the enchanted castle-第4部分

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diamonds。

〃But　〃　said　Jimmy。

〃Why；〃　she　said；　opening　her　eyes　very　wide；　〃you　must　have
known　about　my　being　here；　or　you'd　never　have　come。　How　did
you　get　past　the　dragons？〃

Gerald　ignored　the　question。　〃I　say；〃　he　said；　〃do　you　really　believe
in　magic；　and　all　that？〃

〃I　ought　to；〃　she　said；　〃if　anybody　does。　Look；　here's　the　place
where　I　pricked　my　finger　with　the　spindle。〃　She　showed　a　little
scar　on　her　wrist。

〃Then　this　really　is　an　enchanted　castle？〃

〃Of　course　it　is；〃　said　the　Princess。　〃How　stupid　you　are！〃　She
stood　up；　and　her　pink　brocaded　dress　lay　in　bright　waves　about
her　feet。

〃I　said　her　dress　would　be　too　long；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃It　was　the　right　length　when　I　went　to　sleep；〃　said　the　Princess；　〃it
must　have　grown　in　the　hundred　years。〃

〃I　don't　believe　you're　a　Princess　at　all；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃at　least　〃

〃Don't　bother　about　believing　it；　if　you　don't　like；〃　said　the
Princess。　〃It　doesn't　so　much　matter　what　you　believe　as　what　I　am。
She　turned　to　the　others。

〃Let's　go　back　to　the　castle；〃　she　said；　〃and　I'll　show　you　all　my
lovely　jewels　and　things。　Wouldn't　you　like　that？〃

〃Yes；　said　Gerald　with　very　plain　hesitation。　〃But　〃

〃But　what？〃　The　Princess's　tone　was　impatient。

〃But　we're　most　awfully　hungry。〃　〃Oh；　so　am　I！〃　cried　the　Princess。

〃We've　had　nothing　to　eat　since　breakfast。〃　

〃And　it's　three　now；〃　said　the　Princess；　looking　at　the　sun…dial。
〃Why；　you've　had　nothing　to　eat　for　hours　and　hours　and　hours。　But
think　of　me！　I　haven't　had　anything　to　eat　for　a　hundred　years。〃
Come　along　to　the　castle。　

〃The　mice　will　have　eaten　everything；〃　said　Jimmy　sadly。　He　saw
now　that　she　really　was　a　Princess。

〃Not　they；〃　cried　the　Princess　joyously。　〃You　forget　everything's
enchanted　here。　Time　simply　stood　still　for　a　hundred　years。　Come
along；　and　one　of　you　must　carry　my　train；　or　I　shan't　be　able　to
move　now　it's　grown　such　a　frightful　length。〃　

When　you　are　young　so　many　things　are　difficult　to　believe；　and
yet　the　dullest　people　will　tell　you　that　they　are　true　such　things；
for　instance；　as　that　the　earth　goes　round　the　sun；　and　that　it　is　not
flat　but　round。　But　the　things　that　seem　really　likely；　like
fairy…tales　and　magic；　are；　so　say　the　grown…ups；　not　true　at　all。　Yet
they　are　so　easy　to　believe；　especially　when　you　see　them
happening。　And；　as　I　am　always　telling　you；　the　most　wonderful
things　happen　to　all　sorts　of　people；　only　you　never　hear　about
them　because　the　people　think　that　no　one　will　believe　their
stories；　and　so　they　don't　tell　them　to　any　one　except　me。　And　they
tell　me；　because　they　know　that　I　can　believe　anything。

When　Jimmy　had　awakened　the　Sleeping　Princess；　and　she　had
invited　the　three　children　to　go　with　her　to　her　palace　and　get
something　to　eat；　they　all　knew　quite　surely　that　they　had　come
into　a　place　of　magic　happenings。　And　they　walked　in　a　slow
procession　along　the　grass　towards　the　castle。　The　Princess　went
first；　and　Kathleen　carried　her　shining　train；　then　came　Jimmy；　and
Gerald　came　last。　They　were　all　quite　sure　that　they　had　walked
right　into　the　middle　of　a　fairy…tale；　and　they　were　the　more　ready
to　believe　it　because　they　were　so　tired　and　hungry。　They　were；　in
fact；　so　hungry　and　tired　that　they　hardly　noticed　where　they　were
going；　or　observed　the　beauties　of　the　formal　gardens　through
which　the　pink…silk　Princess　was　leading　them。　They　were　in　a　sort
of　dream；　from　which　they　only　partially　awakened　to　find
themselves　in　a　big　hail；　with　suits　of　armour　and　old　flags　round
the　walls；　the　skins　of　beasts　on　the　floor；　and　heavy　oak　tables　and
benches　ranged　along　it。

