the enchanted castle-第6部分

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And　instantly　she　did。　But　not　for　long。　The　moment　Gerald　felt
hands　on　his　shoulders　he　put　up　his　own　and　caught　those　other
hands　by　the　wrists。　And　there　he　was；　holding　wrists　that　he
couldn't　see。　It　was　a　dreadful　sensation。　An　invisible　kick　made
him　wince；　but　he　held　tight　to　the　wrists。

〃Cathy；〃　he　cried；　〃come　and　hold　her　legs；　she's　kicking　me。〃　

〃Where？〃　cried　Kathleen；　anxious　to　help。　〃I　don't　see　any　legs。〃　

〃This　is　her　hands　I've　got；〃　cried　Gerald。　〃She　is　invisible　right
enough。　Get　hold　of　this　hand；　and　then　you　can　feel　your　way
down　to　her　legs。〃　

Kathleen　did　so。　I　wish　I　could　make　you　understand　how　very；
very　uncomfortable　and　frightening　it　is　to　feel；　in　broad　daylight；
hands　and　arms　that　you　can't　see。

〃I　won't　have　you　hold　my　legs；〃　said　the　invisible　Princess；
struggling　violently。

〃What　are　you　so　cross　about？〃　Gerald　was　quite　calm。　〃You　said
you'd　be　invisible　and　you　are。〃

〃I'm　not。〃　

〃You　are　really。　Look　in　the　glass。〃　

〃I'm　not；　I　can't　be。〃　

〃Look　in　the　glass；〃　Gerald　repeated；　quite　unmoved。

〃Let　go；　then；〃　she　said。

Gerald　did；　and　the　moment　he　had　done　so　he　found　it　impossible
to　believe　that　he　really　had　been　holding　invisible　hands。

〃You're　just　pretending　not　to　see　me；〃　said　the　Princess　anxiously；
〃aren't　you？　Do　say　you　are。　You've　had　your　joke　with　me。　Don't
keep　it　up。　I　don't　like　it。〃

〃On　our　sacred　word　of　honour；〃　said　Gerald；　〃you're　still　invisible。　

There　was　a　silence。　Then；　〃Come；〃　said　the　Princess。　〃I'll　let　you
out；　and　you　can　go。　I'm　tired　of　playing　with　you。〃　

They　followed　her　voice　to　the　door；　and　through　it；　and　along　the
little　passage　into　the　hall。　No　one　said　anything。　Everyone　felt
very　uncomfortable。

〃Let's　get　out　of　this；〃　whispered　Jimmy　as　they　got　to　the　end　of
the　hall。

But　the　voice　of　the　Princess　said：　〃Come　out　this　way；　it's　quicker。
I　think　you're　perfectly　hateful。　I'm　sorry　I　ever　played　with　you。
Mother　always　told　me　not　to　play　with　strange　children。〃

A　door　abruptly　opened；　though　no　hand　was　seen　to　touch　it。
〃Come　through；　can't　you！〃　said　the　voice　of　the　Princess。

It　was　a　little　ante…room；　with　long；　narrow　mirrors　between　its
long；　narrow　windows。

〃Good…bye；　said　Gerald。　〃Thanks　for　giving　us　such　a　jolly　time。
Let's　part　friends；　he　added；　holding　out　his　hand。

An　unseen　hand　was　slowly　put　in　his；　which　closed　on　it；
vice…like。

〃Now；〃　he　said；　〃you've　jolly　well　got　to　look　in　the　glass　and　own
that　we're　not　liars。〃　

He　led　the　invisible　Princess　to。　one　of　the　mirrors；　and　held　her　in
front　of　it　by　the　shoulders。

〃Now；〃　he　said；　〃you　just　look　for　yourself。〃　There　was　a　silence；
and　then　a　cry　of　despair　rang　through　the　room。

〃Oh　oh　oh！　I　am　invisible。　Whatever　shall　I　do？〃

〃Take　the　ring　off；〃　said　Kathleen；　suddenly　practical。

Another　silence。

〃I　can't！〃　cried　the　Princess。　〃It　won't　come　off。　But　it　can't　be　the
ring；　rings　don't　make　you　invisible。〃　

〃You　said　this　one　did；〃　said　Kathleen；　〃and　it　has。〃　

〃But　it　can't；〃　said　the　Princess。　〃I　was　only　playing　at　magic。　I　just
hid　in　the　secret　cupboard　it　was　only　a　game。　Oh；　whatever　shall　I
do？〃

〃A　game？〃　said　Gerald　slowly；　〃but　you　can　do　magic　　the
invisible　jewels；　and　you　made　them　come　visible。〃　

〃Oh；　it's　only　a　secret　spring　and　the　panelling　slides　up。　Oh；　what
am　I　to　do？〃

