the enchanted castle-第29部分

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yawned；　and　remembered。　She　had　been　a　statue　a　statue　inside　the
stone　dinosaurus。

〃Now　I'm　alive　again；〃　was　her　instant　conclusion；　〃and　I'll　get　out
of　it。〃　

She　sat　down；　put　her　feet　through　the　hole　that　showed　faintly
grey　in　the　stone　beast's　underside；　and　as　she　did　so　a　long；　slow
lurch　threw　her　sideways　on　the　stone　where　she　sat。　The
dinosaurus　was　moving！

〃Oh！〃　said　Kathleen　inside　it；　〃how　dreadful！　It　must　be　moonlight；
and　it's　come　alive；　like　Gerald　said。　

It　was　indeed　moving。　She　could　see　through　the　hole　the　changing
surface　of　grass　and　bracken　and　moss　as　it　waddled　heavily　along。
She　dared　not　drop　through　the　hole　while　it　moved；　for　fear　it
should　crush　her　to　death　with　its　gigantic　feet。　And　with　that
thought　came　another：　where　was　Mabel？　Somewhere　somewhere
near？　Suppose　one　of　the　great　feet　planted　itself　on　some　part　of
Mabel's　inconvenient　length？　Mabel　being　the　size　she　was　now　it
would　be　quite　difficult　not　to　step　on　some　part　or　other　of　her；　if
she　should　happen　to　be　in　one's　way　quite　difficult；　however　much
one　tried。　And　the　dinosaurus　would　not　try：　Why　should　it？
Kathleen　hung　in　an　agony　over　the　round　opening。　The　huge　beast
swung　from　side　to　side。　It　was　going　faster；　it　was　no　good；　she
dared　not　jump　out。　Anyhow；　they　must　be　quite　away　from　Mabel
by　now。　Faster　and　faster　went　the　dinosaurus。　The　floor　of　its
stomach　sloped。　They　were　going　downhill。　Twigs　cracked　and
broke　as　it　pushed　through　a　belt　of　evergreen　oaks；　gravel
crunched；　ground　beneath　its　stony　feet。　Then　stone　met　stone。
There　was　a　pause。　A　splash！　They　were　close　to　water　the　lake
where　by　moonlight　Hermes　fluttered　and　Janus　and　the
dinosaurus　swam　together。　Kathleen　dropped　swiftly　through　the
hole　on　to　the　flat　marble　that　edged　the　basin；　rushed　sideways；
and　stood　panting　in　the　shadow　of　a　statue's　pedestal。　Not　a
moment　too　soon；　for　even　as　she　crouched　the　monster　lizard
slipped　heavily　into　the　water；　drowning　a　thousand　smooth；
shining　lily　pads；　and　swam　away　towards　the　central　island。

〃Be　still；　little　lady。　I　leap！〃　The　voice　came　from　the　pedestal；　and
next　moment　Phoebus　had　jumped　from　the　pedestal　in　his　little
temple；　clearing　the　steps；　and　landing　a　couple　of　yards　away。

〃You　are　new；〃　said　Phoebus　over　his　graceful　shoulder。　〃I　should
not　have　forgotten　you　if　once　I　had　seen　you。〃　

〃I　am；〃　said　Kathleen；　〃quite；　quite　new。　And　I　didn't　know　you
could　talk。〃　

〃Why　not？〃　Phoebus　laughed。　〃You　can　talk。〃　

〃But　I'm　alive。〃　

〃Am　not　I？〃　he　asked。

〃Oh；　yes；　I　suppose　so；〃　said　Kathleen；　distracted；　but　not　afraid；
〃only　I　thought　you　had　to　have　the　ring　on　before　one　could　even
see　you　move。〃　

Phoebus　seemed　to　understand　her；　which　was　rather　to　his　credit；
for　she　had　certainly　not　expressed　herself　with　clearness。

〃Ah！　that's　for　mortals；〃　he　said。　〃We　can　hear　and　see　each　other
in　the　few　moments　when　life　is　ours。　That　is　a　part　of　the
beautiful　enchantment。〃　

〃But　I　am　a　mortal；〃　said　Kathleen。

〃You　are　as　modest　as　you　are　charming；〃　said　Phoebus　Apollo
absently；　〃the　white　water　calls　me！　I　go；〃　and　the　next　moment
rings　of　liquid　silver　spread　across　the　lake；　widening　and
widening；　from　the　spot　where　the　white　joined　hands　of　the
Sun…god　had　struck　the　water　as　he　dived。

