the enchanted castle-第20部分

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Ugly…Wuglies　are　nothing　to　be　frightened　of。　That's　only　because
you　have　never　seen　one　come　alive。　You　must　make　one　any　old
suit　of　your　father　s；　and　a　hat　that　he　isn't　wearing；　a　bolster　or
two；　a　painted　paper　face；　a　few　sticks　and　a　pair　of　boots　will　do
the　trick；　get　your　father　to　lend　you　a　wishing　ring；　give　it　back　to
him　when　it　has　done　its　work；　and　see　how　you　feel　then。

Of　course　the　reason　why　Gerald　was　not　afraid　was　that　he　had
the　ring；　and；　as　you　have　seen；　the　wearer　of　that　is　not　frightened
by　anything　unless　he　touches　that　thing。　But　Gerald　knew　well
enough　how　the　others　must　be　feeling。　That　was　why　he　stopped
for　a　moment　in　the　hall　to　try　and　imagine　what　would　have　been
most　soothing　to　him　if　he　had　been　as　terrified　as　he　knew　they
were。

〃Cathy！　I　say！　What　ho；　Jimmy！　Mabel　ahoy！〃　he　cried　in　a　loud；
cheerful　voice　that　sounded　very　unreal　to　himself。

The　dining…room　door　opened　a　cautious　inch。

〃I　say　such　larks！〃　Gerald　went　on；　shoving　gently　at　the　door　with
his　shoulder。　〃Look　out！　what　are　you　keeping　the　door　shut　for？〃

〃Are　you　alone？〃　asked　Kathleen　in　hushed；　breathless　tones。

〃Yes；　of　course。　Don't　be　a　duffer！〃　

The　door　opened；　revealing　three　scared　faces　and　the　disarranged
chairs　where　that　odd　audience　had　sat。

〃Where　are　they？　Have　you　unwished　them？　We　heard　them
talking。　Horrible！〃　

〃They're　in　the　yard；〃　said　Gerald　with　the　best　imitation　of　joyous
excitement　that　he　could　manage。　〃It　is　such　fun！　They're　just　like
real　people；　quite　kind　and　jolly。　It's　the　most　ripping　lark。　Don't　let
on　to　Mademoiselle　and　Eliza。　I'll　square　them。　Then　Kathleen　and
Jimmy　must　go　to　bed；　and　I'll　see　Mabel　home；　and　as　soon　as　we
get　outside　I　must　find　some　sort　of　lodging　for　the　Ugly…Wuglies
they　are　such　fun　though。　I　do　wish　you　could　all　go　with　me。〃　

〃Fun？〃　echoed　Kathleen　dismally　and　doubting。

〃Perfectly　killing；〃　Gerald　asserted　resolutely。　〃Now；　you　just
listen　to　what　I　say　to　Mademoiselle　and　Eliza；　and　back　me　up　for
all　you're　worth。　

〃But；〃　said　Mabel；　〃you　can't　mean　that　you're　going　to　leave　me
alone　directly　we　get　out；　and　go　off　with　those　horrible　creatures。
They　look　like　fiends。〃　

〃You　wait　till　you've　seen　them　close；〃　Gerald　advised。　〃Why；　they
re　just　ordinary　the　first　thing　one　of　them　did　was　to　ask　me　to
recommend　it　to　a　good　hotel！　I　couldn't　understand　it　at　first；
because　it　has　no　roof　to　its　mouth；　of　course。〃　

It　was　a　mistake　to　say　that；　Gerald　knew　it　at　once。

Mabel　and　Kathleen　were　holding　hands　in　a　way　that　plainly
showed　how　a　few　moments　ago　they　had　been　clinging　to　each
other　in　an　agony　of　terror。　Now　they　clung　again。　And　Jimmy；
who　was　sitting　on　the　edge　of　what　had　been　the　stage；　kicking　his
boots　against　the　pink　counterpane；　shuddered　visibly。

〃It　doesn't　matter；〃　Gerald　explained　〃about　the　roofs；　I　mean；　you
soon　get　to　understand。　I　heard　them　say　I　was　a　gentlemanly　lad　as
I　was　coming　away。　They　wouldn't　have　cared　to　notice　a　little
thing　like　that　if　they'd　been　fiends；　you　know。〃　

〃It　doesn't　matter　how　gentlemanly　they　think　you；　if　you　don't　see
me　home　you　aren't；　that's　all。　Are　you　going　to？〃　Mabel
demanded。

