CHAPTER ELEVEN
ASLANISNEARER
EDMUNDmeanwhilehadbeenhavingamostdisappointingtime.WhenthedwarfhadgoogetthesledgereadyheexpectedthattheWitchwouldstartbeingohim,asshehadbeenattheirlastmeeting.Butshesaidnothingatall.AlastEdmundpluckeduphiscetosay,"Please,yourMajesty,couldIhavesomeTurkishDelight?
You-you-said-"sheanswered,"Silence,fool!"Thensheappearedtogehermindandsaid,asiftoherself,a"Awillnotdotohavethebratfaintingontheway,”
andoncemoreclappedherhands.Another,deared.
&quthehumaurefoodanddrink,"shesaid.
Thedwarfwentaresentlyreturnedbringinganironbowlwithsomewaterinitandanironplatewithahunkofdrybreadonit.HegrinnedinarepulsivemannerashesetthemdownonthefloorbesideEdmundandsaid:"TurkishDelightforthelittlePrince.Ha!Ha!Ha!""Takeitaway,"saidEdmundsulkily."Idontwantdrybread."ButtheWitchsuddenlyturnedonhimwithsuchaterribleexpressiononherfacethathe,apologizedaonibbleatthebread,though,itwassostalehecouldhardlygetitdown.
"Youmaybegladenoughofitbeforeyoutastebreadagain,"saidtheWitch.
Whilehewasstillchewingawaythefirstdwarfcamebadannouhatthesledgewasready.TheWhiteWitchroseaout,Edmundtogowithher.Thesnowwasagainfallingastheycameintothecourtyard,butshetooknonoticeofthatandmadeEdmundsitbesideheronthesledge.ButbeforetheydroveoffshecalledMaugrimandhecameboundinglikeanenormousdogtothesideofthesledge.
"TakewithyoutheswiftestofyourwolvesandgoatohehouseoftheBeavers,”
saidtheWitch,"andkillwhateveryoufindthere.IftheyarealreadygohenmakeallspeedtotheStoable,butdonotbeseen.Waitformethereinhiding.ImeanwhilemustgomanymilestotheWestbeforeIfindaplacewhereIdriveacrosstheriver.
YoumayovertakethesehumansbeforetheyreachtheStoable.Youwillknowwhattodoifyoufindthem!”
"Ihearandobey,OQueen,"growledtheWolf,andimmediatelyheshotawayintothesnowanddarkness,asquicklyasahorsegallop.InafewminuteshehadcalledanotherwolfandwaswithhimdownonthedamsniffingattheBeavershouse.Butofcoursetheyfouy.ItwouldhavebeenadreadfulthingfortheBeaversandthechildrenifthenighthadremainedfine,forthewolveswouldthenhavebeeofollowtheirtrail-aoonewouldhaveovertakenthembeforetheyhadgottothecave.Butnowthatthesnowhadbegunagainthestwascoldahefootprintswerecoveredup.
Meanwhilethedwarfwhippedupthereindeer,adEdmunddroveoutuhearchwayandonandawayintothedarknessandthecold.Thiswasaterrible
journeyforEdmund,whohadnocoat.Beforetheyhadbeengoingquarterofanhourallthefrontofhimwascoveredwithsnow-hesoonstoppedtryingtoshakeitoffbecause,asquicklyashedidthat,agathered,andhewassotired.Soonhewaswettotheskin.Andoh,howmiserablehewas!ItdidntlooknowasiftheWitteomakehimaKing.Allthethingshehadsaidtomakehimselfbelievethatshewasgoodandkindandthathersidewasreallytherightsidesouohimsillynow.Hewouldhavegivenanythingtomeettheothersatthismoment-eveheonlywaytoforthimselfnowwastotrytobelievethatthewholethingwasadreamandthathemightatanymoment.Andastheywenton,hourafterhour,itdidetoseemlikeadream.
ThislastedlohanIcoulddescribeevenifIwrotepagesandpagesaboutit.ButIwillskipontothetimewhenthesnowhadstoppedandthemhadeandtheywereragalonginthedaylight.Andstilltheywentonandon,withnosoundbuttheeverlastingswishofthesnowandthecreakingofthereindeersharness.AlasttheWitchsaid,"Whathavewehere?Stop!"andtheydid.
