　will　happen　to　you。

〃But　'ave　I　got　to　go　on　stopping　like　this；〃　she　moaned；　when　they
had　fetched　the　little　mahogany　looking…glass　from　its　nail　over　the
kitchen　sink；　and　convinced　her　that　she　was　really　invisible；　〃for
ever　and　ever？　An　we　was　to　a　bin　married　come　Easter。　No　one
won't　marry　a　gell　as　'e　can't　see。　It　ain't　likely。〃　

〃No；　not　for　ever　and　ever；〃　said　Mabel　kindly；　〃but　you've　got　to
go　through　with　it　like　measles。　I　expect　you'll　be　all　right
tomorrow。〃　

〃Tonight；　I　think；〃　said　Gerald。

〃We'll　help　you　all　we　can；　and　not　tell　anyone；〃　said　Kathleen。

〃Not　even　the　police；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃Now　let's　get　Mademoiselle's　tea　ready；〃　said　Gerald。

〃And　ours；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃No；〃　said　Gerald；　〃we'll　have　our　tea　out。　We'll　have　a　picnic　and
we'll　take　Eliza。　I'll　go　out　and　get　the　cakes。〃　〃I　sha'n't　eat　no　cake；
Master　Jerry；〃　said　Eliza's　voice；　〃so　don't　you　think　it。　You'd　see　it
going　down　inside　my　chest。　It　wouldn't　he　what　I　should　call　nice
of　me　to　have　cake　showing　through　me　in　the　open　air。　Oh；　it's　a
dreadful　judgment　　just　for　a　borrow！〃　

They　reassured　her；　set　the　tea；　deputed　Kathleen　to　let　in
Mademoiselle　who　came　home　tired　and　a　little　sad；　it　seemed　
waited　for　her　and　Gerald　and　the　cakes；　and　started　off　for
Yalding　Towers。

〃Picnic　parties　aren't　allowed；〃　said　Mabel。

〃Ours　will　be；〃　said　Gerald　briefly。　〃Now；　Eliza；　you　catch　on　to
Kathleen's　arm　and　I'll　walk　behind　to　conceal　your　shadow。　My
aunt！　take　your　hat　off；　it　makes　your　shadow　look　like　I　don't
know　what。　People　will　think　we're　the　county　lunatic　asylum
turned　loose。〃　

It　was　then　that　the　hat；　becoming　visible　in　Kathleen's　hand；
showed　how　little　of　the　sprinkled　water　had　gone　where　it　was
meant　to　go　on　Eliza's　face。

〃Me　best　'at；〃　said　Eliza；　and　there　was　a　silence　with　sniffs　in　it。

〃Look　here；〃　said　Mabel；　〃you　cheer　up。　Just　you　think　this　is　all　a
dream。　It's　just　the　kind　of　thing　you　might　dream　if　your
conscience　bad　got　pains　in　it　about　the　ring。〃　

〃But　will　I　wake　up　again？〃

〃Oh　yes；　you'll　wake　up　again。　Now　we're　going　to　bandage　your
eyes　and　take　you　through　a　very　small　door；　and　don't　you　resist；
or　we'll　bring　a　policeman　into　the　dream　like　a　shot。〃　

I　have　not　time　to　describe　Eliza's　entrance　into　the　cave。　She　went
head　first：　the　girls　propelled　and　the　boys　received　her。　If　Gerald
had　not　thought　of　tying　her　hands　someone　would　certainly　have
been　scratched。　As　it　was　Mabel's　hand　was　scraped　between　the
cold　rock　and　a　passionate　boot…heel。　Nor　will　I　tell　you　all　that　she
said　as　they　led　her　along　the　fern…bordered　gully　and　through　the
arch　into　the　wonderland　of　Italian　scenery。　She　had　but　little
language　left　when　they　removed　her　bandage　under　a　weeping
willow　where　a　statue　of　Diana；　bow　in　hand；　stood　poised　on　one
toe　a　most　unsuitable　attitude　for　archery；　I　have　always　thought。

〃Now；〃　said　Gerald；　〃it's　all　over　nothing　but　niceness　now　and
cake　and　things。〃　

