the enchanted castle-第26部分

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the　eyes　of　Gerald；　passed　down　the　stairs　where；　in　the　dusk　of　the
lower　landing；　two　boys　were　making　themselves　as
undistinguishable　as　possible；　and　so　out　into　the　street；　talking　of
stocks　and　shares；　bears　and　bulls。　The　two　boys　followed。

〃I　say；〃　the　door…mat…headed　boy　whispered　admiringly；　〃whatever
are　you　up　to？〃

〃You'll　see；〃　said　Gerald　recklessly。　〃Come　on！〃　

〃You　tell　me。　I　must　be　getting　back。〃　

〃Well；　I'll　tell　you；　but　you　won't　believe　me。　That　old　gentleman's
not　really　old　at　all　he's　my　young　brother　suddenly　turned　into
what　you　see。　The　other's　not　real　at　all。　He's　only　just　old　clothes
and　nothing　inside。〃　

〃He　looks　it；　I　must　say；〃　the　boy　admitted；　〃but　I　say　you　do　stick
it　on；　don't　you？〃

〃Well；　my　brother　was　turned　like　that　by　a　magic　ring。〃　

〃There　ain't　no　such　thing　as　magic；〃　said　the　boy。　〃I　learnt　that　at
school。〃　

〃All　right；〃　said　Gerald。　〃Good…bye。〃　

〃Oh；　go　ahead！〃　said　the　boy；　〃you　do　stick　it　on；　though。〃　

〃Well；　that　magic　ring。　If　I　can　get　hold　of　It　I　shall　just　wish　we
were　all　in　a　certain　place。　And　we　shall　be。　And　then　I　can　deal
with　both　of　them。〃　

〃Deal？〃

〃Yes；　the　ring　won't　unwish　anything　you've　wished。　That　undoes
itself　with　time；　like　a　spring　uncoiling。　But　it'll　give　you　a
brand…new　wish　I'm　almost　certain　of　it。　Anyhow；　I'm　going　to
chance　it。〃　

〃You　are　a　rotter；　aren't　you？〃　said　the　boy　respectfully。

〃You　wait　and　see；〃　Gerald　repeated。

〃I　say；　you　aren't　going　into　this　swell　place！　You　can't？〃

The　boy　paused；　appalled　at　the　majesty　of　Pym's。

〃Yes；　I　am　they　can't　turn　us　out　as　long　as　we　behave。　You　come
along；　too。　I'll　stand　lunch。〃

I　don't　know　why　Gerald　clung　so　to　this　boy。　He　wasn't　a　very　nice
boy。　Perhaps　it　was　because　he　was　the　only　person　Gerald　knew
in　London　to　speak　to　　except　That…which…had…been…Jimmy　and　the
Ugly…Wugly；　and　he　did　not　want　to　talk　to　either　of　them。

What　happened　next　happened　so　quickly　that；　as　Gerald　said　later；
it　was　〃just　like　magic〃。　The　restaurant　was　crowded　busy　men
were　hastily　bolting　the　food　hurriedly　brought　by　busy　waitresses。
There　was　a　clink　of　forks　and　plates；　the　gurgle　of　beer　from
bottles；　the　hum　of　talk；　and　the　smell　of　many　good　things　to　eat。

〃Two　chops；　please；〃　Gerald　had　just　said；　playing　with　a　plainly
shown　handful　of　money；　so　as　to　leave　no　doubt　of　his　honourable
intentions。　Then　at　the　next　table　he　heard　the　words；　〃Ah；　yes；
curious　old　family　heirloom；〃　the　ring　was　drawn　off　the　finger　of
That；　and　Mr。　U。　W。　Ugli；　murmuring　something　about　a　unique
curio；　reached　his　impossible　hand　out　for　it。　The　door…mat…headed
boy　was　watching　breathlessly。

〃There's　a　ring　right　enough；〃　he　owned。　And　then　the　ring　slipped
from　the　hand　of　Mr。　U。　W。　Ugli　and　skidded　along　the　floor。
Gerald　pounced　on　it　like　a　greyhound　on　a　hare。　He　thrust　the　dull
circlet　on　his　finger　and　cried　out　aloud　in　that　crowded　place：