HowEdmundhopedshewasgoingtosaysomethingaboutbreakfast!Butshehadstoppedforquiteadifferentreason.Alittlewayoffatthefootofatreesatamerryparty,asquirrelandhiswifewiththeirchildrenandtwosatyrsandadwarfandanolddogfox,allonstoolsroundatable.Edmundcouldntquiteseewhattheywereeating,butitsmelledlovelyandthereseemedtobedecorationsofhollyandhewasntatallsurethathedidntseesomethinglikeaplumpudding.Atthemomehesledgestopped,theFox,whowasobviouslytheoldestperso,hadjustrisentoitsfeet,holdingaglassinitsrightpawasifitwasgoingtosaysomething.Butwhenthewholepartysawthesledgestoppingandwhowasinit,allthegaietywentoutoftheirfaces.Thefathersquirrelstoppedeatingwithhisforkhalf-waytohismouthahesatyrsstoppedwithitsforkactuallyinitsmouth,andthebabysquirrelssqueakedwithterror.
"Whatisthemeaningofthis?"askedtheWitchQueen.Nobodyanswered.
"Speak,vermin!"shesaidagain."Ordoyouwantmydwarftofindyouatohhiswhip?Whatisthemeaningofallthisgluttony,thiswaste,thisselfindulgence?Wheredidyougetallthesethings?”
"Please,yourMajesty,"saidtheFox,"weweregiventhem.AndifImightmakesoboldastodrinkyourMajestysverygoodhealth-“
"Whogavethemtoyou?"saidtheWitch.
"F-F-F-FatherChristmas,"stammeredtheFox.
"What?"roaredtheWitch,springingfromthesledgeandtakiridesheterrifiedanimals."Hehasnotbeenhere!Heothavebeenhere!Howdareyou-butno.Sayyouhavebeenlyingandyoushallevennowbefiven.”
Atthatmomeheyoungsquirrelslostitsheadpletely.
"Hehas-hehas-hehas!"itsqueaked,beatingitslittlespoonoable.EdmundsawtheWitchbiteherlipssothatadropofbloodappearedonherwhitecheek.Thensheraisedherwand."Oh,dont,dont,pleasedont,"shoutedEdmund,butevenwhilehewasshoutingshehadwavedherwandandinstantlywherethemerrypartyhadbeentherewereonlystatuesofcreatures(ohitsstoneforkfixedforeverhalf-waytoitsstoh)seatedroundastoableonwhichtherewerestoesandastoneplumpudding.
"Asforyou,"saidtheWitch,givingEdmundastunningblowonthefaceasshere-mouhesledge,"letthatteachyoutoaskfavourforspiesandtraitors.Driveon!”
AndEdmundforthefirsttimeinthisstoryfeltsorryforsomeonebesideshimself.Itseemedsopitifultothinkofthoselittlestonefiguressittingthereallthesilentdaysandallthedarknights,yearafteryear,tillthemossgrewonthemandatlasteventheirfacescrumbledaway.
Nowtheyweresteadilyragonagain.AndsoonEdmundnoticedthatthesnowwhichsplashedagainstthemastheyrushedthroughitwasmuchwetterthanithadbeenalllastnight.Atthesametimehenoticedthathewasfeelingmuchlesscold.Itwasalsobeingfoggy.Infacteverymigrewfoggierandwarmer.Andthesledgewasnotrunningnearlyaswellasithadbeenrunninguptillnow.Atfirsthethoughtthiswasbecausethereindeerweretired,butsoohatthatcouldherealreason.Thesledgejerked,andskiddedaonjoltingasifithadstruckagainststones.Andhoweverthedwarfwhippedthepoorreihesledgewentslowerandslower.Therealsoseemedtobeacuriousnoiseallroundthem,buttheheirdrivingandjoltingandthedwarfsshoutingatthereindeerpreventedEdmundfromhearingwhatitwas,untilsuddenlythesledgestucksofastthatitwouldntgoonatall.WhenthathappeherewasamomentssilendinthatsilenceEdmundcouldatlastlistentotheothernoiseproperly.Astrange,sweet,rustling,chatteringnoise-ase,forhedhearditbefore-ifonlyhecouldrememberwhere!Thenallatoncehedidremember.Itwasthenoiseofrunningwater.Allrouhoughoutofsight,therewerestreams,chattering,murmuring,bubbling,splashingandeven(iance)r.Andhisheartgaveagreatleap(thoughhehardlyknehenherealizedthatthefrostwasover.Andmuearerthere-drip-dripfromthebranchesofallthetrees.Andthen,ashelookedatoreehesawagreatloadofsnowslideoffitandforthefirsttimesincehehadenteredNarhedarkgreenofafirtree.Buthehadnttimetolistenorwatylonger,fortheWitchsaid:"Dontsitstaring,fool!Getoutandhelp.”