Kathleen　moved　towards　the　voice　and　gropingly　got　her　arms
round　a　pink…silk　waist　that　she　couldn't　see。　Invisible　arms　clasped
her；　a　hot　invisible　cheek　was　laid　against　hers；　and　warm　invisible
tears　lay　wet　between　the　two　faces。

〃Don't　cry；　dear；〃　said　Kathleen；　〃let　me　go　and　tell　the　King　and
Queen。〃　

〃The　？〃

〃Your　royal　father　and　mother。〃

〃Oh；　don't　mock　me！〃　said　the　poor　Princess。　〃You　know　that　was
only　a　game；　too；　like　；〃

〃Like　the　bread　and　cheese；〃　said　Jimmy　triumphantly。　〃I　knew
that　was！〃　

〃But　your　dress　and　being　asleep　in　the　maze；　and　；〃

〃Oh；　I　dressed　up　for　fun；　because　everyone's　away　at　the　fair；　and　I
put　the　clew　just　to　make　it　all　more　real。　I　was　playing　at　Fair
Rosamond　first；　and　then　I　heard　you　talking　in　the　maze；　and　I
thought　what　fun；　and　now　I'm　invisible；　and　I　shall　never　come
right　again；　never　I　know　I　shan't！　It　serves　me　right　for　lying；　but　I
didn't　really　think　you'd　believe　it　　not　more　than　half；　that　is；〃　she
added　hastily；　trying　to　be　truthful。

〃But　if　you're　not　the　Princess；　who　are　you？〃　asked　Kathleen；　still
embracing　the　unseen。

〃I'm　my　aunt　lives　here；〃　said　the　invisible　Princess。　〃She　may　be
home　any　time。　Oh；　what　shall　I　do？〃

〃Perhaps　she　knows　some　charm　〃

〃Oh；　nonsense！〃　said　the　voice　sharply；　〃she　doesn't　believe　in
charms。　She　would　be　so　vexed。　Oh；　I　daren't　let　her　see　me　like
this！〃　she　added　wildly。

〃And　all　of　you　here；　too。　She'd　be　so　dreadfully　cross。〃　

The　beautiful　magic　castle　that　the　children　had　believed　in　now
felt　as　though　it　were　tumbling　about　their　ears。　All　that　was　left
was　the　invisibleness　of　the　Princess。　But　that；　you　will　own；　was　a
good　deal。

〃I　just　said　it；　moaned　the　voice；　〃and　it　came　true。　I　wish　I'd　never
played　at　magic　I　wish　I'd　never　played　at　anything　at　all。〃　

〃Oh；　don't　say　that；〃　Gerald　said　kindly。　〃Let's　go　out　into　the
garden；　near　the　lake；　where　it's　cool；　and　we'll　hold　a　solemn
council。　You'll　like　that；　won't　you？〃

〃Oh！〃　cried　Kathleen　suddenly；　〃the　buckle；　that　makes　magic
come　undone！〃

〃It　doesn't　really；〃　murmured　the　voice　that　seemed　to　speak
without　lips。　〃I　only　just　said　that。〃

〃You　only　'just　said'　about　the　ring；〃　said　Gerald。　〃Anyhow；　let's
try。〃　

〃Not　you　me；〃　said　the　voice。　〃You　go　down　to　the　Temple　of
Flora；　by　the　lake。　I'll　go　back　to　the　jewel…room　by　myself。　Aunt
might　see　you。〃　

〃She　won't　see　you；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃Don't　rub　it　in；〃　said　Gerald。　〃Where　is　the　Temple　of　Flora？〃

〃That's　the　way；〃　the　voice　said；　〃down　those　steps　and　along　the
winding　path　through　the　shrubbery。　You　can't　miss　it。　It's　white
marble；　with　a　statue　goddess　inside。〃

The　three　children　went　down　to　the　white　marble　Temple　of　Flora
that　stood　close　against　the　side　of　the　little　hill；　and　sat　down　in
its　shadowy　inside。　It　had　arches　all　round　except　against　the　hill
behind　the　statue；　and　it　was　cool　and　restful。

They　had　not　been　there　five　minutes　before　the　feet　of　a　runner
sounded　loud　on　the　gravel。　A　shadow；　very　black　and　distinct；　fell
on　the　white　marble　floor。

〃Your　shadow's　not　invisible；　anyhow；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃Oh；　bother　my　shadow！〃　the　voice　of　the　Princess　replied。　〃We
left　the　key　inside　the　door；　and　it's　shut　itself　with　the　wind；　and
it's　a　spring　lock！〃

There　was　a　heartfelt　pause。

Then　Gerald　said；　in　his　most　business…like　manner：　〃Sit　down；
Princess；　and　we'll　have　a　thorough　good　palaver　about　it。〃　

