the enchanted castle-第7部分

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〃After　tea；〃　said　Jimmy

〃But　her　aunt'lI　find　she's　gone。〃

〃So　she　would　if　I　stayed。〃

〃Oh；　come　on；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃But　the　aunt'll　think　something's　happened　to　her。〃

〃So　it　has。〃

〃And　she'll　tell　the　police；　and　they'll　look　everywhere　for　me。〃

〃They'll　never　find　you；〃　said　Gerald。　〃Talk　of　impenetrable
disguises！〃

〃I'm　sure；〃　said　Mabel；　〃aunt　would　much　rather　never　see　me
again　than　see　me　like　this。　She'd　never　get　over　it；　it　might　kill　her
she　has　spasms　as　it　is。　I'll　write　to　her；　and　we'll　put　it　in　the　big
letter…box　at　the　gate　as　we　go　out。　Has　anyone　got　a　bit　of　pencil
and　a　scrap　of　paper？〃

Gerald　had　a　note…book；　with　leaves　of　the　shiny　kind　which　you
have　to　write　on；　not　with　a　blacklead　pencil；　but　with　an　ivory
thing　with　a　point　of　real　lead。　And　it　won't　write　on　any　other
paper　except　the　kind　that　is　in　the　book；　and　this　is　often　very
annoying　when　you　are　in　a　hurry。　Then　was　seen　the　strange
spectacle　of　a　little　ivory　stick；　with　a　leaden　point；　standing　up　at
an　odd；　impossible…looking　slant；　and　moving　along　all　by　itself　as
ordinary　pencils　do　when　you　are　writing　with　them

〃May　we　look　over？〃　asked　Kathleen。

There　was　no　answer。　The　pencil　went　on　writing。

〃Mayn't　we　look　over？〃　Kathleen　said　again。〃

Of　course　you　may！〃　said　the　voice　near　the　paper。　〃I　nodded；
didn't　I？　Oh；　I　forgot；　my　nodding's　invisible　too。〃T

he　pencil　was　forming　round；　clear　letters　on　the　page　torn　out　of
the　note…book。　This　is　what　it　wrote：　

〃DEAR　AUNT；　I　am　afraid　you　will　not　see　me　again　for　some
time。　A　lady　in　a　motor…car　has　adopted　me；　and　we　are　going
straight　to　the　coast　and　then　in　a　ship。　It　is　useless　to　try　to　follow
me。　Farewell；　and　may　you　be　happy。　I　hope　you　enjoyed　the　fair

MABEL。〃

〃But　that's　all　lies；〃　said　Jimmy　bluntly。

〃No；　it　isn't；　it's　fancy；〃　said　Mabel。　〃If　I　said　I've　become　invisible；
she'd　think　that　was　a　lie；　anyhow。〃〃

Oh；　come　along；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃you　can　quarrel　just　as　well
walking。〃

Gerald　folded　up　the　note　as　a　lady　in　India　had　taught　him　to　do
years　before；　and　Mabel　led　them　by　another　and　very　much　nearer
way　out　of　the　park。　And　the　walk　home　was　a　great　deal　shorter；
too；　than　the　walk　out　had　been。

The　sky　had　clouded　over　while　they　were　in　the　Temple　of　Flora；
and　the　first　spots　of　rain　fell　as　they　got　back　to　the　house；　very
late　indeed　for　tea。

Mademoiselle　was　looking　out　of　the　window；　and　came　herself　to
open　the　door

〃But　it　is　that　you　are　in　lateness；　in　lateness！〃　she　cried。　〃You
have　had　a　misfortune　no？　All　goes　well？〃

〃We　are　very　sorry　indeed；〃　said　Gerald。　〃It　took　us　longer　to　get
home　than　we　expected。　I　do　hope　you　haven't　been　anxious。　I　have
been　thinking　about　you　most　of　the　way　home。〃

〃Go；　then；〃　said　the　French　lady；　smiling；　〃you　shall　have　them　in
the　same　time　the　tea　and　the　supper。〃

Which　they　did。

〃How　could　you　say　you　were　thinking　about　her　all　the　time？〃
said　a　voice　just　by　Gerald's　ear；　when　Mademoiselle　had　left　them
alone　with　the　bread　and　butter　and　milk　and　baked　apples。　〃It　was
just　as　much　a　lie　as　me　being　adopted　by　a　motor　lady。〃

〃No；　it　wasn't；〃　said　Gerald；　through　bread　and　butter。　〃I　was
thinking　about　whether　she'd　be　in　a　wax　or　not。　So　there！〃