〃I　wish　Jimmy　and　I　were　inside　that　door　behind　the　statue　of
Flora。〃　

It　was　the　only　safe　place　he　could　think　of。

The　lights　and　sounds　and　scents　of　the　restaurant　died　away　as　a
wax…drop　dies　in　fire　a　rain…drop　in　water。　I　don't　know；　and　Gerald
never　knew；　what　happened　in　that　restaurant。　There　was　nothing
about　it　in　the　papers；　though　Gerald　looked　anxiously　for
'Extraordinary　Disappearance　of　well…known　City　Man。'　What　the
door…mat…headed　boy　did　or　thought　I　don't　know　either。　No　more
does　Gerald。　But　he　would　like　to　know；　whereas　I　don't　care
tuppence。　The　world　went　on　all　right；　anyhow；　whatever　he
thought　or　did。　The　lights　and　the　sounds　and　the　scents　of　Pym's
died　out。　In　place　of　the　light　there　was　darkness；　in　place　of　the
sounds　there　was　silence；　and　in　place　of　the　scent　of　beef；　pork；
mutton；　fish；　veal；　cabbage；　onions；　carrots；　beer；　and　tobacco
there　was　the　musty；　damp　scent　of　a　place　underground　that　has
been　long　shut　up。

Gerald　felt　sick　and　giddy；　and　there　was　something　at　the　back　of
his　mind　that　he　knew　would　make　him　feel　sicker　and　giddier　as
soon　as　he　should　have　the　sense　to　remember　what　it　was。
Meantime　it　was　important　to　think　of　proper　words　to　soothe　the
City　man　that　had　once　been　Jimmy　to　keep　him　quiet　till　Time；
like　a　spring　uncoiling；　should　bring　the　reversal　of　the　spell　make
all　things　as　they　were　and　as　they　ought　to　be。　But　he　fought　in
vain　for　words。　There　were　none。　Nor　were　they　needed。　For
through　the　deep　darkness　came　a　voice　and　it　was　not　the　voice　of
that　City　man　who　had　been　Jimmy；　but　the　voice　of　that　very
Jimmy　who　was　Gerald's　little　brother；　and　who　had　wished　that
unlucky　wish　for　riches　that　could　only　be　answered　by　changing
all　that　was　Jimmy；　young　and　poor；　to　all　that　Jimmy；　rich　and
old；　would　have　been。　Another　voice　said：　〃Jerry；　Jerry！　Are　you
awake？　I've　had　such　a　rum　dream。〃　

And　then　there　was　a　moment　when　nothing　was　said　or　done。

Gerald　felt　through　the　thick　darkness；　and　the　thick　silence；　and
the　thick　scent　of　old　earth　shut　up；　and　he　got　hold　of　Jimmy's
hand。

〃It's　all　right；　Jimmy；　old　chap；〃　he　said；　〃it's　not　a　dream　now。　It's
that　beastly　ring　again。　I　had　to　wish　us　here；　to　get　you　back　at　all
out　of　your　dream。〃　

〃Wish　us　where？〃　Jimmy　held　on　to　the　hand　in　a　way　that　in　the
daylight　of　life　he　would　have　been　the　first　to　call　babyish。

〃Inside　the　passage　behind　the　Flora　statue；〃　said　Gerald；　adding；
〃it's　all　right；　really。〃　

〃Oh；　I　dare　say　it's　all　right；〃　Jimmy　answered　through　the　dark；
with　an　irritation　not　strong　enough　to　make　him　loosen　his　hold　of
his　brother's　hand。　〃But　how　are　we　going　to　get　out？〃

Then　Gerald　knew　what　it　was　that　was　waiting　to　make　him　feel
more　giddy　than　the　lightning　flight　from　Cheapside　to　Yalding
Towers　had　been　able　to　make　him。　But　he　said　stoutly：

〃I'll　wish　us　out；　of　course。〃　Though　all　the　time　he　knew　that　the
ring　would　not　undo　its　given　wishes。

It　didn't。

Gerald　wished。　He　handed　the　ring　carefully　to　Jimmy；　through　the
thick　darkness。　And　Jimmy　wished。

And　there　they　still　were；　in　that　black　passage　behind　Flora；　that
had　led　in　the　case　of　one　Ugly…Wugly　at　least　to　'a　good　hotel'。
And　the　stone　door　was　shut。　And　they　did　not　know　even　which
way　to　turn　to　it。

〃If　I　only　had　some　matches！〃　said　Gerald。

〃Why　didn't　you　leave　me　in　the　dream？〃　Jimmy　almost
whimpered。　〃It　was　light　there；　and　I　was　just　going　to　have
salmon　and　cucumber。〃

〃I；〃　rejoined　Gerald　in　gloom；　〃was　just　going　to　have　steak　and
fried　potatoes。〃　

The　silence；　and　the　darkness；　and　the　earthy　scent　were　all　they
had　now。

〃I　always　wondered　what　it　would　be　like；〃　said　Jimmy　in　low；
even　tones；　〃to　be　buried　alive。　And　now　I　know！　Oh！　his　voice
suddenly　rose　to　a　shriek；　〃it　isn't　true；　it　isn't！　It's　a　dream　that's
what　it　is！〃　

