the enchanted castle-第19部分

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louder　still；　but　it　was　not　loud　enough　to　drown　the　shrieks　of
Mademoiselle　and　Eliza　as　they　rushed　from　the　room；　knocking
chairs　over　and　crushing　each　other　in　the　doorway。　Two　distant
doors　banged；　Mademoiselle's　door　and　Eliza's　door。

〃Curtain！　curtain！　quick！〃　cried　Beauty…Mabel；　in　a　voice　that
wasn't　Mabel's　or　the　Beauty's。　〃Jerry　those　things　have　come　alive。
Oh；　whatever　shall　we　do？〃

Gerald　in　his　hearthrugs　leaped　to　his　feet。　Again　that　flat　padded
applause　marked　the　swish　of　cloths　on　clothes…line　as　Jimmy　and
Kathleen　drew　the　curtains。

〃What's　up？〃　they　asked　as　they　drew。

〃You've　done　it　this　time！〃　said　Gerald　to　the　pink；　perspiring
Mabel。　〃Oh；　bother　these　strings！〃　

〃Can't　you　burst　them？　I've　done　it？〃　retorted　Mabel。　〃I　like　that！〃　

〃More　than　I　do；〃　said　Gerald。

〃Oh；　it's　all　right；〃　said　Mabel。　〃Come　on。　We　must　go　and　pull　the
things　to　pieces　then　they　can't　go　on　being　alive。〃　

〃It's　your　fault；　anyhow；〃　said　Gerald　with　every　possible　absence
of　gallantry。　〃Don't　you　see？　It's　turned　into　a　wishing　ring。　I　knew
something　different　was　going　to　happen。　Get　my　knife　out　of　my
pocket　this　string's　in　a　knot。　Jimmy；　Cathy；　those　Ugly…Wuglies
have　come　alive　because　Mabel　wished　it。　Cut　out　and　pull　them　to
pieces。〃　

Jimmy　and　Cathy　peeped　through　the　curtain　and　recoiled　with
white　faces　and　staring　eyes。　〃Not　me！〃　was　the　brief　rejoinder　of
Jimmy。　Cathy　said；　〃Not　much！〃　And　she　meant　it；　anyone　could
see　that。

And　now；　as　Gerald；　almost　free　of　the　hearthrugs；　broke　his
thumb…nail　on　the　stiffest　blade　of　his　knife；　a　thick　rustling　and　a
sharp；　heavy　stumping　sounded　beyond　the　curtain。

〃They're　going　out！〃　screamed　Kathleen　〃walking　out　on　their
umbrella　and　broomstick　legs。　You　can't　stop　them；　Jerry；　they　re
too　awful！〃　

〃Everybody　in　the　town'll　be　insane　by　tomorrow　night　if　we　don't
stop　them；〃　cried　Gerald。　〃Here；　give　me　the　ring　I'll　unwish　them。〃　

He　caught　the　ring　from　the　unresisting　Mabel；　cried；　〃I　wish　the
Uglies　weren't　alive；〃　and　tore　through　the　door。　He　saw；　in　fancy；
Mabel's　wish　undone；　and　the　empty　hall　strewed　with　limp
bolsters；　hats；　umbrellas；　coats　and　gloves；　prone　abject　properties
from　which　the　brief　life　had　gone　out　for　ever。　But　the　hall　was
crowded　with　live　things；　strange　things　all　horribly　short　as　broom
sticks　and　umbrellas　are　short。　A　limp　hand　gesticulated。　A　pointed
white　face　with　red　cheeks　looked　up　at　him；　and　wide　red　lips
said　something；　he　could　not　tell　what。　The　voice　reminded　him　of
the　old　beggar　down　by　the　bridge　who　had　no　roof　to　his　mouth。
These　creatures　had　no　roofs　to　their　mouths；　of　course　they　had　no　
〃Aa　00　re　　o　me　me　oo　a　oo　ho　el？〃　said　the　voice　again。　And　it　had
said　it　four　times　before　Gerald　could　collect　himself　sufficiently
to　understand　that　this　horror　alive；　and　most　likely　quite
uncontrollable　　was　saying；　with　a　dreadful　calm；　polite
persistence：　〃Can　you　recommend　me　to　a　good　hotel？〃

〃Can　you　recommend　me　to　a　good　hotel？〃　The　speaker　had　no
inside　to　his　head。　Gerald　had　the　best　of　reasons　for　knowing　it。
The　speaker's　coat　had　no　shoulders　inside　it　only　the　cross…bar
that　a　jacket　is　slung　on　by　careful　ladies。　The　hand　raised　in
interrogation　was　not　a　hand　at　all；　it　was　a　glove　lumpily　stuffed
with　pocket…handkerchiefs；　and　the　arm　attached　to　it　was　only
Kathleen's　school　umbrella。　Yet　the　whole　thing　was　alive；　and
was　asking　a　definite；　and　for　anybody　else；　anybody　who　really
was　a　body；　a　reasonable　question。