Kathleen　turned　and　went　up　the　hill　towards　the　rhododendron
bushes。　She　must　find　Mabel；　and　they　must　go　home　at　once。　If
only　Mabel　was　of　a　size　that　one　could　conveniently　take　home
with　one！　Most　likely；　at　this　hour　of　enchantments；　she　was。
Kathleen；　heartened　by　the　thought；　hurried　on。　She　passed　through
the　rhododendron　bushes；　remembered　the　pointed　painted　paper
face　that　had　looked　out　from　the　glossy　leaves；　expected　to　be
frightened　　and　wasn't。　She　found　Mabel　easily　enough；　and　much
more　easily　than　she　would　have　done　had　Mabel　been　as　she
wished　to　find　her。　For　quite　a　long　way　off　in　the　moonlight；　she
could　see　that　long　and　worm…like　form；　extended　to　its　full　twelve
feet　and　covered　with　coats　and　trousers　and　waistcoats。　Mabel
looked　like　a　drain…pipe　that　has　been　covered　in　sacks　in　frosty
weather。　Kathleen　touched　her　long　cheek　gently；　and　she　woke。

〃What's　up？〃　she　said　sleepily。

〃It's　only　me；〃　Kathleen　explained。

〃How　cold　your　hands　are！〃　said　Mabel。

〃Wake　up；〃　said　Kathleen；　〃and　let's　talk。〃　

〃Can't　we　go　home　now？　I'm　awfully　tired；　and　it's　so　long　since
tea…time。〃　

〃You're　too　long　to　go　home　yet；〃　said　Kathleen　sadly；　and　then
Mabel　remembered。

She　lay　with　closed　eyes　then　suddenly　she　stirred　and　cried　out：

〃Oh！　Cathy；　I　feel　so　funny　like　one　of　those　horn　snakes　when　you
make　it　go　short　to　get　it　into　its　box。　I　am　yes　I　know　I　am　〃

She　was；　and　Kathleen；　watching　her；　agreed　that　it　was　exactly
like　the　shortening　of　a　horn　spiral　snake　between　the　closing
hands　of　a　child。　Mabel's　distant　feet　drew　near　Mabel's　long；　lean
arms　grew　shorter　Mabel's　face　was　no　longer　half　a　yard　long。

〃You're　coming　right　you　are！　Oh；　I　am　so　glad！〃　cried　Kathleen。

〃I　know　I　am；〃　said　Mabel；　and　as　she　said　it　she　became　once
more　Mabel；　not　only　in　herself　which；　of　course；　she　had　been　all
the　time；　but　in　her　outward　appearance。

〃You　are　all　right。　Oh；　hooray！　hooray！　I　am　so　glad！〃　said
Kathleen　kindly；　〃and　now　we'll　go　home　at　once；　dear。〃　

〃Go　home？〃　said　Mabel；　slowly　sitting　up　and　staring　at　Kathleen
with　her　big　dark　eyes。　〃Go　home　like　that？〃

〃Like　what？〃　Kathleen　asked　impatiently。

〃Why；　you；〃　was　Mabel's　odd　reply。

〃I'm　all　right；〃　said　Kathleen。　〃Come　on。〃　

〃Do　you　mean　to　say　you　don't　know？〃　said　Mabel。　〃Look　at
yourself　your　hands　your　dress　everything。〃　

Kathleen　looked　at　her　hands。　They　were　of　marble　whiteness。　Her
dress；　too　her　shoes；　her　stockings；　even　the　ends　of　her　hair。　She
was　white　as　new…fallen　snow。

〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked；　beginning　to　tremble。　〃What　am　I　all　this
horrid　colour　for？〃

〃Don't　you　see？　Oh；　Cathy；　don't　you　see？　You've　not　come　right。
You're　a　statue　still。〃　

〃I'm　not　I'm　alive　I'm　talking　to　you。〃　

〃I　know　you　are；　darling；〃　said　Mabel；　soothing　her　as　one　soothes
a　fractious　child。　〃That's　because　it's　moonlight。〃　

〃But　you　can　see　I'm　alive。〃

〃Of　course　I　can。　I've　got　the　ring。〃　

〃But　I'm　all　right；　I　know　I　am。〃　

〃Don't　you　see；〃　said　Mabel　gently；　taking　her　white　marble　hand；
〃you're　not　all　right？　It's　moonlight；　and　you're　a　statue；　and　you've
just　come　alive　with　all　the　other　statues。　And　when　the　moon　goes
down　you'll　just　be　a　statue　again。　That's　the　difficulty；　dear；　about
our　going　home　again。　You're　just　a　statue　still；　only　you've　come
alive　with　the　other　marble　things。　Where's　the　dinosaurus？〃

