the enchanted castle-第8部分

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from　a　child　dreaming　of　the　pearly　gates　and　them　little　angels
with　nothing　on　only　their　heads　and　wings　so　cheap　to　dress；　I
always　think；　compared　with　children。〃

When　she　was　got　rid　of；　Mabel　ate　the　bread　and　drank　water
from　the　tooth…mug。

〃I'm　afraid　it　tastes　of　cherry　tooth…paste　rather；〃　said　Kathleen
apologetically。

〃It　doesn't　matter；〃　a　voice　replied　from　the　tilted　mug；　〃it's　more
interesting　than　water。　I　should　think　red　wine　in　ballads　was
rather　like　this。〃

〃We've　got　leave　for　the　day　again；〃　said　Kathleen；　when　the　last
bit　of　bread　had　vanished；　〃and　Gerald　feels　like　I　do　about　lies；　So
we're　going　to　tell　your　aunt　where　you　really　are。〃

〃She　won't　believe　you。〃

〃That　doesn't　matter；　if　we　speak　the　truth；〃　said　Kathleen　primly。

〃I　expect　you'll　be　sorry　for　it；〃　said　Mabel；　〃but　come　on　and；　I
say；　do　be　careful　not　to　shut　me　in　the　door　as　you　go　out。　You
nearly　did　just　now。〃

In　the　blazing　sunlight　that　flooded　the　High　Street　four　shadows
to　three　children　seemed　dangerously　noticeable。　A　butcher's　boy
looked　far　too　earnestly　at　the　extra　shadow；　and　his　big；
liver…coloured　lurcher　snuffed　at　the　legs　of　that　shadow's　mistress
and　whined　uncomfortably。

〃Get　behind　me；〃　said　Kathleen；　〃then　our　two　shadows　will　look
like　one。〃　

But　Mabel's　shadow；　very　visible；　fell　on　Kathleen's　back；　and　the
ostler　of　the　Davenant　Arms　looked　up　to　see　what　big　bird　had
cast　that　big　shadow。

A　woman　driving　a　cart　with　chickens　and　ducks　in　it　called　out：
〃Halloa；　missy；　ain't　you　blacked　yer　back；　neither！　What　you　been
leaning　up　against？〃

Everyone　was　glad　when　they　got　out　of　the　town。

Speaking　the　truth　to　Mabel's　aunt　did　not　turn　out　at　all　as　anyone　
even　Mabel　expected。　The　aunt　was　discovered　reading　a　pink
novelette　at　the　window　of　the　housekeeper's　room；　which；　framed
in　clematis　and　green　creepers；　looked　out　on　a　nice　little
courtyard　to　which　Mabel　led　the　party。

〃Excuse　me；〃　said　Gerald；　〃but　I　believe　you've　lost　your　niece？〃

〃Not　lost；　my　boy；〃　said　the　aunt；　who　was　spare　and　tall；　with　a
drab　fringe　and　a　very　genteel　voice。

〃We　could　tell　you　something　about　her；〃　said　Gerald。

〃Now；〃　replied　the　aunt；　in　a　warning　voice；　〃no　complaints；
please。　My　niece　has　gone；　and　I　am　sure　no　one　thinks　less　than　I
do　of　her　little　pranks。　If　she's　played　any　tricks　on　you　it's　only　her
lighthearted　way。　Go　away；　children；　I'm　busy。〃

〃Did　you　get　her　note？〃　asked　Kathleen。

The　aunt　showed　rather　more　interest　than　before；　but　she　still　kept
her　finger　in　the　novelette。

〃Oh；〃　she　said；　〃so　you　witnessed　her　departure？　Did　she　seem
glad　to　go？〃

〃Quite；〃　said　Gerald　truthfully。

〃Then　I　can　only　be　glad　that　she　is　provided　for；〃　said　the　aunt。　〃I
dare　say　you　were　surprised。　These　romantic　adventures　do　occur
in　our　family。　Lord　Yalding　selected　me　out　of　eleven　applicants
for　the　post　of　housekeeper　here。　I've　not　the　slightest　doubt　the
child　was　changed　at　birth　and　her　rich　relatives　have　claimed
her。〃　

〃But　aren't　you　going　to　do　anything　tell　the　police；　or〃

〃Shish！〃　said　Mabel。

〃I　won't　shish；〃　said　Jimmy。　〃Your　Mabel's　invisible　　that's　all　it　is。
She's　just　beside　me　now。〃　

〃I　detest　untruthfulness；〃　said　the　aunt　severely；　〃in　all　its　forms。
Will　you　kindly　take　that　little　boy　away？　I　am　quite　satisfied
about　Mabel。〃　

