the original peter rabbit books([1].波特文集)-第4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！
〃Oh！ Mother； Mother； there has been an old man rat in the dairya
dreadful 'normous big rat； Mother； and he's stolen a pat of butter and the
rolling…pin。〃
Ribby and Tabitha looked at one another。
〃A rolling…pin and butter！ Oh； my poor son Thomas！〃 exclaimed
Tabitha； wringing her paws。
〃A rolling…pin？〃 said Ribby。 〃Did we not hear a roly…poly noise in the
attic when we were looking into that chest？〃
Ribby and Tabitha rushed upstairs again。 Sure enough the roly…poly
noise was still going on quite distinctly under the attic floor
〃This is serious； Cousin Tabitha；〃 said Ribby。 〃We must send for John
Joiner at once； with a saw。〃
Now this is what had been happening to Tom Kitten； and it shows
how very unwise it is to go up a chimney in a very old house； where a
person does not know his way； and where there are enormous rats。
Tom Kitten did not want to be shut up in a cupboard。 When he saw
that his mother was going to bake； he determined to hide。
He looked about for a nice convenient place； and he fixed upon the
chimney。
The fire had only just been lighted； and it was not hot； but there was a
white choky smoke from the green sticks。 Tom Kitten got upon the fender
and looked up。 It was a big old…fashioned fireplace。
The chimney itself was wide enough inside for a man to stand up and
walk about。 So there was plenty of room for a little Tom Cat
He jumped right up into the fireplace； balancing himself upon the
iron bar where the kettle hangs。
15
… Page 16…
The Original Peter Rabbit Books
Tom Kitten took another big jump off the bar； and landed on a ledge
high up inside the chimney； knocking down some soot into the fender。
Tom Kitten coughed and choked with the smoke； he could hear the
sticks beginning to crackle and burn in the fireplace down below。 He made
up his mind to climb right to the top； and get out on the slates； and try to
catch sparrows。
〃I cannot go back。 If I slipped I might fall in the fire and singe my
beautiful tail and my little blue jacket。〃
The chimney was a very big old…fashioned one。 It was built in the days
when people burnt logs of wood upon the hearth。
The chimney stack stood up above the roof like a little stone tower；
and the daylight shone down from the top； under the slanting slates that
kept out the rain。
Tom Kitten was getting very frightened！ He climbed up； and up； and
up
Then he waded sideways through inches of soot。 He was like a little
sweep himself。
It was most confusing in the dark。 One flue seemed to lead into
another。
There was less smoke； but Tom Kitten felt quite lost。
He scrambled up and up； but before he reached the chimney top he
came to a place where somebody had loosened a stone in the wall。 There
were some mutton bones lying about
〃This seems funny；〃 said Tom Kitten。 〃Who has been gnawing bones
up here in the chimney？ I wish I had never come！ And what a funny smell！
It is something like mouse； only dreadfully strong。 It makes me sneeze；〃
said Tom Kitten。
He squeezed through the hole in the wall； and dragged himself along
a most uncomfortably tight passage where there was scarcely any light。
He groped his way carefully for several yards； he was at the back of
the skirting… board in the attic； where there is a little mark * in the picture。
All at once he fell head over heels in the dark； down a hole； and
landed on a heap of very dirty rags。
When Tom Kitten picked himself up and looked about himhe found
16
… Page 17…
The Original Peter Rabbit Books
himself in a place that he had never seen before； although he had lived all
his life in the house。
It was a very small stuffy fusty room； with boards； and rafters； and
cobwebs； and lath and plaster。
Opposite to himas far away as he could sitwas an enormous rat。
〃What do you mean by tumbling into my bed all covered with smuts？〃
said the rat； chattering his teeth。
〃Please sir； the chimney wants sweeping；〃 said poor Tom Kitten。
〃Anna Maria！ Anna Maria！〃 squeaked the rat。 There was a pattering
noise and an old woman rat poked her head round a rafter。
All in a minute she rushed upon Tom Kitten； and before he knew
what was happening
His coat was pulled off； and he was rolled up in a bundle； and tied with
string in very hard knots。
Anna Maria did the tying。 The old rat watched her and took snuff。
When she had finished； they both sat staring at him with their mouths
open。
〃Anna Maria；〃 said the old man rat （whose name was Samuel
Whiskers）； 〃Anna Maria； make me a kitten dumpling roly…poly pudding
for my dinner。〃
〃It requires dough and a pat of butter； and a rolling…pin；〃 said Anna
Maria； considering Tom Kitten with her head on one side。
〃No；〃 said Samuel Whiskers； 〃make it properly； Anna Maria； with
breadcrumbs。〃
Nonsense！ Butter and dough；〃 replied Anna Maria。
The two rats consulted together for a few minutes and then went
away。
Samuel Whiskers got through a hole in the wainscot； and went boldly
down the front staircase to the dairy to get the butter。 He did not meet
anybody。
He made a second journey for the rolling… pin。 He pushed it in front of
him with his paws； like a brewer's man trundling a barrel。
He could hear Ribby and Tabitha talking； but they were busy lighting
the candle to look into the chest。
17
… Page 18…
The Original Peter Rabbit Books
They did not see him。
Anna Maria went down by way of the skirting…board and a window
shutter to the kitchen to steal the dough。
She borrowed a small saucer； and scooped up the dough with her
paws。
She did not observe Moppet。
While Tom Kitten was left alone under the floor of the attic； he
wriggled about and tried to mew for help。
But his mouth was full of soot and cob… webs； and he was tied up in
such very tight knots； he could not make anybody hear him。
Except a spider； which came out of a crack in the ceiling and examined
the knots critically； from a safe distance。
It was a judge of knots because it had a habit of tying up unfortunate
blue…bottles。 It did not offer to assist him。
Tom Kitten wriggled and squirmed until he was quite exhausted。
Presently the rats came back and set to work to make him into a
dumpling。 First they smeared him with butter； and then they rolled him in
the dough。
〃Will not the string be very indigestible； Anna Maria？〃 inquired
Samuel Whiskers。
Anna Maria said she thought that it was of no consequence； but she
wished that Tom Kitten would hold his head still； as it disarranged the
pastry。 She laid hold of his ears。
Tom Kitten bit and spat； and mewed and wriggled； and the rolling…pin
went roly… poly； roly； roly； poly； roly。 The rats each held an end。
〃His tail is sticking out！ You did not fetch enough dough； Anna
Maria。〃
〃I fetched as much as I could carry；〃 replied Anna Maria。
〃I do not think〃said Samuel Whiskers； pausing to take a look at Tom
Kitten〃I do NOT think it will be a good pudding。 It smells sooty。〃
Anna Maria was about to argue the point； when all at once there began
to be other sounds up abovethe rasping noise of a saw； and the noise of a
little dog； scratching and yelping！
The rats dropped the rolling…pin； and listened attentively。
18
… Page 19…
The Original Peter Rabbit Books
〃We are discovered and interrupted； Anna Maria； let us collect our
property； and other people's；and depart at once。〃
〃I fear that we shall be obliged to leave this pudding。〃
〃But I am persuaded that the knots would have proved indigestible；
whatever you may urge to the contrary。〃
〃Come away at once and help me to