With　a　sensation　of　inward　sinking；　Gerald　realized　that　now　or
never　was　the　time　for　him　to　rise　to　the　occasion。　And　at　the
thought　he　inwardly　sank　more　deeply　than　before。　It　seemed
impossible　to　rise　in　the　very　smallest　degree。

〃I　beg　your　pardon〃　was　absolutely　the　best　he　could　do；　and　the
painted；　pointed　paper　face　turned　to　him　once　more；　and　once
more　said：　〃Aa　00　re　　o　me　me　oo　a　oo　ho　el？〃

〃You　want　a　hotel？〃　Gerald　repeated　stupidly；　〃a　good　hotel？〃

〃A　oo　ho　el；〃　reiterated　the　painted　lips。

〃I'm　awfully　sorry；〃　Gerald　went　on　one　can　always　be　polite；　of
course；　whatever　happens；　and　politeness　came　natural　to　him　〃but
all　our　hotels　shut　so　early　about　eight；　I　think。〃　

〃Och　em　er；〃　said　the　Ugly…Wugly。　Gerald　even　now　does　not
understand　how　that　practical　joke　hastily　wrought　of　hat；
overcoat；　paper　face　and　limp　hands　could　have　managed；　by　just
being　alive；　to　become　perfectly　respectable；　apparently　about　fifty
years　old；　and　obviously　well　known　and　respected　in　his　own
suburb　the　kind　of　man　who　travels　first　class　and　smokes
expensive　cigars。　Gerald　knew　this　time；　without　need　of
repetition；　that　the　Ugly…Wugly　had　said：　〃Knock　'em　up。〃　

〃You　can't；〃　Gerald　explained；　〃they　re　all　stone　deaf　every　single
person　who　keeps　a　hotel　in　this　town。　It's；〃　he　wildly　plunged　〃it's
a　County　Council　law。　Only　deaf　people　are　allowed　to　keep
hotels。　It's　because　of　the　hops　in　the　beer；〃　he　found　himself
adding；　〃you　know；　hops　are　so　good　for　ear…ache。〃　

〃I　0　wy　ollo　oo；〃　said　the　respectable　Ugly…Wugly；　and　Gerald　was
not　surprised　to　find　that　the　thing　did　〃not　quite　follow　him。〃

〃It　is　a　little　difficult　at　first；〃　he　said。　The　other　Ugly…Wuglies
were　crowding　round。　The　lady　in　the　poke　bonnet　said　Gerald
found　he　was　getting　quite　clever　at　understanding　the
conversation　of　those　who　had　no　roofs　to　their　mouths：

〃If　not　a　hotel；　a　lodging。〃　

〃My　lodging　is　on　the　cold　ground；〃　sang　itself　unbidden　and
unavailing　in　Gerald's　ear。　Yet　stay　was　it　unavailing？

〃I　do　know　a　lodging；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃but　；〃　The　tallest　of　the
Ugly…Wuglies　pushed　forward。　He　was　dressed　in　the　old　brown
overcoat　and　top…hat　which　always　hung　on　the　school　hat…stand　to
discourage　possible　burglars　by　deluding　them　into　the　idea　that
there　was　a　gentleman…of…the…house；　and　that　he　was　at　home。　He
had　an　air　at　once　more　sporting　and　less　reserved　than　that　of　the
first　speaker；　and　anyone　could　see　that　he　was　not　quite　a
gentleman。

〃Wa　I　wo　oo　oh；〃　he　began；　but　the　lady　Ugly…Wugly　in　the
flower…wreathed　hat　interrupted　him。　She　spoke　more　distinctly
than　the　others；　owing；　as　Gerald　found　afterwards；　to　the　fact　that
her　mouth　had　been　drawn　open；　and　the　flap　cut　from　the　aperture
had　been　folded　back　so　that　she　really　had　something　like　a　roof
to　her　mouth；　though　it　was　only　a　paper　one。

〃What　I　want　to　know；〃　Gerald　understood　her　to　say；　〃is　where　are
the　carriages　we　ordered？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Gerald；　〃but　I'll　find　out。　But　we　ought　to　be
moving；〃　he　added；　〃you　see；　the　performance　is　over；　and　they
want　to　shut　up　the　house　and　put　the　lights　out。　Let's　be　moving。〃　