The　Princess　entered；　slow　and　stately；　but　once　inside　she
twitched　her　sheeny　train　out　of　Jimmy's　hand　and　turned　to　the
three。

〃You　just　wait　here　a　minute；〃　she　said；　〃and　mind　you　don't　talk
while　I'm　away。　This　castle　is　crammed　with　magic；　and　I　don't
know　what　will　happen　if　you　talk。〃　And　with　that；　picking　up　the
thick　goldy…pink　folds　under　her　arms；　she　ran　out；　as　Jimmy　said
afterwards；　〃most　unprincesslike；〃　showing　as　she　ran　black
stockings　and　black　strap　shoes。

Jimmy　wanted　very　much　to　say　that　he　didn't　believe　anything
would　happen；　only　he　was　afraid　something　would　happen　if　he
did；　so　he　merely　made　a　face　and　put　out　his　tongue。　The　others
pretended　not　to　see　this；　which　was　much　more　crushing　than
anything　they　could　have　said。　So　they　sat　in　silence；　and　Gerald
ground　the　heel　of　his　boot　upon　the　marble　floor。　Then　the
Princess　came　back；　very　slowly　and　kicking　her　long　skirts　in
front　of　her　at　every　step。　She　could　not　hold　them　up　now　because
of　the　tray　she　carried。

It　was　not　a　silver　tray；　as　you　might　have　expected；　but　an　oblong
tin　one。　She　set　it　down　noisily　on　the　end　of　the　long　table　and
breathed　a　sigh　of　relief。。

〃Oh！　it　was　heavy；〃　she　said。　I　don't　know　what　fairy　feast　the
children's　fancy　had　been　busy　with。　Anyhow；　this　was　nothing　like
it。　The　heavy　tray　held　a　loaf　of　bread；　a　lump　of　cheese；　and　a
brown　jug　of　water。　The　rest　of　its　heaviness　was　just　plates　and
mugs　and　knives。

〃Come　along；〃　said　the　Princess　hospitably。　〃I　couldn't　find
anything　but　bread　and　cheese　but　it　doesn't　matter；　because
everything's　magic　here；　and　unless　you　have　some　dreadful　secret
fault　the　bread　and　cheese　will　turn　into　anything　you　like。　What
would　you　like？〃　she　asked　Kathleen。

〃Roast　chicken；〃　said　Kathleen；　without　hesitation。

The　pinky　Princess　cut　a　slice　of　bread　and　laid　it　on　a　dish。

〃There　you　are；〃　she　said；　〃roast　chicken。　Shall　I　carve　it；　or　will
you？〃

〃You；　please；〃　said　Kathleen；　and　received　a　piece　of　dry　bread　on
a　plate。

〃Green　peas？〃　asked　the　Princess；　cut　a　piece　of　cheese　and　laid　it
beside　the　bread。

Kathleen　began　to　eat　the　bread；　cutting　it　up　with　knife　and　fork
as　you　would　eat　chicken。　It　was　no　use　owning　that　she　didn't　see
any　chicken　and　peas；　or　anything　but　cheese　and　dry　bread；
because　that　would　be　owning　that　she　had　some　dreadful　secret
fault。

〃If　I　have；　it　is　a　secret；　even　from　me；〃　she　told　herself。

The　others　asked　for　roast　beef　and　cabbage　and　got　it；　she
supposed；　though　to　her　it　only　looked　like　dry　bread　and　Dutch
cheese。

〃I　do　wonder　what　my　dreadful　secret　fault　is；〃　she　thought；　as　the
Princess　remarked　that；　as　for　her；　she　could　fancy　a　slice　of　roast
peacock。　〃This　one；　she　added；　lifting　a　second　mouthful　of　dry
bread　on　her　fork；　〃is　quite　delicious。〃　

〃It's　a　game；　isn't　it？〃　asked　Jimmy　suddenly。

〃What's　a　game？〃　asked　the　Princess；　frowning。

〃Pretending　it's　beef　the　bread　and　cheese；　I　mean。〃　

〃A　game？　But　it　is　beef。　Look　at　it；〃　said　the　Princess；　opening　her
eyes　very　wide。

