the grey brethren(阴郁的教友们)-第11节
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Next morning two of the court ushers came to escort them to the
Cabinet Council。 Poor daffodils！ Their eyes were red with weeping；
and they could scarcely stand for terror when they entered the tent where
the examination was to take place。
In the middle on a raised dais sat the king and queen； on their right
stood the three princes； on their left the councillors in their robes of state。
Three chairs were placed for the maidens； and they were politely but
firmly requested to take off their shoes and stockings。
Blushing crimson the daffodils slowly and unwillingly took off their
shoes。 Then they cried a little and said they really truly couldn't； but it
was no use； and the stockings had to follow； and six little green feet were
exposed to view。
〃They wear two pairs； I see；〃 said the queen； who was a little short…
sighted。 〃Very sensible； I'm sure； in this damp place。 Take off the other
pair； my dears。〃
But the daffodils only hung their heads and wept。
Then one of the councillors cried out； in a horrified tone … 〃Their feet
are green！ They are monstrosities！〃 and at that very moment heralds
were heard outside announcing the arrival of the Princesses of
Goldenland。
Now the king was a shrewd old gentleman； and the true state of affairs
suddenly flashed upon him。 〃They are impostors！〃 he cried； rising to his
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feet； 〃turn the deceitful minxes out。〃
At that the maidens rose and fled。 They never stopped for shoes or
stockings； but ran like hunted hares out of the tent across the fields； and
when the people saw their little green feet a great shout of laughter went
up； in which the king and the princes joined。 As for the daffodils； they
ran and ran and ran； not daring even to look behind them； till they
suddenly stopped for want of breath； and where do you think they were？
Why in their old home under the oak tree。 Most of the daffodils had
gone to sleep； but a few were left； and among them their little sister。 At
her side stood the fairy。
〃Well； my dears； do you like being girls？〃 and there was a twinkle in
her eye as she spoke。
But the daffodils were sobbing too bitterly to answer； and the fairy had
a kind heart and did not press the question。 〃Would you be content to be
daffodils again？〃 she asked； and smiled at them sweetly。
They murmured a thankful 〃Yes〃； the fairy waved her wand； and in a
trice the maidens were gone and there were three more flowers； very pale
faded ones； growing under the gnarled oak tree。 Poor discontented
daffodils！ They had to pay a heavy price for their folly。
The cuckoo came back time after time； and never wearied of teasing
them； and their little sister made many very true but disagreeable remarks
on the extreme silliness of being discontented with one's surroundings。
Perhaps by next spring things may be better； but of this you may be
quite sure； no amount of cuckoos will ever persuade the flowers in that
nook to be anything but what nature intended them to be … sweet little
daffodils。
The Fairy Fluffikins
THE Fairy Fluffikins lived in a warm woolly nest in a hole down an
old oak tree。 She was the sweetest； funniest little fairy you ever saw。
She wore a little； soft； fluffy brown dress； and on her head a little red
woolly cap； she had soft red hair and the brightest； naughtiest； merriest；
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The Grey Brethren
sharpest brown eyes imaginable。
What a life she led the animals！ Fairy Fluffikins was a sad tease； she
would creep into the nests where the fat baby dormice were asleep in bed
while Mamma dormouse nodded over her knitting and Papa smoked his
little acorn pipe； and she would tickle the babies till they screamed with
laughter and nearly rolled out of bed； and Mamma scolded； and Papa said
in a gruff voice … 〃What a plague you are； you little dors； go to sleep this
minute or I will fetch my big stick。〃
And then the babies would shake； for they were afraid of the big stick；
and naughty Fairy Fluffikins would dance off to find some fresh piece of
mischief。
One night she had fine fun。 She found a little dead mouse in a field；
and at first she was sorry for the mouse； and thought she would bury it and
plant a daisy on its grave； but then an idea struck her。 She hunted about
till she found a piece of long； strong grass； and then she took the little
mouse； tied the piece of grass round its tail； and ran away with it to the big
tree where the Ancient Owl lived。 There was a little hole at the bottom of
the tree and into it Fairy Fluffikins crept； leaving the mouse outside in the
moonlight。 Presently she heard a gruff voice in the tree saying …
〃I smell mouse； I smell mouse。〃 Then there was a swoop of wings；
and Fairy Fluffikins promptly drew the mouse into the little hole and
stuffed its tail into her mouth so that she might not be heard laughing； and
the gruff voice said angrily …
〃Where's that mouse gone？ I smelt mouse； I know I smelt mouse！〃
She grew tired of this game after a few times； so she left the mouse in
the hole and crept away to a new one。 She really was a naughty fairy。
She blew on the buttercups so that they thought the morning breeze had
come to wake them up； and opened their cups in a great hurry。 She
buzzed outside the clover and made it talk in its sleep； so that it said in a
cross； sleepy voice … 〃Go away； you stupid busy bee； and don't wake me up
in the middle of the night。〃
She pulled the tail of the nightingale who was singing to his lady… love
in the hawthorn bush； and he lost his place in his song and nearly tumbled
over backwards into the garden。 Then to her joy she met an elderly；
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domestic puss taking an evening walk with a view to field…mice。
Here was sport。 Fluffikins hid in the grass and squeaked； and when
the elderly cat came tearing up she pulled his whiskers and flew away （I
forgot to tell you that she had little； soft wings）； and the elderly cat jumped
and said …
〃Mouse…traps and mince…meat！ Fancy a cat of my age and
experience taking a bat for a mouse！ But by my claws I heard a mouse's
squeak。〃
Fairy Fluffikins often met the poor elderly cat； and always led him
some dreadful dance； now and then taking a ride on his back into the
bargain； till he thought he must have got the nightmare。
One day Fairy Fluffikins was well paid out for some of her
naughtiness。 She was flying away from a tree where she had just
wrapped a sleeping bat's head up in a large cobweb； when she heard the
sweep of wings； felt a sharp nip … and in less time than it takes to tell found
herself in the nest of the Ancient Owl。
〃My wig！〃 said the Ancient Owl； much surprised； 〃I thought you were
a bat。〃 And he called his wife and three children to look。
Now when Fairy Fluffikins saw five pairs of large round eyes blinking
and staring at her she lost her head and cried out … 〃Please； please； Mr
Ancient Owl； don't be angry with me and I will never play tricks with
mice any more；〃 and so told the Ancient Owl what he had never even
suspected before。
Then the Ancient Owl was MOST DREADFULLY ANGRY and read
Fairy Fluffikins a long sermon about the wickedness of deceiving Ancient
Owls。 The sermon took two hours and a half； and when it was over all
the owls hooted at her and pecked her； and Fairy Fluffikins was very glad
indeed when at last Mrs Ancient Owl gave her a push and said …
〃Go along； you impertinent brown minx；〃 and she was able to go out
into the night。
Even this sad adventure did not cure Fairy Fluffikins of getting into
mischief
