the enchanted castle-第23部分

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〃Suppose　they　come　after　us；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃What　come　after　us？〃　Gerald　snapped　rather　than　asked。

〃The　Ugly…Wuglies；〃　Jimmy　whispered。。

〃Who's　afraid？〃　Gerald　inquired。

But　he　looked　to　right　and　left　very　carefully；　and　chose　the　way
that　did　not　lead　near　the　bushes。　He　scooped　water　up　in　his　straw
hat　and　returned　to　Flora's　Temple；　carrying　it　carefully　in　both
hands。　When　he　saw　how　quickly　it　ran　through　the　straw　he
pulled　his　handkerchief　from　his　breast　pocket　with　his　teeth　and
dropped　it　into　the　hat。　It　was　with　this　that　the　girls　wiped　the
blood　from　the　bailiff's　brow。

〃We　ought　to　have　smelling　salts；〃　said　Kathleen；　half　in　tears。　〃I
know　we　ought。〃

〃They　would　be　good；〃　Mabel　owned。

〃Hasn't　your　aunt　any？〃

〃Yes；　but　〃

〃Don't　be　a　coward；〃　said　Gerald；　〃think　of　last　night。　They
wouldn't　hurt　you。　He　must　have　insulted　them　or　something。　Look
here；　you　run。　We'll　see　that　nothing　runs　after　you。〃　

There　was　no　choice　but　to　relinquish　the　head　of　the　interesting
invalid　to　Kathleen；　so　Mabel　did　it；　cast　one　glaring　glance　round
the　rhododendron　bordered　slope；　and　fled　towards　the　castle。

The　other　three　bent　over　the　still　unconscious　bailiff。

〃He's　not　dead；　is　he？〃　asked　Jimmy　anxiously。

〃No；〃　Kathleen　reassured　him；　〃his　heart's　heating。　Mabel　and　I　felt
it　in　his　wrist；　where　doctors　do。　How　frightfully　good…looking　he
is！〃　

〃Not　so　dusty；〃　Gerald　admitted。

〃I　never　know　what　you　mean　by　good…looking；〃　said　Jimmy；　and
suddenly　a　shadow　fell　on　the　marble　beside　them　and　a　fourth
voice　spoke　not　Mabel　s；　her　hurrying　figure；　though　still　in　sight；
was　far　away。

The　children　looked　up　into　the　face　of　the　eldest　of　the
Ugly…Wuglies；　the　respectable　one。　Jimmy　and　Kathleen　screamed。
I　am　sorry；　but　they　did。

〃Hush！〃　said　Gerald　savagely：　he　was　still　wearing　the　ring。　〃Hold
your　tongues！　I'll　get　him　away；〃　he　added　in　a　whisper。

〃Very　sad　affair　this；〃　said　the　respectable　Ugly…Wugly。　He　spoke
with　a　curious　accent；　there　was　something　odd　about　his　r's；　and
his　m's　and　n's　were　those　of　a　person　labouring　under　an　almost
intolerable　cold　in　the　head。　But　it　was　not　the　dreadful　〃oo〃　and
〃ah〃　voice　of　the　night　before。　Kathleen　and　Jimmy　stooped　over
the　bailiff。　Even　that　prostrate　form；　being　human；　seemed　some
little　protection。　But　Gerald；　strong　in　the　fearlessness　that　the　ring
gave　to　its　wearer；　looked　full　into　the　face　of　the　Ugly…Wugly　and
started。　For　though　the　face　was　almost　the　same　as　the　face　he　had
himself　painted　on　the　school　drawing…paper；　it　was　not　the　same。
For　it　was　no　longer　paper。　It　was　a　real　face；　and　the　hands；　lean
and　almost　transparent　as　they　were；　were　real　hands。　As　it　moved
a　little　to　get　a　better　view　of　the　bailiff　it　was　plain　that　it　had
legs；　arms　live　legs　and　arms；　and　a　self…supporting　backbone。　It
was　alive　indeed　with　a　vengeance。

〃How　did　it　happen？〃　Gerald　asked；　with　an　effort　of　calmness　a
successful　effort。

〃Most　regrettable；〃　said　the　Ugly…Wugly。　〃The　others　must　have
missed　the　way　last　night　in　the　passage。　They　never　found　the
hotel。〃

〃Did　you？〃　asked　Gerald　blankly。

〃Of　course；〃　said　the　Ugly…Wugly。　〃Most　respectable；　exactly　as
you　said。　Then　when　I　came　away　I　didn't　come　the　front　way
because　I　wanted　to　revisit　this　sylvan　scene　by　daylight；　and　the
hotel　people　didn't　seem　to　know　how　to　direct　me　to　it　I　found　the
others　all　at　this　door；　very　angry。　They'd　been　here　all　night；　trying
to　get　out。　Then　the　door　opened　this　gentleman　must　have　opened
it　and　before　I　could　protect　him；　that　underbred　man　in　the　high
hat　you　remember　；〃