AndofcourseEdmundhadtoobey.Hesteppedoutintothesnow-butitwasreallyonlyslushbynow-andbeganhelpingthedwarftogetthesledgeoutofthemuddyholeithadgotinto.Theygotitoutintheend,andbybeingverycrueltothereihedwarfmaogetitonthemoveagain,andtheydrovealittlefurther.Andnowthesnowwasreallymeltinginearandpatchesrasswerebeginningtoappearin
everydire.UnlessyouhavelookedataworldofsnowaslongasEdmundhadbeenlookingatit,youwillhardlybeabletoimagiareliefthosegreenpatcheswereaftertheendlesswhite.Thenthesledgestoppedagain.
"Itsnogood,yourMajesty,"saidthedwarf."Wetsledgeinthisthaw.”
"Thewalk,"saidtheWitch.
"Weshallneverovertakethemwalking,"growledthedwarf."Notwiththestarttheyvegot.”
"Areyoumyyslave?"saidtheWitch."Doasyouretold.Tiethehandsofthehumaurebehinditandkeepholdoftheendoftherope.Andtakeyourwhip.
Andcuttheharnessofthereiheyllfindtheirownwayhome.”
Thedwarfobeyed,andinafewminutesEdmundfoundhimselfbeingforcedtowalkasfastashecouldwithhishandstiedbehindhim.Hekeptonslippingintheslushandmudagrass,aimeheslippedthedwarfgavehimacurseandsometimesaflickwiththewhip.TheWitchwalkedbehindthedwarfaonsaying,"Faster!
Faster!”
Everymomechesrewbiggerachesofspowgrewsmaller.
Everymomentmoreandmoreofthetreesshookofftheirrobesofsnow.Soon,whereveryoulooked,insteadofwhiteshapesyousawthedarkgreenoffirsortheblackpricklybranchesofbareoaksandbeechesandelms.Theturnedfromwhitetogoldalyclearedawayaltogether.Shaftsofdelicioussunlightstruckdownontotheforestfloorandoverheadyoucouldseeablueskybetweereetops.
Soonthereweremorewonderfulthingshappening.ingsuddenlyroundaerintoagladeofsilverbirchtreesEdmundsawthegroundcoveredinalldireswithlittleyellowflowers-dihenoiseofwatergrewlouder.Presentlytheyactuallycrossedastream.Beyondittheyfoundsnrowing.
"Mindyourownbusiness!"saidthedwarfwhehatEdmundhadturnedhisheadtolookatthem;andhegavetheropeaviciousjerk.
ButofcoursethisdidEdmundfromseeing.Onlyfivemierhenoticedadozencrocusesgrowingrouofanoldandpurpleandwhite.Thencameasoundevenmoredeliciousthanthesoundofthewater.Closebesidethepaththeywerefollowingabirdsuddenlychirpedfromthebranchofatree.Itwasansweredbythechuckleofanotherbirdalittlefurtheroff.Andthen,asifthathadbeenasignal,therewaschatteringandchirrupingineverydire,andthenamomentoffullsong,andwithinfivemihewholewoodwasringingwithbirdsmusidwhereverEdmuurnedhesawbirdsalightingonbranches,orsailingoverheadorchasiherorhavingtheirlittlequarrelsortidyinguptheirfeatherswiththeirbeaks.
"Faster!Faster!"saidtheWitch.
Therewasnotraceofthefognow.Theskybecamebluerandbluer,andnowtherewerewhitecloudshurryingacrossitfromtimetotime.Inthewidegladestherewereprimroses.Alightbreezesprangupwhichscattereddropsofmoisturefromtheswayingbranchesandcarriedcool,deliciousstsagainstthefacesofthetravellers.Thetreesbegantoefullyalive.Thelarchesandbircheswerecoveredwithgreen,thelaburnumswithgold.Soonthebeechtreeshadputforththeirdelicate,transparentleaves.
Asthetravellerswalkeduhemthelightalsobecamegreen.Abeebuzzedacrosstheirpath.
"Thisisnothaw,"saidthedwarf,suddenlystopping."ThisisSpring.Whatarewetodo?
Yourwinterhasbeeroyed,Itellyou!ThisisAslansdoing.”