〃In　his　bath；〃　said　Kathleen；　〃and　so　are　all　the　other　stone　beasts。〃

Well；〃　said　Mabel；　trying　to　look　on　the　bright　side　of　things；　〃then
we've　got　one　thing；　at　any　rate；　to　be　thankful　for！〃　

〃If；〃　said　Kathleen；　sitting　disconsolate　in　her　marble；　〃if　I　am
really　a　statue　come　alive；　I　wonder　you're　not　afraid　of　me。〃　

〃I've　got　the　ring；〃　said　Mabel　with　decision。　〃Cheer　up；　dear！　you
will　soon　be　better。　Try　not　to　think　about　it。〃　

She　spoke　as　you　speak　to　a　child　that　has　cut　its　finger；　or　fallen
down　on　the　garden　path；　and　rises　up　with　grazed　knees　to　which
gravel　sticks　intimately。

〃I　know；〃　Kathleen　absently　answered。

〃And　I've　been　thinking；〃　said　Mabel　brightly；　〃we　might　find　Out
a　lot　about　this　magic　place；　if　the　other　statues　aren't　too　proud　to
talk　to　us。〃

〃They　aren't；〃　Kathleen　assured　her；　〃at　least；　Phoebus　wasn't。　He
was　most　awfully　polite　and　nice。〃　

〃Where　is　he？〃　Mabel　asked。

〃In　the　lake　he　was；〃　said　Kathleen。

〃Then　let's　go　down　there；〃　said　Mabel。　〃Oh；　Cathy！　it　is　jolly
being　your　own　proper　thickness　again。〃　She　jumped　up；　and　the
withered　ferns　and　branches　that　had　covered　her　long　length　and
had　been　gathered　closely　upon　her　as　she　shrank　to　her　proper　size
fell　as　forest　leaves　do　when　sudden　storms　tear　them。　But　the
white　Kathleen　did　not　move。

The　two　sat　on　the　grey　moonlit　grass　with　the　quiet　of　the　night
all　about　them。　The　great　park　was　still　as　a　painted　picture；　only
the　splash　of　the　fountains　and　the　far…off　whistle　of　the　Western
express　broke　the　silence；　which；　at　the　same　time；　then　deepened。

〃What　cheer；　little　sister！〃　said　a　voice　behind　them　a　golden
voice。　They　turned　quick；　startled　heads；　as　birds；　surprised；　might
turn。　There　in　the　moonlight　stood　Phoebus；　dripping　still　from　the
lake；　and　smiling　at　them；　very　gentle；　very　friendly。

〃Oh；　it's　you！〃　said　Kathleen。

〃None　other；〃　said　Phoebus　cheerfully。　〃Who　is　your　friend；　the
earth…child？〃

〃This　is　Mabel；〃　said　Kathleen。

Mabel　got　up　and　bowed；　hesitated；　and　held　out　a　hand。

〃I　am　your　slave；　little　lady；〃　said　Phoebus；　enclosing　it　in　marble
fingers。　〃But　I　fail　to　understand　how　you　can　see　us；　and　why　you
do　not　fear。〃

Mabel　held　up　the　hand　that　wore　the　ring。

〃Quite　sufficient　explanation；〃　said　Phoebus；　〃but　since　you　have
that；　why　retain　your　mottled　earthy　appearance？　Become　a　statue；
and　swim　with　us　in　the　lake。〃　

〃I　can't　swim；〃　said　Mabel　evasively。

〃Nor　yet　me；〃　said　Kathleen。

〃You　can；〃　said　Phoebus。　〃All　statues　that　come　to　life　are
proficient　in　all　athletic　exercises。　And　you；　child　of　the　dark　eyes
and　hair　like　night；　wish　yourself　a　statue　and　join　our　revels。〃　

〃I'd　rather　not；　if　you　will　excuse　me；〃　said　Mabel　cautiously。　〃You
see　。。。　this　ring　。。。　you　wish　for　things；　and　you　never　know　how
long　they're　going　to　last。　It　would　be　jolly　and　all　that　to　be　a
statue　now；　but　in　the　morning　I　should　wish　I　hadn't。〃　

〃Earth…folk　often　do；　they　say；〃　mused　Phoebus。　〃But；　child；　you
seem　ignorant　of　the　powers　of　your　ring。　Wish　exactly；　and　the
ring　will　exactly　perform。　If　you　give　no　limit　of　time；　strange
enchantments　woven　by　Arithmos　the　outcast　god　of　numbers　will
creep　in　and　spoil　the　spell。　Say　thus：　〃I　wish　that　till　the　dawn　I
may　be　a　statue　of　living　marble；　even　as　my　child　friend；　and　that
after　that　time　I　may　be　as　before　Mabel　of　the　dark　eyes　and
night…coloured　ha