the golden road-第12部分

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〃I　don't　see　it　now　but　I　saw　it　a　moment　ago；〃　shouted　Felix。　　〃I'm　sure　I　did。　　Come　onover　in　this　direction。〃

Inspired　with　fresh　hope　we　hurried　after　him。　　Soon　we　all　saw　the　lightand　never　shone　a　fairer　beacon。　　A　few　more　steps　and；　coming　into　the　shelter　of　the　woodland　on　the　further　side；　we　realized　where　we　were。

〃That's　Peg　Bowen's　house；〃　exclaimed　Peter；　stopping　short　in　dismay。

〃I　don't　care　whose　house　it　is；〃　declared　Dan。　　〃We've　got　to　go　to　it。〃

〃I　s'pose　so；〃　acquiesced　Peter　ruefully。　　〃We　can't　freeze　to　death　even　if　she　is　a　witch。〃

〃For　goodness'　sake　don't　say　anything　about　witches　so　close　to　her　house；〃　gasped　Felicity。　　〃I'll　be　thankful　to　get　in　anywhere。〃

We　reached　the　house；　climbed　the　flight　of　steps　that　led　to　that　mysterious　second　story　door；　and　Dan　rapped。　　The　door　opened　promptly　and　Peg　Bowen　stood　before　us；　in　what　seemed　exactly　the　same　costume　she　had　worn　on　the　memorable　day　when　we　had　come；　bearing　gifts；　to　propitiate　her　in　the　matter　of　Paddy。

〃Behind　her　was　a　dim　room　scantly　illumined　by　the　one　small　candle　that　had　guided　us　through　the　storm；　but　the　old　Waterloo　stove　was　colouring　the　gloom　with　tremulous；　rose…red　whorls　of　light；　and　warm　and　cosy　indeed　seemed　Peg's　retreat　to　us　snow…　covered；　frost…chilled；　benighted　wanderers。

〃Gracious　goodness；　where　did　yez　all　come　from？〃　exclaimed　Peg。　　〃Did　they　turn　yez　out？〃

〃We've　been　over　to　Baywater；　and　we　got　lost　in　the　storm　coming　back；〃　explained　Dan。　　〃We　didn't　know　where　we　were　till　we　saw　your　light。　　I　guess　we'll　have　to　stay　here　till　the　storm　is　overif　you　don't　mind。〃

〃And　if　it　won't　inconvenience　you；〃　said　Cecily　timidly。

〃Oh；　it's　no　inconvenience　to　speak　of。　　Come　in。　　Well；　yez　HAVE　got　some　snow　on　yez。　　Let　me　get　a　broom。　　You　boys　stomp　your　feet　well　and　shake　your　coats。　　You　girls　give　me　your　things　and　I'll　hang　them　up。　　Guess　yez　are　most　froze。　　Well；　sit　up　to　the　stove　and　git　het　up。〃

Peg　bustled　away　to　gather　up　a　dubious　assortment　of　chairs；　with　backs　and　rungs　missing；　and　in　a　few　minutes　we　were　in　a　circle　around　her　roaring　stove；　getting　dried　and　thawed　out。　　In　our　wildest　flights　of　fancy　we　had　never　pictured　ourselves　as　guests　at　the　witch's　hearth…stone。　　Yet　here　we　were；　and　the　witch　herself　was　actually　brewing　a　jorum　of　ginger　tea　for　Cecily；　who　continued　to　shiver　long　after　the　rest　of　us　were　roasted　to　the　marrow。　　Poor　Sis　drank　that　scalding　draught；　being　in　too　great　awe　of　Peg　to　do　aught　else。

〃That'll　soon　fix　your　shivers；〃　said　our　hostess　kindly。　　〃And　now　I'll　get　yez　all　some　tea。〃

〃Oh；　please　don't　trouble；〃　said　the　Story　Girl　hastily。

〃'Tain't　any　trouble；〃　said　Peg　briskly；　then；　with　one　of　the　sudden　changes　to　fierceness　which　made　her　such　a　terrifying　personage；　〃Do　yez　think　my　vittels　ain't　clean？〃

〃Oh；　no；　no；〃　cried　Felicity　quickly；　before　the　Story　Girl　could　speak；　〃none　of　us　would　ever　think　THAT。　　Sara　only　meant　she　didn't　want　you　to　go　to　any　bother　on　our　account。〃

〃It　ain't　any　bother；〃　said　Peg；　mollified。　　〃I'm　spry　as　a　cricket　this　winter；　though　I　have　the　realagy　sometimes。　　Many　a　good　bite　I've　had　in　your　ma's　kitchen。　　I　owe　yez　a　meal。〃