There　was　a　pause　while　you　could　have　counted　ten。　Then　〃Yes；〃
said　Gerald　bravely；　through　the　scent　and　the　silence　and　the
darkness；　〃it's　just　a　dream；　Jimmy；　old　chap。　We'll　just　hold　on；
and　call　out　now　and　then　just　for　the　lark　of　the　thing。　But　it's
really　only　a　dream；　of　course。〃　

Of　course；　said　Jimmy　in　the　silence　and　the　darkness　and　the
scent　of　old　earth。

There　is　a　curtain；　thin　as　gossamer；　clear　as　glass；　strong　as　iron；
that　hangs　for　ever　between　the　world　of　magic　and　the　world　that
seems　to　us　to　be　real。　And　when　once　people　have　found　one　of
the　little　weak　spots　in　that　curtain　which　are　marked　by　magic
rings；　and　amulets；　and　the　like；　almost　anything　may　happen。
Thus　it　is　not　surprising　that　Mabel　and　Kathleen；　conscientiously
conducting　one　of　the　dullest　dolls　tea…parties　at　which　either　had
ever　assisted；　should　suddenly；　and　both　at　once；　have　felt　a
strange；　unreasonable；　but　quite　irresistible　desire　to　return
instantly　to　the　Temple　of　Flora　even　at　the　cost　of　leaving　the
dolls　tea…service　in　an　unwashed　state；　and　only　half　the　raisins
eaten。　They　went　as　one　has　to　go　when　the　magic　impulse　drives
one　against　their　better　judgement；　against　their　wills　almost。

And　the　nearer　they　came　to　the　Temple　of　Flora；　in　the　golden
hush　of　the　afternoon；　the　more　certain　each　was　that　they　could
not　possibly　have　done　otherwise。

And　this　explains　exactly　how　it　was　that　when　Gerald　and　Jimmy；
holding　hands　in　the　darkness　of　the　passage；　uttered　their　first
concerted　yell；　〃just　for　the　lark　of　the　thing〃；　that　yell　was
instantly　answered　from　outside。

A　crack　of　light　showed　in　that　part　of　the　passage　where　they　had
least　expected　the　door　to　be。　The　stone　door　itself　swung　slowly
open；　and　they　were　out　of　it；　in　the　Temple　of　Flora；　blinking　in
the　good　daylight；　an　unresisting　prey　to　Kathleen's　embraces　and
the　questionings　of　Mabel。

〃And　you　left　that　Ugly…Wugly　loose　in　London；〃　Mabel　pointed
out；　〃you　might　have　wished　it　to　be　with　you；　too。〃　

〃It's　all　right　where　it　is；〃　said　Gerald。　〃I　couldn't　think　of
everything。　And　besides；　no；　thank　you！　Now　we'll　go　home　and
seal　up　the　ring　in　an　envelope。〃　

〃I　haven't　done　anything　with　the　ring　yet；〃　said　Kathleen。

〃I　shouldn't　think　you'd　want　to　when　you　see　the　sort　of　things　it
does　with　you；〃　said　Gerald。

〃It　wouldn't　do　things　like　that　if　I　was　wishing　with　it；〃　Kathleen
protested；

〃Look　here；〃　said　Mabel；　〃let's　just　put　it　back　in　the　treasure…room
and　have　done　with　it。　I　oughtn't　ever　to　have　taken　it　away；　really。
It's　a　sort　of　stealing。　It's　quite　as　bad；　really；　as　Eliza　borrowing　it
to　astonish　her　gentleman　friend　with。〃

〃I　don't　mind　putting　it　back　if　you　like；〃　said　Gerald；　〃only　if　any
of　us　do　think　of　a　sensible　wish　you'll　let　us　have　it　out　again；　of
course？〃

〃Of　course；　of　course；〃　Mabel　agreed。

So　they　trooped　up　to　the　castle；　and　Mabel　once　more　worked　the
spring　that　let　down　the　panelling　and　showed　the　jewels；　and　the
ring　was　put　back　among　the　odd　dull　ornaments　that　Mabel　had
once　said　were　magic。

〃How　innocent　it　looks！〃　said　Gerald。　〃You　wouldn't　think　there
was　any　magic　about　it。　It's　just　like　an　old　silly　ring。　I　wonder　if
what　Mabel　said　about　the　other　things　is　true！　Suppose　we　try。〃　

〃Don't！〃　said　Kathleen。　〃I　th