〃Yes；　of　course；〃　said　Jimmy　feebly。　〃I　was　only　joking。〃　

Bread　and　cheese　is　not　perhaps　so　good　as　roast　beef　or　chicken
or　peacock　（I'm　not　sure　about　the　peacock。　I　never　tasted　peacock；
did　you？）；　but　bread　and　cheese　is；　at　any　rate；　very　much　better
than　nothing　when　you　have　gone　on　having　nothing　since
breakfast　（gooseberries　and　ginger…beer　hardly　count）　and　it　is　long
past　your　proper　dinner…time。　Everyone　ate　and　drank　and　felt
much　better。

〃Now；〃　said　the　Princess；　brushing　the　bread　crumbs　off　her　green
silk　lap；　〃if　you're　sure　you　won't　have　any　more　meat　you　can
come　and　see　my　treasures。　Sure　you　won't　take　the　least　bit　more
chicken？　No？　Then　follow　me。〃

She　got　up　and　they　followed　her　down　the　long　hall　to　the　end
where　the　great　stone　stairs　ran　up　at　each　side　and　joined　in　a
broad　flight　leading　to　the　gallery　above。　Under　the　stairs　was　a
hanging　of　tapestry。

〃Beneath　this　arras；〃　said　the　Princess；　〃is　the　door　leading　to　my
private　apartments。〃　She　held　the　tapestry　up　with　both　hands；　for
it　was　heavy；　and　showed　a　little　door　that　had　been　hidden　by　it。

〃The　key；〃　she　said；　〃hangs　above。〃

And　so　it　did；　on　a　large　rusty　nail。

〃Put　it　in；〃　said　the　Princess；　〃and　turn　it。〃　Gerald　did　so；　and　the
great　key　creaked　and　grated　in　the　lock。

〃Now　push；〃　she　said；　〃push　hard；　all　of　you。　They　pushed　hard；　all
of　them。　The　door　gave　way；　and　they　fell　over　each　other　into　the
dark　space　beyond。

The　Princess　dropped　the　curtain　and　came　after　them；　closing　the
door　behind　her。

〃Look　out！〃　she　said；　〃look　out！〃　there　are　two　steps　down。　

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Gerald；　rubbing　his　knee　at　the　bottom　of　the
steps。　〃We　found　that　out　for　ourselves。〃　〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　the
Princess；　〃but　you　can't　have　hurt　yourselves　much。　Go　straight　on。
There　aren't　any　more　steps。〃　

They　went　straight　on　in　the　dark。

〃When　you　come　to　the　door　just　turn　the　handle　and　go　in。　Then
stand　still　till　I　find　the　matches。　I　know　where　they　are。〃　

〃Did　they　have　matches　a　hundred　years　ago？〃　asked　Jimmy。

〃I　meant　the　tinder…box；〃　said　the　Princess　quickly。　〃We　always
called　it　the　matches。　Don't　you？　Here；　let　me　go　first。〃

She　did；　and　when　they　had　reached　the　door　she　was　waiting　for
them　with　a　candle　in　her　hand。　She　thrust　it　on　Gerald。

〃Hold　it　steady；〃　she　said；　and　undid　the　shutters　of　a　long　window；
so　that　first　a　yellow　streak　and　then　a　blazing　great　oblong　of　light
flashed　at　them　and　the　room　was　full　of　sunshine。

〃It　makes　the　candle　look　quite　silly；〃　said　Jimmy。　〃So　it　does；　said
the　Princess；　and　blew　out　the　candle。　Then　she　took　the　key　from
the　outside　of　the　door；　put　it　in　the　inside　keyhole；　and　turned　it。

The　room　they　were　in　was　small　and　high。　Its　domed　ceiling　was
of　deep　blue　with　gold　stars　painted　on　it。　The　walls　were　of　wood；
panelled　and　carved；　and　there　was　no　furniture　in　it　whatever。

〃This；〃　said　the　Princess；　〃is　my　treasure　chamber。〃　〃But　where；
asked　Kathleen　politely；　〃are　the　treasures？〃

〃Don't　you　see　them？〃　asked　the　Princess。

〃No；　we　don't；〃　said　Jimmy　bluntly。　〃You　don't　come　that
bread…and…cheese　game　with　me　not　twice　over；　you　don't！〃　

〃If　you　really　don't　see　them；〃　said　the　Princess；　〃I　suppose　I　shall
have　to　say　the　charm。　Shut　your　eyes；　please。　And　give　me　your
word　of　honour　you　won't　look　till　I　tell　you；　and　that　you'll　never
tell　anyone　what　you've　seen。〃　

Their　words　of　honour　were　something　tha