voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第8节
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pot； 〃if a man could only manage to get right down to the bottom of the
sea； and live there a while； he would discover some wonderful things
things that people have never dreamed of。〃
〃But men do go down； don't they？〃 I asked〃divers and people like
that？〃
〃Oh yes； to be sure；〃 said the Doctor。 〃Divers go down。 I've been down
myself in a diving…suit； for that matter。 But my！they only go where the
sea is shallow。 Divers can't go down where it is really deep。 What I would
like to do is to go down to the great depthswhere it is miles deepWell；
well； I dare say I shall manage it some day。 Let me give you another cup
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of tea。〃
THE EIGHTH CHAPTER
ARE YOU A GOOD NOTICER？
JUST at that moment Polynesia came into the room and said
something to the Doctor in bird language。 Of course I did not understand
what it was。 But the Doctor at once put down his knife and fork and left
the room。
〃You know it is an awful shame；〃 said the parrot as soon as the Doctor
had closed the door。 〃Directly he comes back home； all the animals over
the whole countryside get to hear of it and every sick cat and mangy rabbit
for miles around comes to see him and ask his advice。 Now there's a big
fat hare outside at the back door with a squawking baby。 Can she see the
Doctor； please！Thinks it's going to have convulsions。 Stupid little thing's
been eating Deadly Nightshade again； I suppose。 The animals are SO
inconsiderate at timesespecially the mothers。 They come round and call
the Doctor away from his meals and wake him out of his bed at all hours
of the night。 I don't know how he stands it really I don't。 Why； the poor
man never gets any peace at all！ I've told him time and again to have
special hours for the animals to come。 But he is so frightfully kind and
con…siderate。 He never refuses to see them if there is anything really
wrong with them。 He says the urgent cases must be seen at once。〃
〃Why don't some of the animals go and see the other doctors？〃 I
asked。
〃Oh Good Gracious！〃 exclaimed the parrot； tossing her head scornfully。
〃Why； there aren't any other animal…doctorsnot real doctors。 Oh of
course there ARE those vet persons； to be sure。 But； bless you； they're no
good。 You see； they can't understand the animals' language； so how can
you expect them to be any use？ Imagine yourself； or your father； going to
see a doctor who could not understand a word you saynor even tell you
in your own language what you must do to get well！ Poof！those vets！
They're that stupid； you've no idea！Put the Doctor's bacon down by the
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fire； will you？to keep hot till he comes back。〃
〃Do you think I would ever be able to learn the language of the
animals？〃 I asked； laying the plate upon the hearth。
〃Well； it all depends；〃 said Polynesia。 〃Are you clever at lessons？〃
〃I don't know；〃 I answered； feeling rather ashamed。 〃You see； I've
never been to school。 My father is too poor to send me。〃
〃Well；〃 said the parrot； 〃I don't suppose you have really missed much
to judge from what I have seen of school…boys。 But listen： are you a good
noticer？Do you notice things well？ I mean； for instance； supposing you
saw two cock…starlings on an apple…tree； and you only took one good look
at them would you be able to tell one from the other if you saw them
again the next day？〃
〃I don't know；〃 I said。 〃I've never tried。〃
〃Well that；〃 said Polynesia； brushing some crumbs off the corner of the
table with her left foot〃that is what you call powers of observation
noticing the small things about birds and animals： the way they walk and
move their heads and flip their wings； the way they sniff the air and twitch
their whiskers and wiggle their tails。 You have to notice all those little
things if you want to learn animal language。 For you see； lots of the
animals hardly talk at all with their tongues； they use their breath or their
tails or their feet instead。 That is because many of them； in the olden days
when lions and tigers were more plentiful； were afraid to make a noise for
fear the savage creatures heard them。 Birds； of course； didn't care； for they
always had wings to fly away with。 But that is the first thing to remember：
being a good noticer is terribly important in learning animal language。〃
〃It sounds pretty hard；〃 I said。
〃You'll have to be very patient；〃 said Polynesia。 〃It takes a long time to
say even a few words properly。 But if you come here often I'll give you a
few lessons myself。 And once you get started you'll be surprised how fast
you get on。 It would indeed be a good thing if you could learn。 Because
then you could do some of the work for the DoctorI mean the easier
work； like bandaging and giving pills。 Yes； yes； that's a good idea of mine。
'Twould be a great thing if the poor man could get some helpand some
rest。 It is a scandal the way he works。 I see no reason why you shouldn't be
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able to help him a great deal That is； if you are really interested in
animals。〃
〃Oh； I'd love that！〃 I cried。 〃Do you think the Doctor would let me？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Polynesia〃as soon as you have learned something
about doctoring。 I'll speak of it to him myselfSh！ I hear him coming。
Quickbring his bacon back on to the table。〃
THE NINTH CHAPTER
THE GARDEN OF DREAMS
WHEN breakfast was over the Doctor took me out to show me the
garden。 Well； if the house had been interesting； the garden was a hundred
times more so。 Of all the gardens I have ever seen that was the most
delightful； the most fascinating。 At first you did not realize how big it was。
You never seemed to come to the end of it。 When at last you were quite
sure that you had seen it all； you would peer over a hedge； or turn a corner；
or look up some steps； and there was a whole new part you never expected
to find。
It had everythingeverything a garden can have； or ever has had。
There were wide； wide lawns with carved stone seats； green with moss。
Over the lawns hung weeping…willows； and their feathery bough…tips
brushed the velvet grass when they swung with the wind。 The old flagged
paths had high； clipped； yew hedges either side of them； so that they
looked like the narrow streets of some old town； and through the hedges；
doorways had been made； and over the doorways were shapes like vases
and peacocks and half…moons all trimmed out of the living trees。 There
was a lovely marble fish…pond with golden carp and blue water…lilies in it
and big green frogs。 A high brick wall alongside the kitchen garden was all
covered with pink and yellow peaches ripening in the sun。 There was a
wonderful great oak； hollow in the trunk； big enough for four men to hide
inside。 Many summer…houses there were； toosome of wood and some of
stone； and one of them was full of books to read。 In a corner； among some
rocks and ferns； was an outdoor fire…place； where the Doctor used to fry
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liver and bacon when he had a notion to take his meals in the open air。
There was a couch as well on which he used to sleep； it seems； on warm
summer nights when the nightingales were singing at their best； it had
wheels on it so it could be moved about under any tree they sang in。 But
the thing that fascinated me most of all was a tiny little tree…house； high up
in the top branches of a great elm； with a long rope ladder leading to it。
The Doctor told me he used it for looking at the moon and the stars
through a telescope。
It was the kind of a garden where you could wander and explore for
d