"Ifeitherofyoumentionthatnameagain,"saidtheWitch,"heshallinstantlybekilled.”松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读
EDMUNDmeanwhilehadbeenhavingamostdisappointingtime.WhenthedwarfhadgoogetthesledgereadyheexpectedthattheWitchwouldstartbeingohim,asshehadbeenattheirlastmeeting.Butshesaidnothingatall.AlastEdmundpluckeduphiscetosay,"Please,yourMajesty,couldIhavesomeTurkishDelight?
You-you-said-"sheanswered,"Silence,fool!"Thensheappearedtogehermindandsaid,asiftoherself,a"Awillnotdotohavethebratfaintingontheway,”
andoncemoreclappedherhands.Another,deared.
&quthehumaurefoodanddrink,"shesaid.
Thedwarfwentaresentlyreturnedbringinganironbowlwithsomewaterinitandanironplatewithahunkofdrybreadonit.HegrinnedinarepulsivemannerashesetthemdownonthefloorbesideEdmundandsaid:"TurkishDelightforthelittlePrince.Ha!Ha!Ha!""Takeitaway,"saidEdmundsulkily."Idontwantdrybread."ButtheWitchsuddenlyturnedonhimwithsuchaterribleexpressiononherfacethathe,apologizedaonibbleatthebread,though,itwassostalehecouldhardlygetitdown.
"Youmaybegladenoughofitbeforeyoutastebreadagain,"saidtheWitch.
Whilehewasstillchewingawaythefirstdwarfcamebadannouhatthesledgewasready.TheWhiteWitchroseaout,Edmundtogowithher.Thesnowwasagainfallingastheycameintothecourtyard,butshetooknonoticeofthatandmadeEdmundsitbesideheronthesledge.ButbeforetheydroveoffshecalledMaugrimandhecameboundinglikeanenormousdogtothesideofthesledge.
"TakewithyoutheswiftestofyourwolvesandgoatohehouseoftheBeavers,”
saidtheWitch,"andkillwhateveryoufindthere.IftheyarealreadygohenmakeallspeedtotheStoable,butdonotbeseen.Waitformethereinhiding.ImeanwhilemustgomanymilestotheWestbeforeIfindaplacewhereIdriveacrosstheriver.
YoumayovertakethesehumansbeforetheyreachtheStoable.Youwillknowwhattodoifyoufindthem!”
"Ihearandobey,OQueen,"growledtheWolf,andimmediatelyheshotawayintothesnowanddarkness,asquicklyasahorsegallop.InafewminuteshehadcalledanotherwolfandwaswithhimdownonthedamsniffingattheBeavershouse.Butofcoursetheyfouy.ItwouldhavebeenadreadfulthingfortheBeaversandthechildrenifthenighthadremainedfine,forthewolveswouldthenhavebeeofollowtheirtrail-aoonewouldhaveovertakenthembeforetheyhadgottothecave.Butnowthatthesnowhadbegunagainthestwascoldahefootprintswerecoveredup.
Meanwhilethedwarfwhippedupthereindeer,adEdmunddroveoutuhearchwayandonandawayintothedarknessandthecold.Thiswasaterrible
journeyforEdmund,whohadnocoat.Beforetheyhadbeengoingquarterofanhourallthefrontofhimwascoveredwithsnow-hesoonstoppedtryingtoshakeitoffbecause,asquicklyashedidthat,agathered,andhewassotired.Soonhewaswettotheskin.Andoh,howmiserablehewas!ItdidntlooknowasiftheWitteomakehimaKing.Allthethingshehadsaidtomakehimselfbelievethatshewasgoodandkindandthathersidewasreallytherightsidesouohimsillynow.Hewouldhavegivenanythingtomeettheothersatthismoment-eveheonlywaytoforthimselfnowwastotrytobelievethatthewholethingwasadreamandthathemightatanymoment.Andastheywenton,hourafterhour,itdidetoseemlikeadream.
ThislastedlohanIcoulddescribeevenifIwrotepagesandpagesaboutit.ButIwillskipontothetimewhenthesnowhadstoppedandthemhadeandtheywereragalonginthedaylight.Andstilltheywentonandon,withnosoundbuttheeverlastingswishofthesnowandthecreakingofthereindeersharness.AlasttheWitchsaid,"Whathavewehere?Stop!"andtheydid.