〃It's　time　we　did　have　our　tea；〃　said　Jimmy。　And　it　was。

Eliza；　once　convinced　that　her　chest；　though　invisible；　was　not
transparent；　and　that　her　companions　could　not　by　looking　through
it　count　how　many　buns　she　had　eaten；　made　an　excellent　meal。　So
did　the　others。　If　you　want　really　to　enjoy　your　tea；　have　minced
veal　and　potatoes　and　rice…pudding　for　dinner；　with　several　hours
of　excitement　to　follow；　and　take　your　tea　late。

The　soft；　cool　green　and　grey　of　the　garden　were　changing　the
green　grew　golden；　the　shadows　black；　and　the　lake　where　the
swans　were　mirrored　upside　down；　under　the　Temple　of　Phoebus；
was　bathed　in　rosy　light　from　the　little　fluffy　clouds　that　lay
opposite　the　Sunset。

〃It　is　pretty；〃　said　Eliza；　〃just　like　a　picture…postcard；　ain't　it？　the
tuppenny　kind。〃　

〃I　ought　to　be　getting　home；〃　said　Mabel。

〃I　can't　go　home　like　this。　I'd　stay　and　be　a　savage　and　live　in　that
white　hut　if　it　had　any　walls　and　doors；〃　said　Eliza。

〃She　means　the　Temple　of　Dionysus；〃　said　Mabel；　pointing　to　it。

The　sun　set　suddenly　behind　the　line　of　black　fir…trees　on　the　top　of
the　slope；　and　the　white　temple；　that　had　been　pink；　turned　grey。

〃It　would　be　a　very　nice　place　to　live　in　even　as　it　is；〃　said
Kathleen。

〃Draughty；〃　said　Eliza；　〃and　law；　what　a　lot　of　steps　to　clean！　What
they　make　houses　for　without　no　walls　to　'em？　Who'd　live　in；〃　She
broke　off；　stared；　and　added：　〃What's　that？〃

〃What？〃

〃That　white　thing　coming　down　the　steps。　Why；　it's　a　young　man　in
statooary。〃　

〃The　statues　do　come　alive　here；　after　sunset；〃　said　Gerald　in　very
matter…of…fact　tones。

〃I　see　they　do。〃　Eliza　did　not　seem　at　all　surprised　or　alarmed。
〃There's　another　of　'em。　Look　at　them　little　wings　to　his　feet　like
pigeons。〃　

〃I　expect　that's　Mercury；〃　said　Gerald。

〃It's　'Hermes'　under　the　statue　that's　got　wings　on　its　feet；　said
Mabel；　〃but　〃

〃1　don't　see　any　statues；〃　said　Jimmy。　〃What　are　you　punching　me
for？〃

〃Don't　you　see？〃　Gerald　whispered；　but　he　need　not　have　been　so
troubled；　for　all　Eliza's　attention　was　with　her　wandering　eyes　that
followed　hither　and　thither　the　quick　movements　of　unseen　statues。
〃Don't　you　see？　The　statues　come　alive　when　the　sun　goes　down　
and　you　can't　see　them　unless　you're　invisible　

and　I　if　you　do　see　them　you're　not　frightened　unless　you　touch
them。〃

〃Let's　get　her　to　touch　one　and　see；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃E's　lep　into　the　water；〃　said　Eliza　in　a　rapt　voice。　〃My；　can't　he
swim　neither！　And　the　one　with　the　pigeons　wings　is　flying　all　over
the　lake　having　larks　with　'im。　I　do　call　that　pretty。　It's　like　cupids
as　you　see　on　wedding…cakes。　And　here's　another　of　'em；　a　little
chap　with　long　ears　and　a　baby　deer　galloping　alongside！　An　look
at　the　lady　with　the　biby；　throwing　it　up　and　catching　it　like　as　if　it
was　a　ball。　I　wonder　she　ain't　afraid。　But　it's　pretty　to　see　'em。〃

The　broad　park　lay　stretched　before　the　children　in　growing
greyness　and　a　stillness　that　deepened。　Amid　the　thickening
shadows　they　could　see　the　statues　gleam　white　and　motionless。
But　Eliza　saw　other　things。　She　watched　in　silence　presently；　and
they　watched　silently；　and　the　evening　fell　like　a　veil　that　grew
heavier　and　blacker。　And　it　was　night。　And　the　moon　came　up
above　the　trees。

〃Oh；〃　cried　Eliza　suddenly；　〃here's　the　dear　little　boy　with　the　deer　
he's　coming　right　for　me；　bless　his　heart！〃　