There　were　only　three　plates；　but　Jimmy　let　Mabel　have　his；　and
shared　with　Kathleen。　It　was　rather　horrid　to　see　the　bread　and
butter　waving　about　in　the　air；　and　bite　after　bite　disappearing
from　it　apparently　by　no　human　agency；　and　the　spoon　rising　with
apple　in　it　and　returning　to　the　plate　empty。　Even　the　tip　of　the
spoon　disappeared　as　long　as　it　was　in　Mabel's　unseen　mouth；　so
that　at　times　it　looked　as　though　its　bowl　had　been　broken　off

Everyone　was　very　hungry；　and　more　bread　and　butter　had　to　be
fetched。　Cook　grumbled　when　the　plate　was　filled　for　the　third
time。

〃I　tell　you　what；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃I　did　want　my　tea。〃

〃I　tell　you　what；〃　said　Gerald；　〃it'll　be　jolly　difficult　to　give　Mabel
any　breakfast。　Mademoiselle　will　be　here　then。　She'd　have　a　fit　if
she　saw　bits　of　forks　with　bacon　on　them　vanishing；　and　then　the
forks　coming　back　out　of　vanishment；　and　the　bacon　lost　for　ever。〃

〃We　shall　have　to　buy　things　to　eat　and　feed　our　poor　captive　in
secret；〃　said　Kathleen。

〃Our　money　won't　last　long；〃　said　Jimmy；　in　gloom。　〃Have　you　got
any　money？〃

He　turned　to　where　a　mug　of　milk　was　suspended　in　the　air　without
visible　means　of　support。

〃I've　not　got　much　money；〃　was　the　reply　from　near　the　milk；　〃but
I've　got　heaps　of　ideas。〃

〃We　must　talk　about　everything　in　the　morning；〃　said　Kathleen。
〃We　must　just　say　good　night　to　Mademoiselle；　and　then　you　shall
sleep　in　my　bed；　Mabel。　I'll　lend　you　one　of　my　nightgowns。〃

〃I'll　get　my　own　tomorrow；〃　said　Mabel　cheerfully。

〃You'll　go　back　to　get　things？〃

〃Why　not？　Nobody　can　see　me。　I　think　I　begin　to　see　all　sorts　of
amusing　things　coming　along。　It's　not　half　bad　being　invisible。〃

It　was　extremely　odd；　Kathleen　thought；　to　see　the　Princess's
clothes　coming　out　of　nothing。　First　the　gauzy　veil　appeared
hanging　in　the　air。　Then　the　sparkling　coronet　suddenly　showed　on
the　top　of　the　chest　of　drawers。　Then　a　sleeve　of　the　pinky　gown
showed；　then　another；　and　then　the　whole　gown　lay　on　the　floor　in
a　glistening　ring　as　the　unseen　legs　of　Mabel　stepped　out　of　it。　For
each　article　of　clothing　became　visible　as　Mabel　took　it　off。　The
nightgown；　lifted　from　the　bed；　disappeared　a　bit　at　a　time。

〃Get　into　bed；〃　said　Kathleen；　rather　nervously。

The　bed　creaked　and　a　hollow　appeared　in　the　pillow。　Kathleen　put
out　the　gas　and　got　into　bed；　all　this　magic　had　been　rather
upsetting；　and　she　was　just　the　least　bit　frightened；　but　in　the　dark
she　found　it　was　not　so　bad。　Mabel's　arms　went　round　her　neck　the
moment　she　got　into　bed；　and　the　two　little　girls　kissed　in　the　kind
darkness；　where　the　visible　and　the　invisible　could　meet　on　equal
terms。

〃Good　night；〃　said　Mabel。　〃You're　a　darling；　Cathy；　you've　been
most　awfully　good　to　me；　and　I　shan't　forget　it。　I　didn't　like　to　say
so　before　the　boys；　because　I　know　boys　think　you're　a　muff　if
you're　grateful。　But　I　am。　Good　night。〃

Kathleen　lay　awake　for　some　time。　She　was　just　getting　sleepy
when　she　remembered　that　the　maid　who　would　call　them　in　the
morning　would　see　those　wonderful　Princess　clothes。

〃I'll　have　to　get　up　and　hide　them；〃　she　said。　〃What　a　bother！〃　

And　as　she　lay　thinking　what　a　bother　it　was　she　happened　to　fall
asleep；　and　when　she　woke　again　it　was　bright　morning；　and　Eliza
was　standing　in　front　of　the　chair　where　Mabel's　clothes　lay；
gazing　at　the　pink　Princess…frock　that　lay　on　the　top　of　her　heap
and　saying；　〃Law！〃

〃Oh；　don't　touch；　please！〃　Kathleen　leaped　out　of　bed　as　Eliza　was
reaching　out　her　hand。