HowEdmundhopedshewasgoingtosaysomethingaboutbreakfast!Butshehadstoppedforquiteadifferentreason.Alittlewayoffatthefootofatreesatamerryparty,asquirrelandhiswifewiththeirchildrenandtwosatyrsandadwarfandanolddogfox,allonstoolsroundatable.Edmundcouldntquiteseewhattheywereeating,butitsmelledlovelyandthereseemedtobedecorationsofhollyandhewasntatallsurethathedidntseesomethinglikeaplumpudding.Atthemomehesledgestopped,theFox,whowasobviouslytheoldestperso,hadjustrisentoitsfeet,holdingaglassinitsrightpawasifitwasgoingtosaysomething.Butwhenthewholepartysawthesledgestoppingandwhowasinit,allthegaietywentoutoftheirfaces.Thefathersquirrelstoppedeatingwithhisforkhalf-waytohismouthahesatyrsstoppedwithitsforkactuallyinitsmouth,andthebabysquirrelssqueakedwithterror.
"Whatisthemeaningofthis?"askedtheWitchQueen.Nobodyanswered.
"Speak,vermin!"shesaidagain."Ordoyouwantmydwarftofindyouatohhiswhip?Whatisthemeaningofallthisgluttony,thiswaste,thisselfindulgence?Wheredidyougetallthesethings?”
"Please,yourMajesty,"saidtheFox,"weweregiventhem.AndifImightmakesoboldastodrinkyourMajestysverygoodhealth-“
"Whogavethemtoyou?"saidtheWitch.
"F-F-F-FatherChristmas,"stammeredtheFox.
"What?"roaredtheWitch,springingfromthesledgeandtakiridesheterrifiedanimals."Hehasnotbeenhere!Heothavebeenhere!Howdareyou-butno.Sayyouhavebeenlyingandyoushallevennowbefiven.”
Atthatmomeheyoungsquirrelslostitsheadpletely.
"Hehas-hehas-hehas!"itsqueaked,beatingitslittlespoonoable.EdmundsawtheWitchbiteherlipssothatadropofbloodappearedonherwhitecheek.Thensheraisedherwand."Oh,dont,dont,pleasedont,"shoutedEdmund,butevenwhilehewasshoutingshehadwavedherwandandinstantlywherethemerrypartyhadbeentherewereonlystatuesofcreatures(ohitsstoneforkfixedforeverhalf-waytoitsstoh)seatedroundastoableonwhichtherewerestoesandastoneplumpudding.
"Asforyou,"saidtheWitch,givingEdmundastunningblowonthefaceasshere-mouhesledge,"letthatteachyoutoaskfavourforspiesandtraitors.Driveon!”
AndEdmundforthefirsttimeinthisstoryfeltsorryforsomeonebesideshimself.Itseemedsopitifultothinkofthoselittlestonefiguressittingthereallthesilentdaysandallthedarknights,yearafteryear,tillthemossgrewonthemandatlasteventheirfacescrumbledaway.
Nowtheyweresteadilyragonagain.AndsoonEdmundnoticedthatthesnowwhichsplashedagainstthemastheyrushedthroughitwasmuchwetterthanithadbeenalllastnight.Atthesametimehenoticedthathewasfeelingmuchlesscold.Itwasalsobeingfoggy.Infacteverymigrewfoggierandwarmer.Andthesledgewasnotrunningnearlyaswellasithadbeenrunninguptillnow.Atfirsthethoughtthiswasbecausethereindeerweretired,butsoohatthatcouldherealreason.Thesledgejerked,andskiddedaonjoltingasifithadstruckagainststones.Andhoweverthedwarfwhippedthepoorreihesledgewentslowerandslower.Therealsoseemedtobeacuriousnoiseallroundthem,buttheheirdrivingandjoltingandthedwarfsshoutingatthereindeerpreventedEdmundfromhearingwhatitwas,untilsuddenlythesledgestucksofastthatitwouldntgoonatall.WhenthathappeherewasamomentssilendinthatsilenceEdmundcouldatlastlistentotheothernoiseproperly.Astrange,sweet,rustling,chatteringnoise-ase,forhedhearditbefore-ifonlyhecouldrememberwhere!Thenallatoncehedidremember.Itwasthenoiseofrunningwater.Allrouhoughoutofsight,therewerestreams,chattering,murmuring,bubbling,splashingandeven(iance)r.Andhisheartgaveagreatleap(thoughhehardlyknehenherealizedthatthefrostwasover.Andmuearerthere-drip-dripfromthebranchesofallthetrees.Andthen,ashelookedatoreehesawagreatloadofsnowslideoffitandforthefirsttimesincehehadenteredNarhedarkgreenofafirtree.Buthehadnttimetolistenorwatylonger,fortheWitchsaid:"Dontsitstaring,fool!Getoutandhelp.”