〃Eh　ech　e　oo…ig；〃　repeated　the　respectable　Ugly…Wugly；　and
stepped　towards　the　front　door。

〃Oo　urn　oo；〃　said　the　flower…wreathed　one；　and　Gerald　assures　me
that　her　vermilion　lips　stretched　in　a　smile。

〃I　shall　be　delighted；〃　said　Gerald　with　earnest　courtesy；　〃to　do
anything；　of　course。　Things　do　happen　so　awkwardly　when　you
least　expect　it。　I　could　go　with　you；　and　get　you　a　lodging；　if　you'd
only　wait　a　few　moments　in　the　in　the　yard。　It's　quite　a　superior
sort　of　yard；　he　went　on；　as　a　wave　of　surprised　disdain　passed　over
their　white　paper　faces　not　a　common　yard；　you　know；　the　pump；〃
he　added　madly；　〃has　just　been　painted　green　all　over；　and　the
dustbin　is　enamelled　iron。〃　

The　Ugly…Wuglies　turned　to　each　other　in　consultation；　and　Gerald
gathered　that　the　greenness　of　the　pump　and　the　enamelled
character　of　the　dustbin　made；　in　their　opinion；　all　the　difference。

〃I'm　awfully　sorry；〃　he　urged　eagerly；　〃to　have　to　ask　you　to　wait；
but　you　see　I've　got　an　uncle　who's　quite　mad；　and　I　have　to　give
him　his　gruel　at　half…past　nine。　He　won't　feed　out　of　any　hand　but
mine。〃　Gerald　did　not　mind　what　he　said。　The　only　people　one　is
allowed　to　tell　lies　to　are　the　Ugly…Wuglies；　they　are　all　clothes
and　have　no　insides；　because　they　are　not　human　beings；　but　only　a
sort　of　very　real　visions；　and　therefore　cannot　be　really　deceived；
though　they　may　seem　to　be。

Through　the　back　door　that　has　the　blue；　yellow；　red；　and　green
glass　in　it；　down　the　iron　steps　into　the　yard；　Gerald　led　the　way；
and　the　Ugly…Wuglies　trooped　after　him。　Some　of　them　had　boots；
but　the　ones　whose　feet　were　only　broomsticks　or　umbrellas　found
the　open…work　iron　stairs　very　awkward。

〃If　you　wouldn't　mind；〃　said　Gerald；　〃just　waiting　under　the
balcony？　My　uncle　is　so　very　mad。　If　he　were　to　see　see　any
strangers　I　mean；　even　aristocratic　ones　I　couldn't　answer　for　the
consequences。〃　

〃Perhaps；　said　the　flower…hatted　lady　nervously；　〃it　would　be　better
for　us　to　try　and　find　a　lodging　ourselves？〃

〃I　wouldn't　advise　you　to；〃　said　Gerald　as　grimly　as　he　knew　how；
〃the　police　here　arrest　all　strangers。　It's　the　new　law　the　Liberals
have　just　made；〃　he　added　convincingly；　〃and　you'd　get　the　sort　of
lodging　you　wouldn't　care　for　I　couldn't　bear　to　think　of　you　in　a
prison　dungeon；〃　he　added　tenderly。

〃I　ah　wi　oo　er　papers；〃　said　the　respectable　Ugly…Wugly；　and　added
something　that　sounded　like　〃disgraceful　state　of　things。〃　

However；　they　ranged　themselves　under　the　iron　balcony。　Gerald
gave　one　last　look　at　them　and　wondered；　in　his　secret　heart；　why
he　was　not　frightened；　though　in　his　outside　mind　he　was
congratulating　himself　on　his　bravery。　For　the　things　did　look
rather　horrid。　In　that　light　it　was　hard　to　believe　that　they　were
really　only　clothes　and　pillows　and　sticks　with　no　insides。　As　he
went　up　the　steps　he　heard　them　talking　among　themselves　in　that
strange　language　of　theirs；　all　oo's　and　ah's；　and　he　thought　he
distinguished　the　voice　of　the　respectable　Ugly…Wugly　saying；
〃Most　gentlemanly　lad；〃　and　the　wreathed…hatted　lady　answering
warmly：　〃Yes；　indeed。〃　

The　coloured…glass　door　closed　behind　him。　Behind　him　was　the
yard；　peopled　by　seven　impossible　creatures。　Before　him　lay　the
silent　house；　peopled；　as　he　knew　very　well；　by　five　human　beings
as　frightened　as　human　beings　could　be。　You　think；　perhaps；　that
Ugly…Wuglies　are　nothing　to　be　frightened　of。　That's　only　because
you　have　never　seen　one　come　alive。