Next　moment　she　was　screaming；　and　her　screams　grew　fainter
and　there　was　the　sound　of　swift　boots　on　gravel。

〃Come　on！〃　cried　Gerald；　〃she　touched　it；　and　then　she　was
frightened；　Just　like　I　was。　Run！　she'll　send　everyone　in　the　town
mad　if　she　gets　there　like　that。　Just　a　voice　and　boots！　Run！　Run！　

They　ran。　But　Eliza　had　the　start　of　them。　Also　when　she　ran　on　the
grass　they　could　not　hear　her　footsteps　and　had　to　wait　for　the
sound　of　leather　on　far…away　gravel。　Also　she　was　driven　by　fear；
and　fear　drives　fast。

She　went；　it　seemed；　the　nearest　way；　invisibly　through　the　waxing
moonlight；　seeing　she　only　knew　what　amid　the　glades　and　groves。

〃I'll　stop　here；　see　you　tomorrow；〃　gasped　Mabel；　as　the　loud
pursuers　followed　Eliza's　clatter　across　the　terrace。　〃She's　gone
through　the　stable　yard。〃　

〃The　back　way；〃　Gerald　panted　as　they　turned　the　corner　of　their
own　street；　and　he　and　Jimmy　swung　in　past　the　water…butt。

An　unseen　but　agitated　presence　seemed　to　be　fumbling　with　the
locked　back…door。　The　church　clock　struck　the　half…hour。

〃Half…past　nine；〃　Gerald　had　just　breath　to　say。　〃Pull　at　the　ring。
Perhaps　it'll　come　off　now。〃

He　spoke　to　the　bare　doorstep。　But　it　was　Eliza；　dishevelled；
breathless；　her　hair　coming　down；　her　collar　crooked；　her　dress
twisted　and　disordered；　who　suddenly　held　out　a　hand　a　hand　that
they　could　see；　and　in　the　hand；　plainly　visible　in　the　moonlight；
the　dark　circle　of　the　magic　ring。

〃Alf　a　mo！〃　said　Eliza's　gentleman　friend　next　morning。　He　was
waiting　for　her　when　she　opened　the　door　with　pail　and
hearthstone　in　her　hand。　〃Sorry　you　couldn't　come　out　yesterday。〃　

〃So'm　I。〃　Eliza　swept　the　wet　flannel　along　the　top　step。　〃What　did
you　do？〃

〃I　'ad　a　bit　of　a　headache；〃　said　the　gentleman　friend。　〃I　laid　down
most　of　the　afternoon。　What　were　you　up　to？〃

〃Oh；　nothing　pertickler；〃　said　Eliza。

〃Then　it　was　all　a　dream；　she　said；　when　he　was　gone；　〃but　it'll　be
a　lesson　to　me　not　to　meddle　with　anybody's　old　ring　again　in　a
hurry。〃　

〃So　they　didn't　tell　'er　about　me　behaving　like　I　did；〃　said　he　as　he
went　〃sun；　I　suppose　like　our　Army　in　India。　I　hope　I　ain't　going　to
be　liable　to　it；　that's　all！〃　

Johnson　was　the　hero　of　the　hour。　It　was　he　who　had　tracked　the
burglars；　laid　his　plans；　and　recovered　the　lost　silver。　He　had　not
thrown　the　stone　public　opinion　decided　that　Mabel　and　her　aunt
must　have　been　mistaken　in　supposing　that　there　was　a　stone　at　all。
But　he　did　not　deny　the　warning　letter。　It　was　Gerald　who　went　out
after　breakfast　to　buy　the　newspaper；　and　who　read　aloud　to　the
others　the　two　columns　of　fiction　which　were　the　Liddlesby
Observer's　report　of　the　facts。　As　he　read　every　mouth　opened
wider　and　wider；　and　when　he　ceased　with　〃this　gifted
fellow…townsman　with　detective　instincts　which　out…rival　those　of
Messrs。　Lecoq　and　Holmes；　and　whose　promotion　is　now　assured；〃
there　was　quite　a　blank　silence。

〃Well；〃　said　Jimmy；　breaking　it；　〃he　doesn't　stick　it　on　neither；
does　he？〃

〃I　feel；〃　said　Kathleen；　〃as　if　it　was　our　fault　as　if　it　was　us　had　told
all　these　whoppers；　because　if　it　hadn't　been　for　you　they　couldn't