AndofcourseEdmundhadtoobey.Hesteppedoutintothesnow-butitwasreallyonlyslushbynow-andbeganhelpingthedwarftogetthesledgeoutofthemuddyholeithadgotinto.Theygotitoutintheend,andbybeingverycrueltothereihedwarfmaogetitonthemoveagain,andtheydrovealittlefurther.Andnowthesnowwasreallymeltinginearandpatchesrasswerebeginningtoappearin
everydire.UnlessyouhavelookedataworldofsnowaslongasEdmundhadbeenlookingatit,youwillhardlybeabletoimagiareliefthosegreenpatcheswereaftertheendlesswhite.Thenthesledgestoppedagain.
"Itsnogood,yourMajesty,"saidthedwarf."Wetsledgeinthisthaw.”
"Thewalk,"saidtheWitch.
"Weshallneverovertakethemwalking,"growledthedwarf."Notwiththestarttheyvegot.”
"Areyoumyyslave?"saidtheWitch."Doasyouretold.Tiethehandsofthehumaurebehinditandkeepholdoftheendoftherope.Andtakeyourwhip.
Andcuttheharnessofthereiheyllfindtheirownwayhome.”
Thedwarfobeyed,andinafewminutesEdmundfoundhimselfbeingforcedtowalkasfastashecouldwithhishandstiedbehindhim.Hekeptonslippingintheslushandmudagrass,aimeheslippedthedwarfgavehimacurseandsometimesaflickwiththewhip.TheWitchwalkedbehindthedwarfaonsaying,"Faster!
Faster!”
Everymomechesrewbiggerachesofspowgrewsmaller.
Everymomentmoreandmoreofthetreesshookofftheirrobesofsnow.Soon,whereveryoulooked,insteadofwhiteshapesyousawthedarkgreenoffirsortheblackpricklybranchesofbareoaksandbeechesandelms.Theturnedfromwhitetogoldalyclearedawayaltogether.Shaftsofdelicioussunlightstruckdownontotheforestfloorandoverheadyoucouldseeablueskybetweereetops.
Soonthereweremorewonderfulthingshappening.ingsuddenlyroundaerintoagladeofsilverbirchtreesEdmundsawthegroundcoveredinalldireswithlittleyellowflowers-dihenoiseofwatergrewlouder.Presentlytheyactuallycrossedastream.Beyondittheyfoundsnrowing.
"Mindyourownbusiness!"saidthedwarfwhehatEdmundhadturnedhisheadtolookatthem;andhegavetheropeaviciousjerk.
ButofcoursethisdidEdmundfromseeing.Onlyfivemierhenoticedadozencrocusesgrowingrouofanoldandpurpleandwhite.Thencameasoundevenmoredeliciousthanthesoundofthewater.Closebesidethepaththeywerefollowingabirdsuddenlychirpedfromthebranchofatree.Itwasansweredbythechuckleofanotherbirdalittlefurtheroff.Andthen,asifthathadbeenasignal,therewaschatteringandchirrupingineverydire,andthenamomentoffullsong,andwithinfivemihewholewoodwasringingwithbirdsmusidwhereverEdmuurnedhesawbirdsalightingonbranches,orsailingoverheadorchasiherorhavingtheirlittlequarrelsortidyinguptheirfeatherswiththeirbeaks.
"Faster!Faster!"saidtheWitch.
Therewasnotraceofthefognow.Theskybecamebluerandbluer,andnowtherewerewhitecloudshurryingacrossitfromtimetotime.Inthewidegladestherewereprimroses.Alightbreezesprangupwhichscattereddropsofmoisturefromtheswayingbranchesandcarriedcool,deliciousstsagainstthefacesofthetravellers.Thetreesbegantoefullyalive.Thelarchesandbircheswerecoveredwithgreen,thelaburnumswithgold.Soonthebeechtreeshadputforththeirdelicate,transparentleaves.
Asthetravellerswalkeduhemthelightalsobecamegreen.Abeebuzzedacrosstheirpath.
"Thisisnothaw,"saidthedwarf,suddenlystopping."ThisisSpring.Whatarewetodo?
Yourwinterhasbeeroyed,Itellyou!ThisisAslansdoing.”
"Ifeitherofyoumentionthatnameagain,"saidtheWitch,"heshallinstantlybekilled.”松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读