〃Well；〃　said　Gerald；　〃you　are　an　aunt　and　no　mistake！　But　what
will　Mabel's　father　and　mother　say？〃

〃Mabel's　father　and　mother　are　dead；〃　said　the　aunt　calmly；　and　a
little　sob　sounded　close　to　Gerald's　ear。

〃All　right；〃　he　said；　〃we'll　be　off。　But　don't　you　go　saying　we　didn't
tell　you　the　truth；　that's　all。〃　

〃You　have　told　me　nothing；〃　said　the　aunt；　〃none　of　you；　except
that　little　boy；　who　has　told　me　a　silly　falsehood。〃　

〃We　meant　well；〃　said　Gerald　gently。　〃You　don't　mind　our　having
come　through　the　grounds；　do　you？　we're　very　careful　not　to　touch
anything。〃　

〃No　visitors　are　allowed；〃　said　the　aunt；　glancing　down　at　her
novel　rather　impatiently。

〃Ah！　but　you　wouldn't　count　us　visitors；〃　said　Gerald　in　his　best
manner。　〃We　re　friends　of　Mabel's。　Our　father's　Colonel　of　the　th。〃　

〃Indeed！〃　said　the　aunt。

〃And　our　aunt's　Lady　Sandling；　so　you　can　be　sure　we　wouldn't
hurt　anything　on　the　estate。〃　

〃I'm　sure　you　wouldn't　hurt　a　fly；〃　said　the　aunt　absently。
〃Good…bye。　Be　good　children。〃　

And　on　this　they　got　away　quickly。

〃Why；〃　said　Gerald；　when　they　were　outside　the　little　court；　〃your
aunt's　as　mad　as　a　hatter。　Fancy　not　caring　what　becomes　of　you；
and　fancy　believing　that　rot　about　the　motor　lady！〃　

〃I　knew　she'd　believe　it　when　I　wrote　it；〃　said　Mabel　modestly。
〃She's　not　mad；　only　she's　always　reading　novelettes；　I　read　the
books　in　the　big　library。　Oh；　it's　such　a　jolly　room　such　a　queer
smell；　like　boots；　and　old　leather　books　sort　of　powdery　at　the
edges。　I'll　take　you　there　some　day。　Now　your　consciences　are　all
right　about　my　aunt；　I'll　tell　you　my　great　idea。　Let's　get　down　to
the　Temple　of　Flora。　I'm　glad　you　got　aunt's　permission　for　the
grounds。　It　would　be　so　awkward　for　you　to　have　to　be　always
dodging　behind　bushes　when　one　of　the　gardeners　came　along。〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Gerald　modestly；　〃I　thought　of　that。〃　

The　day　was　as　bright　as　yesterday　had　been；　and　from　the　white
marble　temple　the　Italian…looking　landscape　looked　more　than　ever
like　a　steel　engraving　coloured　by　hand；　or　an　oleographic
imitation　of　one　of　Turner's　pictures。

When　the　three　children　were　comfortably　settled　on　the　steps　that
led　up　to　the　white　statue；　the　voice　of　the　fourth　child　said　sadly：
〃I'm　not　ungrateful；　hut　I'm　rather　hungry。　And　you　can't　be　always
taking　things　for　me　through　your　larder　window。　If　you　like；　I'll　go
back　and　live　in　the　castle。　It's　supposed　to　be　haunted。　I　suppose　I
could　haunt　it　as　well　as　anyone　else。　I　am　a　sort　of　ghost　now；　you
know。　I　will　if　you　like。〃　

〃Oh　no；〃　said　Kathleen　kindly；　〃you　must　stay　with　us。　

〃But　about　food。　I'm　not　ungrateful；　really　I'm　not；　but　breakfast　is
breakfast；　and　bread's　only　bread。〃　

〃If　you　could　get　the　ring　off；　you　could　go　back。〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Mabel's　voice；　〃but　you　see；　I　can't。　I　tried　again　last
night　in　bed；　and　again　this　morning。　And　it's　like　stealing；　taking
things　out　of　your　larder　even　if　it's　only　bread。〃　

〃Yes；　it　is；〃　said　Gerald；　who　had　carried　out　this　bold　enterprise。

〃Well；　now；　what　we　must　do　is　to　earn　some　money。〃　

Jimmy　remarked　that　this　was　all　very　well。　But　Gerald　and
Kathleen　listened　attentively。

〃What　I　mean　to　say；〃　the　voice　went　on；　〃I'm　really　sure　is　all　for
the　best；　me　being　invisible。　We　shall　have　adventures　you　see　if
we　don　t。〃　