No　more　protests　were　made。　　We　sat　in　awed　silence；　gazing　with　timid　curiosity　about　the　room；　the　stained；　plastered　walls　of　which　were　well…nigh　covered　with　a　motley　assortment　of　pictures；　chromos；　and　advertisements；　pasted　on　without　much　regard　for　order　or　character。

We　had　heard　much　of　Peg's　pets　and　now　we　saw　them。　　Six　cats　occupied　various　cosy　corners；　one　of　them；　the　black　goblin　which　had　so　terrified　us　in　the　summer；　blinked　satirically　at　us　from　the　centre　of　Peg's　bed。　　Another；　a　dilapidated；　striped　beastie；　with　both　ears　and　one　eye　gone；　glared　at　us　from　the　sofa　in　the　corner。　　A　dog；　with　only　three　legs；　lay　behind　the　stove；　a　crow　sat　on　a　roost　above　our　heads；　in　company　with　a　matronly　old　hen；　and　on　the　clock　shelf　were　a　stuffed　monkey　and　a　grinning　skull。　　We　had　heard　that　a　sailor　had　given　Peg　the　monkey。　　But　where　had　she　got　the　skull？　　And　whose　was　it？　　I　could　not　help　puzzling　over　these　gruesome　questions。

Presently　tea　was　ready　and　we　gathered　around　the　festal　boarda　board　literally　as　well　as　figuratively；　for　Peg's　table　was　the　work　of　her　own　unskilled　hands。　　The　less　said　about　the　viands　of　that　meal；　and　the　dishes　they　were　served　in；　the　better。　　But　we　ate　thembless　you；　yes！as　we　would　have　eaten　any　witch's　banquet　set　before　us。　　Peg　might　or　might　not　be　a　witchcommon　sense　said　not；　but　we　knew　she　was　quite　capable　of　turning　every　one　of　us　out　of　doors　in　one　of　her　sudden　fierce　fits　if　we　offended　her；　and　we　had　no　mind　to　trust　ourselves　again　to　that　wild　forest　where　we　had　fought　a　losing　fight　with　the　demon　forces　of　night　and　storm。

But　it　was　not　an　agreeable　meal　in　more　ways　than　one。　　Peg　was　not　at　all　careful　of　anybody's　feelings。　　She　hurt　Felix's　cruelly　as　she　passed　him　his　cup　of　tea。

〃You've　gone　too　much　to　flesh；　boy。　　So　the　magic　seed　didn't　work；　hey？〃

How　in　the　world　had　Peg　found　out　about　that　magic　seed？　　Felix　looked　uncommonly　foolish。

〃If　you'd　come　to　me　in　the　first　place　I'd　soon　have　told　you　how　to　get　thin；〃　said　Peg；　nodding　wisely。

〃Won't　you　tell　me　now？〃　asked　Felix　eagerly；　his　desire　to　melt　his　too　solid　flesh　overcoming　his　dread　and　shame。

〃No；　I　don't　like　being　second　fiddle；〃　answered　Peg　with　a　crafty　smile。　　〃Sara；　you're　too　scrawny　and　palenot　much　like　your　ma。　　I　knew　her　well。　　She　was　counted　a　beauty；　but　she　made　no　great　things　of　a　match。　　Your　father　had　some　money　but　he　was　a　tramp　like　meself。　　Where　is　he　now？〃

〃In　Rome；〃　said　the　Story　Girl　rather　shortly。

〃People　thought　your　ma　was　crazy　when　she　took　him。　　But　she'd　a　right　to　please　herself。　　Folks　is　too　ready　to　call　other　folks　crazy。　　There's　people　who　say　I'M　not　in　my　right　mind。　　Did　yez　ever〃Peg　fixed　Felicity　with　a　piercing　glance〃hear　anything　so　ridiculous？〃

〃Never；〃　said　Felicity；　white　to　the　lips。

〃I　wish　everybody　was　as　sane　as　I　am；〃　said　Peg　scornfully。　　Then　she　looked　poor　Felicity　over　critically。　　〃You're　good…looking　but　proud。　　And　your　complexion　won't　wear。　　It'll　be　like　your　ma's　yettoo　much　red　in　it。〃

〃Well；　that's　better　than　being　the　colour　of　mud；〃　muttered　Peter；　who　wasn't　going　to　hear　his　lady　traduced；　even　by　a　witch。　　All　the　thanks　he　got　was　a　furious　look　from　Felicity；　but　Peg　had　not　heard　him　and　now　she　turned　her　attention　to　Cecily。

〃You　look　delicate。　　I　daresay　you'll　never　live　to　grow　up。〃

Cecily's　lip　trembled　and　Dan's　face　turned　crimson。

〃Shut　up；〃　he　said　to　Peg。　　〃You've　no　business　to　say　such　things　to　people。〃

I　think　my　jaw　dropped。　　I　know　Peter's　and　Felix's　did。　　Felicity　broke　in　wildly。

