the golden age(金色时代)-第7节
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young mutineer； faring forth under the genial sun？ Anyhow； here was the
friendly well； in its old place； half way up the lane。 Hither the yoke…
shouldering village…folk were wont to come to fill their clinking buckets；
when the drippings made worms of wet in the thick dust of the road。
They had flat wooden crosses inside each pail； which floated on the top
and （we were instructed） served to prevent the water from slopping over。
We used to wonder by what magic this strange principle worked； and who
first invented the crosses； and whether he got a peerage for it。 But indeed
the well was a centre of mystery； for a hornet's nest was somewhere hard
by； and the very thought was fearsome。 Wasps we knew well and
disdained； storming them in their fastnesses。 But these great Beasts；
vestured in angry orange； three stings from whichso 't was averred
would kill a horse； these were of a different kidney； and their warning
drone suggested prudence and retreat。 At this time neither villagers nor
hornets encroached on the stillness： lessons； apparently； pervaded all
Nature。 So； after dabbling awhile in the wellwhat boy has ever passed
a bit of water without messing in it？I scrambled through the hedge；
avoiding the hornet…haunted side； and struck into the silence of the copse。
If the lane had been deserted； this was loneliness become personal。
Here mystery lurked and peeped； here brambles caught and held with a
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purpose of their own； and saplings whipped the face with human spite。
The copse； too； proved vaster in extent； more direfully drawn out； than one
would ever have guessed from its frontage on the lane： and I was really
glad when at last the wood opened and sloped down to a streamlet
brawling forth into the sunlight。 By this cheery companion I wandered
along； conscious of little but that Nature； in providing store of water…rats；
had thoughtfully furnished provender of right…sized stones。 Rapids； also；
there were； telling of canoes and portagescrinkling bays and inletscaves
for pirates and hidden treasuresthe wise Dame had forgotten nothingtill
at last； after what lapse of time I know not； my further course； though not
the stream's； was barred by some six feet of stout wire netting； stretched
from side to side； just where a thick hedge； arching till it touched； forbade
all further view。
The excitement of the thing was becoming thrilling。 A Black Flag
must surely be fluttering close by。 Here was evidently a malignant
contrivance of the Pirates； designed to baffle our gun… boats when we
dashed up…stream to shell them from their lair。 A gun…boat； indeed； might
well have hesitated； so stout was the netting； so close the hedge： but I
spied where a rabbit was wont to pass； close down by the water's edge；
where a rabbit could go a boy could follow； albeit stomach…wise and with
one leg in the stream； so the passage was achieved； and I stood inside； safe
but breathless at the sight。
Gone was the brambled waste； gone the flickering tangle of woodland。
Instead； terrace after terrace of shaven sward； stone… edged； urn…cornered；
stepped delicately down to where the stream； now tamed and educated；
passed from one to another marble basin； in which on occasion gleams of
red hinted at gold…fish in among the spreading water…lilies。 The scene lay
silent and slumbrous in the brooding noonday sun： the drowsing peacock
squatted humped on the lawn； no fish leapt in the pools； nor bird declared
himself from the environing hedges。 Self…confessed it was here； then； at
last the Garden of Sleep！
Two things； in those old days； I held in especial distrust： gamekeepers
and gardeners。 Seeing； however； no baleful apparitions of either nature； I
pursued my way between rich flower…beds； in search of the necessary
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Princess。 Conditions declared her presence patently as trumpets；
without this centre such surroundings could not exist。 A pavilion； gold
topped； wreathed with lush jessamine； beckoned with a special
significance over close…set shrubs。 There； if anywhere； She should be
enshrined。 Instinct； and some knowledge of the habits of princesses；
triumphed； for （indeed） there She was！ In no tranced repose； however；
but laughingly； struggling to disengage her hand from the grasp of a
grown…up man who occupied the marble bench with her。 （As to age； I
suppose now that the two swung in respective scales that pivoted on
twenty。 But children heed no minor distinctions； to them； the inhabited
world is composed of the two main divisions： children and upgrown
people； the latter being in no way superior to the formeronly hopelessly
different。 These two； then； belonged to the grown…up section。） I paused；
thinking it strange they should prefer seclusion when there were fish to be
caught； and butterflies to hunt in the sun outside； and as I cogitated thus；
the grown…up man caught sight of me。
〃Hallo； sprat！〃 he said； with some abruptness； 〃where do you spring
from？〃
〃I came up the stream；〃 I explained politely and comprehensively；
〃and I was only looking for the Princess。〃
〃Then you are a water…baby；〃 he replied。 〃And what do you think of
the Princess； now you've found her？〃
〃I think she is lovely；〃 I said （and doubtless I was right； having never
learned to flatter）。 〃But she's wide…awake； so I suppose somebody has
kissed her！〃
This very natural deduction moved the grown…up man to laughter； but
the Princess； turning red and jumping up； declared that it was time for
lunch。
〃Come along； then；〃 said the grown…up man； 〃and you too； Water…
baby； come and have something solid。 You must want it。〃
I accompanied them； without any feeling of false delicacy。 The
world； as known to me； was spread with food each several mid…day； and
the particular table one sat at seemed a matter of no importance。 The
palace was very sumptuous and beautiful； just what a palace ought to be；
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and we were met by a stately lady； rather more grownup than the Princess…
…apparently her mother。
My friend the Man was very kind； and introduced me as the Captain；
saying I had just run down from Aldershot。 I didn't know where
Aldershot was； but had no manner of doubt that he was perfectly right。
As a rule； indeed； grown…up people are fairly correct on matters of fact； it
is in the higher gift of imagination that they are so sadly to seek。
The lunch was excellent and varied。 Another gentleman in beautiful
clothesa lord； presumablylifted me into a high carved chair； and stood
behind it； brooding over me like a Providence。 I endeavoured to explain
who I was and where I had come from； and to impress the company with
my own tooth…brush and Harold's tables； but either they were stupidor is
it a characteristic of Fairyland that every one laughs at the most ordinary
remarks？ My friend the Man said good…naturedly； 〃All right； Water…baby；
you came up the stream； and that's good enough for us。〃 The lorda
reserved sort of man； I thoughttook no share in the conversation。
After lunch I walked on the terrace with the Princess and my friend the
Man； and was very proud。 And I told him what I was going to be； and he
told me what he was going to be； and then I remarked； 〃I suppose you two
are going to get married？〃 He only laughed； after the Fairy fashion。
〃Because if you aren't；〃 I added； 〃you really ought to〃： meaning o