〃Adventures；〃　said　the　bold　buccaneer；　〃are　not　always　profitable。〃
It　was　Gerald　who　murmured　this。

〃This　one　will　be；　anyhow；　you　see。　Only　you　mustn't　all　go。　Look
here；　if　Jerry　could　make　himself　look　common　〃

〃That　ought　to　be　easy；〃　said　Jimmy。　And　Kathleen　told　him　not　to
be　so　jolly　disagreeable。

〃I'm　not；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃only　〃

〃Only　he　has　an　inside　feeling　that　this　Mabel　of　yours　is　going　to
get　us　into　trouble；〃　put　in　Gerald。　〃Like　La　Belle　Dame　Sans
Merci；　and　he　does　not　want　to　be　found　in　future　ages　alone　and
palely　loitering　in　the　middle　of　sedge　and　things。〃　

〃I　won't　get　you　into　trouble；　indeed　I　won　t；〃　said　the　voice。　〃Why；
we're　a　band　of　brothers　for　life；　after　the　way　you　stood　by　me
yesterday。　What　I　mean　is　Gerald　can　go　to　the　fair　and　do
conjuring。〃　

〃He　doesn't　know　any；〃　said　Kathleen。

〃I　should　do　it　really；〃　said　Mabel；　〃but　Jerry　could　look　like　doing
it　move　things　without　touching　them　and　all　that。　But　it　wouldn't
do　for　all　three　of　you　to　go。　The　more　there　are　of　children　the
younger　they　look；　I　think；　and　the　more　people　wonder　what　they
re　doing　all　alone　by　themselves。〃　

〃The　accomplished　conjurer　deemed　these　the　words　of　wisdom；〃
said　Gerald；　and　answered　the　dismal　〃Well；　but　what　about　us？　of
his　brother　and　sister　by　suggesting　that　they　should　mingle
unsuspected　with　the　crowd。　〃But　don't　let　on　that　you　know　me；〃
he　said；　〃and　try　to　look　as　if　you　belonged　to　some　of　the
grown…ups　at　the　fair。　If　you　don't；　as　likely　as　not　you'll　have　the
kind　policemen　taking　the　little　lost　children　by　the　hand　and
leading　them　home　to　their　stricken　relations　French　governess；　I
mean。〃　

〃Let's　go　now；〃　said　the　voice　that　they　never　could　get　quite　used
to　hearing；　coming　out　of　different　parts　of　the　air　as　Mabel　moved
from　one　place　to　another。　So　they　went。

The　fair　was　held　on　a　waste　bit　of　land；　about　half　a　mile　from　the
castle　gates。　When　they　got　near　enough　to　hear　the　steam…organ　of
the　merry…go…round；　Gerald　suggested　that　as　he　had　ninepence　he
should　go　ahead　and　get　something　to　eat；　the　amount　spent　to　be
paid　back　out　of　any　money　they　might　make　by　conjuring。　The
others　waited　in　the　shadows　of　a　deep…banked　lane；　and　he　came
back；　quite　soon；　though　long　after　they　had　begun　to　say　what　a
long　time　he　had　been　gone。　He　brought　some　Barcelona　nuts；
red…streaked　apples；　small　sweet　yellow　pears；　pale　pasty
gingerbread；　a　whole　quarter　of　a　pound　of　peppermint　bulls…eyes；
and　two　bottles　of　ginger…beer。

〃It's　what　they　call　an　investment；〃　he　said；　when　Kathleen　said
something　about　extravagance。　〃We　shall　all　need　special
nourishing　to　keep　our　strength　up；　especially　the　bold　conjurer。〃　

They　ate　and　drank。　It　was　a　very　beautiful　meal；　and　the　far…off
music　of　the　steam…organ　added　the　last　touch　of　festivity　to　the
scene。　The　boys　were　never　tired　of　seeing　Mabel　eat；　or　rather　of
seeing　the　strange；　magic…looking　vanishment　of　food　which　was
all　that　showed　of　Mabel's　eating。　They　were　entranced　by　the
spectacle；　and　pressed　on　her　more　than　her　just　share　of　the　feast；
just　for　the　pleasure　of　seeing　it　disappear。

〃My　aunt！〃　said　Gerald；　again　and　again；　〃that　ought　to　knock
'em！〃　

It　did。

Jimmy　and　Kathleen　had　the　start　of　the　others；　and　when　they　got
to　the　fair　they　mingled　with　the　crowd；　and　were　as　unsuspected
as　possible。

They　stood　near　a　large　lady　who　was　watching　the　Coconut　shie