Gerald　remembered。

〃Hit　him　on　the　head；　and　he　fell　where　you　see　him。　The　others
dispersed；　and　I　myself　was　just　going　for　assistance　when　I　saw
you。〃　

Here　Jimmy　was　discovered　to　be　in　tears　and　Kathleen　white　as
any　drawing…paper。

〃What's　the　matter；　my　little　man？〃　said　the　respectable
Ugly…Wugly　kindly。　Jimmy　passed　instantly　from　tears　to　yells。

〃Here；　take　the　ring！〃　said　Gerald　in　a　furious　whisper；　and　thrust　it
on　to　Jimmy's　hot；　damp；　resisting　finger。　Jimmy's　voice　stopped
short　in　the　middle　of　a　howl。　And　Gerald　in　a　cold　flash　realized
what　it　was　that　Mabel　had　gone　through　the　night　before。　But　it
was　daylight；　and　Gerald　was　not　a　coward。

〃We　must　find　the　others；〃　he　said。

〃I　imagine；〃　said　the　elderly　Ugly…Wugly；　〃that　they　have　gone　to
bathe。　Their　clothes　are　in　the　wood。〃

He　pointed　stiffly。

〃You　two　go　and　see；〃　said　Gerald。　〃I'll　go　on　dabbing　this　chap's
head。〃　

In　the　wood　Jimmy；　now　fearless　as　any　lion；　discovered　four
heaps　of　clothing；　with　broomsticks；　hockeysticks；　and　masks
complete　all　that　had　gone　to　make　up　the　gentlemen
Ugly…Wuglies　of　the　night　before。　On　a　stone　seat　well　in　the　sun
sat　the　two　lady　Ugly…Wuglies；　and　Kathleen　approached　them
gingerly。　Valour　is　easier　in　the　sunshine　than　at　night；　as　we　all
know。　When　she　and　Jimmy　came　close　to　the　bench；　they　saw　that
the　Ugly…Wuglies　were　only　Ugly…Wuglies　such　as　they　had　often
made。　There　was　no　life　in　them。　Jimmy　shook　them　to　pieces；　and
a　sigh　of　relief　burst　from　Kathleen。

〃The　spell's　broken；　you　see；〃　she　said；　〃and　that　old　gentleman；
he's　real。　He　only　happens　to　be　like　the　Ugly…Wugly　we　made。〃　

〃He's　got　the　coat　that　hung　in　the　hall　on；　anyway；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃No；　it's　only　like　it。　Let's　get　back　to　the　unconscious　stranger。〃　

They　did；　and　Gerald　begged　the　elderly　Ugly…Wugly　to　retire
among　the　bushes　with　Jimmy；　〃because；　said　he；　〃I　think　the　poor
bailiff's　coming　round；　and　it　might　upset　him　to　see　strangers　and
Jimmy'll　keep　you　company。　He's　the　best　one　of　us　to　go　with
you；〃　he　added　hastily。

And　this；　since　Jimmy　had　the　ring；　was　certainly　true。

So　the　two　disappeared　behind　the　rhododendrons。　Mabel　came
back　with　the　salts　just　as　the　bailiff　opened　his　eyes。

〃It's　just　like　life；〃　she　said；　〃I　might　just　as　well　not　have　gone。
However　；〃　She　knelt　down　at　once　and　held　the　bottle　under　the
sufferer's　nose　till　he　sneezed　and　feebly　pushed　her　hand　away
with　the　faint　question：　〃What's　up　now？〃

〃You've　hurt　your　head；〃　said　Gerald。　〃Lie　still。〃

〃No　more　smelling…bottle；〃　he　said　weakly；　and　lay。

Quite　soon　he　sat　up　and　looked　round　him。　There　was　an　anxious
silence。　Here　was　a　grown…up　who　knew　last　night's　secret；　and
none　of　the　children　were　at　all　sure　what　the　utmost　rigour　of　the
law　might　be　in　a　case　where　people；　no　matter　how　young；　made
Ugly…Wuglies；　and　brought　them　to　life　dangerous；　fighting；　angry
life。　What　would　he　say　what　would　he　do？〃　He　said：　〃What　an
odd　thing！　Have　I　been　insensible　long？〃