〃Of　course　I　am。　We　shall　have　no　end　of　a　lark。　Now　for
Mademoiselle。〃　

He　had　put　on　his　coat　as　he　spoke　and　now　ran　up　the　stairs。　The
others；　herding　in　the　hall；　could　hear　his　light…hearted　there
s…nothing…unusual…the…matter…whatever…did…you…bolt…like…that…for
knock　at　Mademoiselle's　door；　the　reassuring　〃It's　only　me　Gerald；
you　know；〃　the　pause；　the　opening　of　the　door；　and　the　low…voiced
parley　that　followed；　then　Mademoiselle　and　Gerald　at　Eliza's
door；　voices　of　reassurance；　Eliza's　terror；　bluntly　voluble；　tactfully
soothed。

〃Wonder　what　lies　he's　telling　them；〃　Jimmy　grumbled。

〃Oh！　not　lies；〃　said　Mabel；　〃he's　only　telling　them　as　much　of　the
truth　as　it's　good　for　them　to　know。〃　

〃If　you'd　been　a　man；〃　said　Jimmy　witheringly；　〃you'd　have　been　a
beastly　Jesuit；　and　hid　up　chimneys。〃　

〃If　I　were　only　just　a　boy；〃　Mabel　retorted；　〃I　shouldn't　be　scared
out　of　my　life　by　a　pack　of　old　coats。〃　

〃I'm　so　sorry　you　were　frightened；〃　Gerald's　honeyed　tones　floated
down　the　staircase；　〃we　didn't　think　about　you　being　frightened。
And　it　was　a　good　trick；　wasn't　it？〃

〃There！〃　whispered　Jimmy；　〃he's　been　telling　her　it　was　a　trick　of
ours。〃　

〃Well；　so　it　was；〃　said　Mabel　stoutly。

〃It　was　indeed　a　wonderful　trick；〃　said　Mademoiselle；　〃and　how
did　you　move　the　mannikins？〃

〃Oh；　we've　often　done　it　with　strings；　you　know；〃　Gerald
explained。

〃That's　true；　too；〃　Kathleen　whispered。

〃Let　us　see　you　do　once　again　this　trick　so　remarkable；〃　said
Mademoiselle；　arriving　at　the　bottom…stair　mat。

〃Oh；　I've　cleared　them　all　out；〃　said　Gerald。　（〃So　he　has；　from
Kathleen　aside　to　Jimmy。）　〃We　were　so　sorry　you　were　startled；　we
thought　you　wouldn't　like　to　see　them　again。〃　

〃Then；〃　said　Mademoiselle　brightly；　as　she　peeped　into　the　untidy
dining…room　and　saw　that　the　figures　had　indeed　vanished；　〃if　we
supped　and　discoursed　of　your　beautiful　piece　of　theatre？〃

Gerald　explained　fully　how　much　his　brother　and　sister　would
enjoy　this。　As　for　him　Mademoiselle　would　see　that　it　was　his　duty
to　escort　Mabel　home；　and　kind　as　it　was　of　Mademoiselle　to　ask
her　to　stay　the　night；　it　could　not　be；　on　account　of　the　frenzied　and
anxious　affection　of　Mabel's　aunt。　And　it　was　useless　to　suggest
that　Eliza　should　see　Mabel　home；　because　Eliza　was　nervous　at
night　unless　accompanied　by　her　gentleman　friend。

So　Mabel　was　hatted　with　her　own　hat　and　cloaked　with　a　cloak
that　was　not　hers；　and　she　and　Gerald　went　out　by　the　front　door；
amid　kind　last　words　and　appointments　for　the　morrow。

The　moment　that　front　door　was　shut　Gerald　caught　Mabel　by　the
arm　and　led　her　briskly　to　the　corner　of　the　side　street　which　led　to
the　yard。　Just　round　the　corner　he　stopped。

〃Now；〃　he　said；　〃what　I　want　to　know　is　are　you　an　idiot　or　aren't
you？〃

〃Idiot　yourself！〃　said　Mabel；　but　mechanically；　for　she　saw　that　he
was　in　earnest。

〃Because　I'm　not　frightened　of　the　Ugly…Wuglies。　They're　as
harmless　as　tame　rabbits。　But　an　idiot　might　be　frightened；　and
give　the　whole　show　away。　If　you're　an　idiot；　say　so；　and　I'll　go
back　and　tell　them　you're　afraid　to　walk　home；　and　that　I'll　go　and
let　your　aunt　know　you're　stopping。〃　

〃I'm　not　an　idiot；〃　said　Mabel；　〃and；〃　she　added；　glaring　round　her
with　the　wild　gaze　of　the　truly　terror…stricken；　〃I'm　not　afraid　of
anything。〃

〃I'm　going　to　let　you　share　my　difficulties　and　dangers；〃　said
Gerald；　〃at　least；　I'm　inclined　to　let　you。　I　wouldn't　do　as　much　for
my　own　brother；　I　can　tell　you。　And　if　you　queer　my　pitch　I'll　never
speak　to　you　again　or　let　the　others　either。〃　