〃I　shouldn't　wonder；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃if　we　was　to　wake　up　and　find
it　was　dreams。〃

〃No　such　luck；〃　said　the　voice。

〃Well；〃　said　Gerald；　〃first　of　all；　what's　your　name；　and　if　you're
not　a　Princess；　who　are　you？〃

〃I'm　I'm；〃　said　a　voice　broken　with　sobs；　〃I'm　the　　housekeeper's
niece　at　the　castle　and　my　name's　Mabel　Prowse。〃　

〃That's　exactly　what　I　thought；〃　said　Jimmy；　without　a　shadow　of
truth；　because　how　could　he？　The　others　were　silent。　It　was　a
moment　full　of　agitation　and　confused　ideas。

〃Well；　anyhow；〃　said　Gerald；　〃you　belong　here。〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　the　voice；　and　it　came　from　the　floor；　as　though　its
owner　had　flung　herself　down　in　the　madness　of　despair。　〃Oh　yes；　I
belong　here　right　enough；　but　what's　the　use　of　belonging
anywhere　if　you're　invisible？〃

Those　of　my　readers　who　have　gone　about　much　with　an　invisible
companion　will　not　need　to　be　told　how　awkward　the　whole
business　is。　For　one　thing；　however　much　you　may　have　been
convinced　that　your　companion　is　invisible；　you　will；　I　feel　sure；
have　found　yourself　every　now　and　then　saying；　〃This　must　be　a
dream！〃　or　〃I　know　I　shall　wake　up　in　half　a　sec！〃　And　this　was　the
case　with　Gerald；　Kathleen；　and　Jimmy　as　they　sat　in　the　white
marble　Temple　of　Flora；　looking　out　through　its　arches　at　the
sunshiny　park　and　listening　to　the　voice　of　the　enchanted　Princess；
who　really　was　not　a　Princess　at　all；　but　just　the　housekeeper's
niece；　Mabel　Prowse；　though；　as　Jimmy　said；　〃she　was　enchanted；
right　enough。〃

〃It's　no　use　talking；〃　she　said　again　and　again；　and　the　voice　came
from　an　empty…looking　space　between　two　pillars；　〃I　never
believed　anything　would　happen；　and　now　it　has。〃　

〃Well；〃　said　Gerald　kindly；　〃can　we　do　anything　for　you？　Because；
if　not；　I　think　we　ought　to　be　going。〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃I　do　want　my　tea！〃　

〃Tea！〃　said　the　unseen　Mabel　scornfully。　〃Do　you　mean　to　say
you'd　go　off　to　your　teas　and　leave　me　after　getting　me　into　this
mess？〃

〃Well；　of　all　the　unfair　Princesses　I　ever　met！〃　Gerald　began。　But
Kathleen　interrupted

〃Oh；　don't　rag　her；〃　she　said。　〃Think　how　horrid　it　must　be　to　be
invisible！〃

〃I　don't　think；〃　said　the　hidden　Mabel；　〃that　my　aunt　likes　me　very
much　as　it　is。　She　wouldn't　let　me　go　to　the　fair　because　I'd
forgotten　to　put　back　some　old　trumpery　shoe　that　Queen　Elizabeth
wore　I　got　it　out　from　the　glass　case　to　try　it　on。〃

〃Did　it　fit？〃　asked　Kathleen；　with　interest

〃Not　it　much　too　small；〃　said　Mabel。　〃I　don't　believe　it　ever　fitted
anyone。〃

〃I　do　want　my　tea！〃　said　Jimmy

〃I　do　really　think　perhaps　we　ought　to　go；〃　said　Gerald。　〃You　see；
it　isn't　as　if　we　could　do　anything　for　you。〃

〃You'll　have　to　tell　your　aunt；〃　said　Kathleen　kindly

〃No；　no；　no！〃　moaned　Mabel　invisibly；　〃take　me　with　you。　I'll
leave　her　a　note　to　say　I've　run　away　to　sea。〃

〃Girls　don't　run　away　to　sea。〃〃

They　might；〃　said　the　stone　floor　between　the　pillars；　〃as
stowaways；　if　nobody　wanted　a　cabin　boy　cabin　girl；　I　mean。〃

〃I'm　sure　you　oughtn't；〃　said　Kathleen　firmly。

〃Well；　what　am　I　to　do？〃

〃Really；〃　said　Gerald；　〃I　don't　know　what　the　girl　can　do。　Let　her
come　home　with　us　and　have　〃

〃Tea　oh；　yes；〃　said　Jimmy；　jumping　up。

〃And　have　a　good　council。〃

〃After　tea；〃　said　Jimmy

〃But　her　aunt'lI　find　she's　gone。〃

〃So　she　would　if　I