〃Where　on　earth　did　you　get　hold　of　that？〃

〃We're　going　to　use　it　for　acting；〃　said　Kathleen；　on　the　desperate
inspiration　of　the　moment。　〃It's　lent　me　for　that。〃

〃You　might　show　me；　miss；〃　suggested　Eliza。

〃Oh；　please　not！〃　said　Kathleen；　standing　in　front　of　the　chair　in
her　nightgown。　〃You　shall　see　us　act　when　we　are　dressed　up。
There！　And　you　won't　tell　anyone；　will　you？〃

〃Not　if　you're　a　good　little　girl；〃　said　Eliza。　〃But　you　be　sure　to　let
me　see　when　you　do　dress　up。　But　where〃

Here　a　bell　rang　and　Eliza　had　to　go；　for　it　was　the　postman；　and
she　particularly　wanted　to　see　him。

〃And　now；〃　said　Kathleen；　pulling　on　her　first　stocking；　〃we　shall
have　to　do　the　acting。　Everything　seems　very　difficult。〃

〃Acting　isn't；〃　said　Mabel；　and　an　unsupported　stocking　waved　in
the　air　and　quickly　vanished。　〃I　shall　love　it。；〃

〃You　forget；〃　said　Kathleen　gently；　〃invisible　actresses　can't　take
part　in　plays　unless　they're　magic　ones。〃

〃Oh；〃　cried　a　voice　from　under　a　petticoat　that　hung　in　the　air；　〃I've
got　such　an　idea！〃

〃Tell　it　us　after　breakfast；〃　said　Kathleen；　as　the　water　in　the　basin
began　to　splash　about　and　to　drip　from　nowhere　back　into　itself。
〃And　oh！　I　do　wish　you　hadn't　written　such　whoppers　to　your　aunt。
I'm　sure　we　oughtn't　to　tell　lies　for　anything。〃

〃What's　the　use　of　telling　the　truth　if　nobody　believes　you？〃　came
from　among　the　splashes

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Kathleen；　〃but　I'm　sure　we　ought　to　tell　the
truth。〃

〃You　can；　if　you　like；〃　said　a　voice　from　the　folds　of　a　towel　that
waved　lonely　in　front　of　the　wash…hand　stand

〃All　right。　We　will；　then；　first　thing　after　brek　your　brek；　I　mean。
You'll　have　to　wait　up　here　till　we　can　collar　something　and　bring
it　up　to　you。　Mind　you　dodge　Eliza　when　she　comes　to　make　the
bed。〃

The　invisible　Mabel　found　this　a　fairly　amusing　game；　she　further
enlivened　it　by　twitching　out　the　corners　of　tucked…up　sheets　and
blankets　when　Eliza　wasn't　looking。

〃Drat　the　clothes！〃　said　Eliza；　〃anyone　ud　think　the　things　was
bewitched。〃

She　looked　about　for　the　wonderful　Princess　clothes　she　had
glimpsed　earlier　in　the　morning。　But　Kathleen　had　hidden　them　in
a　perfectly　safe　place　under　the　mattress；　which　she　knew　Eliza
never　turned。

Eliza　hastily　brushed　up　from　the　floor　those　bits　of　fluff　which
come　from　goodness　knows　where　in　the　best　regulated　houses。
Mabel；　very　hungry　and　exasperated　at　the　long　absence　of　the
others　at　their　breakfast；　could　not　forbear　to　whisper　suddenly　in
Eliza's　ear：

〃Always　sweep　under　the　mats。〃

The　maid　started　and　turned　pale。　〃I　must　be　going　silly；〃　she
murmured；　〃though　it's　just　what　mother　always　used　to　say。　Hope
I　ain't　going　dotty；　like　Aunt　Emily。　Wonderful　what　you　can
fancy；　ain't　it？〃

She　took　up　the　hearth…rug　all　the　same；　swept　under　it；　and　under
the　fender。　So　thorough　was　she；　and　so　pale；　that　Kathleen；
entering　with　a　chunk　of　bread　raided　by　Gerald　from　the　pantry
window；　exclaimed：

〃Not　done　yet。　I　say；　Eliza；　you　do　look　ill！　What's　the　matter？〃

〃I　thought　I'd　give　the　room　a　good　turn…out；〃　said　Eliza；　still　very
pale。

〃Nothing's　happened　to　upset　you？〃　Kathleen　asked。　She　had　her
own　private　fears。

〃Nothing　only　my　fancy；　miss；〃　said　Eliza。　〃I　always　was　fanciful
from　a　child　dreaming　of　the　pearly　gates　and　them　little　angels
with　nothing　on　only　their　hea