the grey brethren(阴郁的教友们)-第7节
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Ah； this is best And this most meet； Sweet； sweet！ ah； sweet！
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The Grey Brethren
'Luvly Miss'
NOBODY thought of consequences。 There was a lighted paraffin
lamp on the table and nothing else handy。 Mrs Brown's head presented a
tempting mark； and of course Mr Brown's lengthy stay at 'The Three
Fingers' had something to do with it； but nobody thought of Miss Brown；
aged four； who was playing happily on the floor； unruffled by the storm to
which she was so well accustomed。
Mrs Brown ducked； there was a smash； a scream； and poor little Miss
Brown was in a blaze。 The shock sobered the father and silenced the
mother。 Miss Brown was extinguished with the aid of a table… cover；
much water； and many neighbours； but she was horribly burnt all over；
except her face。
* * * * *
I made Miss Brown's acquaintance a few days later。 She was lying
on a bed made up on two chairs； and was covered with cotton wool。 She
had scarcely any pain； and could not move at all； and the small face that
peered out of what she called her 〃pitty warm snow〃 was wan and drawn
and had a far…away look in the dark eyes。
Miss Brown possessed one treasure； her 'luvly miss。' I suppose I
must call it a doll； though in what its claim to the title consisted I dared not
ask； Miss Brown would have deeply resented the enquiry。 It was a very
large potato with a large and a small bulge。 Into the large bulge were
inserted three pieces of fire… wood； the body and arms of 'luvly miss'； legs
she had none。
How Miss Brown came by this treasure I never heard。 She had an
impression that it 〃flied froo the winder〃 … I fancy Mr Brown had a hand in
the manufacture in one of his lucid moments； but it was a treasure indeed
and the joy of Miss Brown's life。 She held long conversations with 'luvly
miss' on all familiar subjects； and apparently obtained much strange and
rare information from her。 For example； Miss Brown and 'luvly miss' in
some previous stage of their existence had inhabited a large chimney…pot
together； 〃where it was always so warm and a bootie 'mell of cookin'。'〃
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Also she had a rooted belief that one day she and 'luvly miss' would be
〃hangels wiv' black weils and basticks。〃 This puzzled me for some time；
until I discovered it to be an allusion to the good deaconess who attended
her； and whom Mrs Brown in gratitude designated by this title。
Alas for little Miss Brown and her 'luvly miss'！ their respective ends
were drawing near。 I went in one Friday； a week or so after the accident；
and found Mrs Brown in tears and despair； and Miss Brown with a look of
anguish on her poor little pinched face that was bad to see。 'Luvly Miss'
was no more。
It was Mr Brown again； or； to trace back the links of occasion； it was
the action of 'The Three Fingers' on Mr Brown's frail constitution。 He
had come in late； seen 'luvly miss' on the table； and； with his usual
heedlessness of consequence； had chucked her into the dying embers
where … alas that I should have to say it！ … she slowly baked。 Little Miss
Brown； when the miserable truth was broken to her； neither wept nor
remonstrated； she lay quite still with a look of utter forsaken wretchedness
on her tiny white face； and moaned very softly for 'luvly miss。'
I came face to face with this state of things and I confess it staggered
me。 I knew Miss Brown too well to hope that any pink… and…white
darling from the toy…shop could replace 'luvly miss；' or that she could be
persuaded to admit even a very image of the dear departed into her
affections。 Then； too； the doctor said Miss Brown had but a few days at
the most； perhaps only hours； to live； and comforted she must be。
All at once I had an inspiration； and never in my life have I welcomed
one more。 I knelt down by little Miss Brown and told her the story of the
Phoenix。 I had not reckoned in vain upon her imagination： would I
〃yerely and twooly bwing〃 her 〃werry own luvly miss out of the ashes？〃
I lied cheerfully and hastened away to the dust…bin； accompanied by Mrs
Brown。
In a few minutes we returned with a pail of ashes； the ashes； of course；
of 'luvly miss' mingled with those of the cruel fire which had consumed
her。 I danced solemnly round them； murmured mysterious words； parted
the ashes； and revealed the form of 'luvly miss。' Love's eyes were not
sharp to mark a change； and little Miss Brown's misplaced faith in me was
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strong。 Never shall I forget the scream of joy which greeted the restored
treasure； or the relief with which I saw an expression of peace settle once
more on Miss Brown's face。
I saw them again next day。 Little Miss Brown was asleep in her last
little bed； still wrapped in the 〃pitty warm snow；〃 and 'luvly miss' lay
beside her。
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The Grey Brethren
Four Stories Told to Children
The Story of the Dreadful Griffin。
MY DEAR CHILDREN； … I am going to tell you a really breathless
story for your holiday treat。 It will have to begin with the moral； because
everyone will be too much exhausted to read one at the end； and as the
moral is the only part that really matters； it is important to come to it quite
fresh。
We will； therefore； endeavour to learn from this story：…
If we fly at all； to fly HIGH。 To be extremely polite。 To be kind and
grateful to cats and all other animals。
All the trouble arose one day when the Princess （there is always a
Princess in a fairy…tale； you know） was playing in the garden with her ball。
She threw it up in the air much higher than usual and it never came down
again。 There was an awful shriek； like ten thousand steam…engines； all
the ladies…in…waiting fainted in a row； the inhabitants of the place went
stone…deaf； and the Captain of the Guard； who was in attendance with a
company of his troops； seized the Princess； put her on his horse； galloped
away followed by his soldiers to a castle on the top of a hill； deposited the
Princess in the highest room； and then and only then； told her what had
happened。
〃Miss；〃 he said； for he was so upset he forgot Court etiquette； 〃Miss；
your ball must have hit the Dreadful Griffin in the eye （I noticed he was
taking a little fly in the neighbourhood）； and that was the reason of the
awful shriek。 Well； Miss； the Dreadful Griffin never was known to
forgive anybody anything； so I snatched you up quick before he could get
at you and brought you to the Castle of the White Cats。 There are
seventeen of these animals sitting outside the door and twenty…seven more
standing in the courtyard； so you're as safe as safe can be； for the Dreadful
Griffin can't look at a white cat without getting the ague and then he
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shakes so a mouse wouldn't be afraid of him。 And now； Miss； I must go
back to your Royal Pa； so I will wish you good…morning。〃
Having made this long speech the Captain suddenly remembered the
Court etiquette； became very hot and red； went out of the room backwards；
and instantly fell over the seventeen cats who all swore at him； which so
confused the poor man that he rolled down the stairs and out into the court
where the twenty…seven cats were having rations of mouse…pie served out
to them； and the Captain rolled into the middle of the pie； scalded himself
badly with the gravy； and was thankful to jump on his horse and ride away
with his soldiers to report matters to the King。
The King was so pleased with his prompt
