the original peter rabbit books([1].波特文集)-第13节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
she was sure that the little dog would comeshe popped HER pie into the
oven。 There were two ovens； one above the other； some other knobs and
handles were only ornamental and not intended to open。 Ribby put the pie
into the lower oven； the door was very stiff。
〃The top oven bakes too quickly；〃 said Ribby to herself。 〃It is a
pie of the most delicate and tender mouse minced up with bacon。 And
I have taken out all the bones； because Duchess did nearly choke herself
with a fish…bone last time I gave a party。 She eats a little fast rather big
mouthfuls。 But a most genteel and elegant little dog infinitely superior
company to Cousin Tabitha Twitchit。〃
Ribby put on some coal and swept up the hearth。 Then she went out
with a can to the well； for water to fill up the kettle。
Then she began to set the room in order； for it was the sitting…room as
well as the kitchen。 She shook the mats out at the front…door and put them
straight； the hearth…rug was a rabbit…skin。 She dusted the clock and the
ornaments on the mantelpiece； and she polished and rubbed the tables and
chairs。
Then she spread a very clean white table…cloth； and set out her best
china tea…set； which she took out of a wall…cupboard near the fireplace。
The tea…cups were white with a pattern of pink roses； and the dinner…plates
were white and blue。
When Ribby had laid the table she took a jug and a blue and white dish；
and went out down the field to the farm； to fetch milk and butter。
When she came back； she peeped into the bottom oven； the pie
53
… Page 54…
The Original Peter Rabbit Books
looked very comfortable。
Ribby put on her shawl and bonnet and went out again with a basket；
to the village shop to buy a packet of tea； a pound of lump sugar； and a pot
of marmalade。
And just at the same time； Duchess came out of HER house； at the
other end of the village。
Ribby met Duchess half…way own the street； also carrying a basket；
covered with a cloth。 They only bowed to one another； they did not speak；
because they were going to have a party。
As soon as Duchess had got round the corner out of sightshe simply
ran！ Straight away to Ribby's house！
Ribby went into the shop and bought what she required； and came out；
after a pleasant gossip with Cousin Tabitha Twitchit。
Cousin Tabitha was disdainful afterwards in conversation
〃A little DOG indeed！ Just as if there were no CATS in Sawrey！ And a
PIE for afternoon tea！ The very idea！〃 said Cousin Tabitha Twitchit。
Ribby went on to Timothy Baker's and bought the muffins。 Then she
went home。
There seemed to be a sort of scuffling noise in the back passage； as
she was coming in at the front door。
〃I trust that is not that Pie： the spoons are locked up； however；〃 said
Ribby。
But there was nobody there Ribby opened the bottom oven door with
some difficulty； and turned the pie。 There began to be a pleasing smell of
baked mouse！
Duchess in the meantime； had slipped out at the back door。
〃It is a very odd thing that Ribby's pie was NOT in the oven when I
put mine in！ And I can t find it anywhere； I have looked all over the house。
I put MY pie into a nice hot oven at the top。 I could not turn any of the
other handles； I think that they are all shams；〃 said Duchess； 〃but I wish I
could have removed the pie made of mouse！ I cannot think what she has
done with it？ I heard Ribby coming and I had to run out by the back
door！〃
Duchess went home and brushed her beautiful black coat； and then
54
… Page 55…
The Original Peter Rabbit Books
she picked a bunch of flowers in her garden as a present for Ribby； and
passed the time until the clock struck four。
Ribbyhaving assured herself by careful search that there was really
no one hiding in the cupboard or in the larderwent upstairs to change her
dress。
She put on a lilac silk gown； for the party； and an embroidered muslin
apron and tippet。
〃It is very strange；〃 said Ribby； 〃I did not THINK I left that drawer
pulled out； has somebody been trying on my mittens？〃
She came downstairs again； and made the tea； and put the teapot on the
hob。 She peeped again into the BOTTOM oven； the pie had become a
lovely brown； and it was steaming hot。
She sat down before the fire to wait for the little dog。 〃I am glad I
used the BOTTOM oven；〃 said Ribby； 〃the top one would certainly have
been very much too hot。 I wonder why that cupboard door was open？ Can
there really have been some one in the house？〃
Very punctually at four o'clock； Duchess started to go to the party。
She ran so fast through the village that she was too early； and she had to
wait a little while in the lane that leads down to Ribby's house。
〃I wonder if Ribby has taken MY pie out of the oven yet？〃 said
Duchess； 〃and whatever can have become of the other pie made of
mouse？〃
At a quarter past four to the minute； there came a most genteel little
tap…tappity。 〃Is Mrs。 Ribston at home？〃 inquired Duchess in the porch。
〃Come in！ and how do you do； my dear Duchess？〃 cried Ribby。 〃I
hope I see you well？〃
〃Quite well； I thank you； and how do YOU do； my dear Ribby？〃 said
Duchess。 〃I've brought you some flowers； what a delicious smell of pie！〃
〃Oh； what lovely flowers！ Yes； it is mouse and bacon！〃
〃Do not talk about food； my dear Ribby；〃 said Duchess； 〃what a lovely
white tea…cloth！ 。 。 。 。 Is it done to a turn？ Is it still in the oven？〃
〃I think it wants another five minutes；〃 said Ribby。 〃Just a shade
longer； I will pour out the tea； while we wait。 Do you take sugar； my dear
Duchess？〃
55
… Page 56…
The Original Peter Rabbit Books
〃Oh yes； please！ my dear Ribby； and may I have a lump upon my
nose？〃
〃With pleasure； my dear Duchess； how beautifully you beg！ Oh； how
sweetly pretty！〃
Duchess sat up with the sugar on her nose and sniffed
〃How good that pie smells！ I do love veal and hamI mean to say
mouse and bacon〃
She dropped the sugar in confusion； and had to go hunting under
the tea…table； so did not see which oven Ribby opened in order to get
out the pie。
Ribby set the pie upon the table； there was a very savoury smell。
Duchess came out from under the table…cloth munching sugar； and sat
up on a chair。
〃I will first cut the pie for you； I am going to have muffin and
marmalade；〃 said Ribby。
〃Do you really prefer muffin？ Mind the patty…pan！〃
〃 I beg your pardon？〃 said Ribby。
〃May I pass you the marmalade？〃 said Duchess hurriedly。
The pie proved extremely toothsome； and the muffins light and hot。
They disappeared rapidly； especially the pie！
〃I think〃（thought the Duchess to herself）〃I THINK it would be
wiser if I helped myself to pie； though Ribby did not seem to notice
anything when she was cutting it。 What very small fine pieces it has
cooked into！ I did not remember that I had minced it up so fine； I suppose
this is a quicker oven than my own。〃
〃How fast Duchess is eating！〃 thought Ribby to herself； as she a
buttered her fifth muffin。
The pie…dish was emptying rapidly！ Duchess had had four helps
already； and was fumbling with the spoon。
〃A little more bacon； my dear Duchess？〃 said Ribby。
〃Thank you； my dear Ribby； I was only feeling for the patty…pan。〃
〃The patty…pan？ my dear Duchess？〃
〃The patty…pan that held up the pie…crust；〃 said Duchess； blushing
under her black coat。
56
… Page 57…
The Original Peter Rabbit Books
〃Oh； I didn't put one in； my dear Duchess；〃 said Ribby； 〃I don't think
that it is necessary in pies made of mouse。〃
Duchess fumbled with the spoon 〃I can't find it！〃 she said
anxiously。
〃There isn't a patty…pan；〃 said Ribby； looking perplexed。
〃Yes； indeed； my dear Ribby； where can it have gone