〃Hours；〃　said　Mabel　earnestly。

〃Not　long；〃　said　Kathleen。

〃We　don't　know。　We　found　you　like　it；〃　said　Gerald。

〃I'm　all　right　now；〃　said　the　bailiff；　and　his　eye　fell　on　the
blood…stained　handkerchief。　〃I　say；　I　did　give　my　head　a　bang。　And
you've　been　giving　me　first　aid。　Thank　you　most　awfully。　But　it　is
rum。〃

〃What's　rum？〃　politeness　obliged　Gerald　to　ask。

〃Well；　I　suppose　it　isn't　really　rum　I　expect　I　saw　you　just　before　I
fainted；　or　whatever　it　was　but　I've　dreamed　the　most　extraordinary
dream　while　I've　been　insensible　and　you　were　in　it。〃

〃Nothing　but　us？〃　asked　Mabel　breathlessly。

〃Oh；　lots　of　things　impossible　things　but　you　were　real　enough。〃　

Everyone　breathed　deeply　in　relief。　It　was　indeed；　as　they　agreed
later；　a　lucky　let…off。

〃Are　you　sure　you're　all　right？〃　they　all　asked；　as　he　got　on　his　feet。

〃Perfectly；　thank　you。〃　He　glanced　behind　Flora's　statue　as　he
spoke。　〃Do　you　know；　I　dreamed　there　was　a　door　there；　but　of
course　there　isn't。　I　don't　know　how　to　thank　you；〃　he　added；
looking　at　them　with　what　the　girls　called　his　beautiful；　kind　eyes；
〃it's　lucky　for　me　you　came　along。　You　come　here　whenever　you
like；　you　know；〃　he　added。　〃I　give　you　the　freedom　of　the　place。〃　

〃You're　the　new　bailiff；　aren't　you？〃　said　Mabel。

〃Yes。　How　did　you　know？〃　he　asked　quickly；　but　they　did　not　tell
him　how　they　knew。　Instead；　they　found　out　which　way　he　was
going；　and　went　the　other　way　after　warm　handshakes　and　hopes
on　both　sides　that　they　would　meet　again　soon。

〃I'll　tell　you　what；〃　said　Gerald；　as　they　watched　the　tall；　broad
figure　of　the　bailiff　grow　smaller　across　the　hot　green　of　the　grass
slope；　〃have　you　got　any　idea　of　how　we're　going　to　spend　the　day？
Because　I　have。〃　

The　others　hadn't。

〃We'll　get　rid　of　that　Ugly…Wugly　oh；　we'll　find　a　way　right　enough　
and　directly　we've　done　it　we'll　go　home　and　seal　up　the　ring　in　an
envelope　so　that　its　teeth'll　be　drawn　and　it'll　be　powerless　to　have
unforeseen　larks　with　us。　Then　we'll　get　out　on　the　roof；　and　have　a
quiet　day　books　and　apples。　I'm　about　fed　up　with　adventures；　so　I
tell　you。〃

The　others　told　him　the　same　thing。

〃Now；　think；〃　said　he　〃think　as　you　never　thought　before　how　to
get　rid　of　that　Ugly…Wugly。〃　

Everyone　thought；　but　their　brains　were　tired　with　anxiety　and
distress；　and　the　thoughts　they　thought　were；　as　Mabel　said；　not
worth　thinking；　let　alone　saying。

〃I　suppose　Jimmy's　all　right；〃　said　Kathleen　anxiously。

〃Oh；　he's　all　right：　he's　got　the　ring；〃　said　Gerald。

〃I　hope　he　won't　go　wishing　anything　rotten；〃　said　Mabel；　but
Gerald　urged　her　to　shut　up　and　let　him　think。

〃I　think　I　think　best　sitting　down；〃　he　said；　and　sat；　〃and　sometimes
you　can　think　best　aloud。　The　Ugly…Wugly's　real　don't　make　any
mistake　about　that。　And　he　got　made　real　inside　that　passage。　If　we
could　get　him　back　there　he　might　get　changed　again；　and　then　we
could　take　the　coats　and　things　back。〃　

〃Isn't　there　any　other　way？〃　Kathleen　asked；　and　Mabel；　more
candid；　said　bluntly：　〃I'm　not　going　into　that　passage；　so　there！〃　

〃Afraid！　In　broad　daylight；〃　Gerald　sneered。

〃It　wouldn't　be　broad　daylight　in　there；〃　said　Mabel；　and　Kathleen
shivered。

〃If　we　went　to　him　and　suddenly　tore　his　coat　off；〃　said　she　〃he　is
only　coats　he　couldn't　go　on　being　real　then。　

〃Couldn't　he！〃　said　Gerald。　〃You　don't　know　what　he's　like　under
the　coat。〃　

Kathleen　shivered　again。　And　all　this　time　the　sun　was　shining
gaily　and　the　white　statu