〃You're　a　beast；　that's　what　you　are！　I　don't　need　to　be　threatened　to
make　me　brave。　I　am。〃

〃Mabel；〃　said　Gerald；　in　low；　thrilling　tones；　for　he　saw　that　the
time　had　come　to　sound　another　note；　〃I　know　you're　brave。　I
believe　in　you；　That's　why　I've　arranged　it　like　this。　I'm　certain
you've　got　the　heart　of　a　lion　under　that　black…and…white　exterior。
Can　I　trust　you？　To　the　death？〃

Mabel　felt　that　to　say　anything　but　〃Yes〃　was　to　throw　away　a
priceless　reputation　for　courage。　So　〃Yes〃　was　what　she　said。

〃Then　wait　here。　You're　close　to　the　lamp。　And　when　you　see　me
coming　with　them　remember　they　re　as　harmless　as　serpents　I
mean　doves。　Talk　to　them　just　like　you　would　to　anyone　else。
See？〃

He　turned　to　leave　her；　but　stopped　at　her　natural　question：

〃What　hotel　did　you　say　you　were　going　to　take　them　to？〃

〃Oh；　Jimminy！〃　the　harassed　Gerald　caught　at　his　hair　with　both
hands。　〃There！　you　see；　Mabel；　you're　a　help　already。〃　he　had；　even
at　that　moment；　some　tact　left。　〃I　clean　forgot！　I　meant　to　ask　you　
isn't　there　any　lodge　or　anything　in　the　Castle　grounds　where　I
could　put　them　for　the　night？　The　charm　will　break；　you　know；
some　time；　like　being　invisible　did；　and　they'll　just　be　a　pack　of
coats　and　things　that　we　can　easily　carry　home　any　day。　Is　there　a
lodge　or　anything？〃

〃There's　a　secret　passage；〃　Mabel　began　but　at　the　moment　the
yard…door　opened　and　an　Ugly…Wugly　put　out　its　head　and　looked
anxiously　down　the　street。

〃Righto！〃　Gerald　ran　to　meet　it。　It　was　all　Mabel　could　do　not　to
run　in　an　opposite　direction　with　an　opposite　motive。　It　was　all　she
could　do；　but　she　did　it；　and　was　proud　of　herself　as　long　as　ever
she　remembered　that　night。

And　now；　with　all　the　silent　precaution　necessitated　by　the　near
presence　of　an　extremely　insane　uncle；　the　Ugly…Wuglies；　a　grisly
band；　trooped　out　of　the　yard　door。

〃Walk　on　your　toes；　dear；〃　the　bonneted　Ugly…Wugly　whispered　to
the　one　with　a　wreath；　and　even　at　that　thrilling　crisis　Gerald
wondered　how　she　could；　since　the　toes　of　one　foot　were　but　the
end　of　a　golf　club　and　of　the　other　the　end　of　a　hockey…stick。

Mabel　felt　that　there　was　no　shame　in　retreating　to　the　lamp…post　at
the　street　corner；　but；　once　there；　she　made　herself　halt　and　no　one
but　Mabel　will　ever　know　how　much　making　that　took。　Think　of　it　
to　stand　there；　firm　and　quiet；　and　wait　for　those　hollow；
unbelievable　things　to　come　up　to　her；　clattering　on　the　pavement
with　their　stumpy　feet　or　borne　along　noiselessly；　as　in　the　case　of
the　flower…hatted　lady；　by　a　skirt　that　touched　the　ground；　and　had；
Mabel　knew　very　well；　nothing　at　all　inside　it。

She　stood　very　still；　the　insides　of　her　hands　grew　cold　and　damp；
but　still　she　stood；　saying　over　and　over　again：　〃They　re　not　true　
they　can't　be　true。　It's　only　a　dream　they　aren't　really　true。　They
can't　be。〃　And　then　Gerald　was　there；　and　all　the　Ugly…Wuglies
crowding　round；　and　Gerald　saying：　〃This　is　one　of　our　friends
Mabel　the　Princess　in　the　play；　you　know。　Be　a　man！〃　he　added　in
a　whisper　for　her　ear　alone。

Mabel；　all　her　nerves　stretched　tight　as　banjo　strings；　had　an　awful
instant　of　not　knowing　whether　she　would　be　able　to　be　a　man　or
whether　she　would　be　merely　a　shrieking　and　running　little　mad
girl。　For　the　respectable　Ugly…Wugly　shook　her　limply　by　the　hand。

（〃He　can't　be　true；〃　she　told　herself）；