〃Oh；　don't　mind　him；　Miss　Bowen。　　He's　got　SUCH　a　temperthat's　just　the　way　he　talks　to　us　all　at　home。　　PLEASE　excuse　him。〃

〃Bless　you；　I　don't　mind　him；〃　said　Peg；　from　whom　the　unexpected　seemed　to　be　the　thing　to　expect。　　〃I　like　a　lad　of　spurrit。　　And　so　your　father　run　away；　did　he；　Peter？　　He　used　to　be　a　beau　of　minehe　seen　me　home　three　times　from　singing　school　when　we　was　young。　　Some　folks　said　he　did　it　for　a　dare。　　There's　such　a　lot　of　jealousy　in　the　world；　ain't　there？　　Do　you　know　where　he　is　now？〃

〃No；〃　said　Peter。

〃Well；　he's　coming　home　before　long；〃　said　Peg　mysteriously。

〃Who　told　you　that？〃　cried　Peter　in　amazement。

〃Better　not　ask；〃　responded　Peg；　looking　up　at　the　skull。

If　she　meant　to　make　the　flesh　creep　on　our　bones　she　succeeded。　　But　now；　much　to　our　relief；　the　meal　was　over　and　Peg　invited　us　to　draw　our　chairs　up　to　the　stove　again。

〃Make　yourselves　at　home；〃　she　said；　producing　her　pipe　from　her　pocket。　　〃I　ain't　one　of　the　kind　who　thinks　their　houses　too　good　to　live　in。　　Guess　I　won't　bother　washing　the　dishes。　　They'll　do　yez　for　breakfast　if　yez　don't　forget　your　places。　　I　s'pose　none　of　yez　smokes。〃

〃No；〃　said　Felicity；　rather　primly。

〃Then　yez　don't　know　what's　good　for　yez；〃　retorted　Peg；　rather　grumpily。　　But　a　few　whiffs　of　her　pipe　placated　her　and；　observing　Cecily　sigh；　she　asked　her　kindly　what　was　the　matter。

〃I'm　thinking　how　worried　they'll　be　at　home　about　us；〃　explained　Cecily。

〃Bless　you；　dearie；　don't　be　worrying　over　that。　　I'll　send　them　word　that　yez　are　all　snug　and　safe　here。〃

〃But　how　can　you？〃　cried　amazed　Cecily。

〃Better　not　ask；〃　said　Peg　again；　with　another　glance　at　the　skull。

An　uncomfortable　silence　followed；　finally　broken　by　Peg；　who　introduced　her　pets　to　us　and　told　how　she　had　come　by　them。　　The　black　cat　was　her　favourite。

〃That　cat　knows　more　than　I　do；　if　yez'll　believe　it；〃　she　said　proudly。　　〃I've　got　a　rat　too；　but　he's　a　bit　shy　when　strangers　is　round。　　Your　cat　got　all　right　again　that　time；　didn't　he？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　Story　Girl。

〃Thought　he　would；〃　said　Peg；　nodding　sagely。　　〃I　seen　to　that。　　Now；　don't　yez　all　be　staring　at　the　hole　in　my　dress。〃

〃We　weren't；〃　was　our　chorus　of　protest。

〃Looked　as　if　yez　were。　　I　tore　that　yesterday　but　I　didn't　mend　it。　　I　was　brought　up　to　believe　that　a　hole　was　an　accident　but　a　patch　was　a　disgrace。　　And　so　your　Aunt　Olivia　is　going　to　be　married　after　all？〃

This　was　news　to　us。　　We　felt　and　looked　dazed。

〃I　never　heard　anything　of　it；〃　said　the　Story　Girl。

〃Oh；　it's　true　enough。　　She's　a　great　fool。　　I've　no　faith　in　husbands。　　But　one　good　thing　is　she　ain't　going　to　marry　that　Henry　Jacobs　of　Markdale。　　He　wants　her　bad　enough。　　Just　like　his　presumption；thinking　himself　good　enough　for　a　King。　　His　father　is　the　worst　man　alive。　　He　chased　me　off　his　place　with　his　dog　once。　　But　I'll　get　even　with　him　yet。〃

Peg　looked　very　savage；　and　visions　of　burned　barns　floated　through　our　minds。

〃He'll　be　punished　in　hell；　you　know；〃　said　Peter　timidly。

〃But　I　won't　be　there　to　see　that；〃　rejoined　Peg。　　〃Some　folks　say　I'll　go　there　because　I　don't　go　to　church　oftener。　　But　I　don't　believe　it。〃

〃Why　don't　you　go？〃　asked　Peter；　with　a　temerity　that　bordered　on　rashness。

〃Well；　I've　got　so　sunburned　I'm　afraid　folks