CHAPTER EIGHT

  THEHOUSE"Goon,Pole,doyourstuff,"whisperedScrubb.

  Jillfoundthathermouthwassodrythatshecouldntspeakaword.ShenoddedsavagelyatScrubb.

  Thinkingtohimselfthathewouldneverfiveher(orPuddleglumeither),ScrubblickedhislipsandshouteduptotheKinggiant.

  "Ifyouplease,Sire,theLadyoftheGreenKirtlesalutesyoubyusandsaidyoudliketohaveusforyourAutum.”

  ThegiantKingandQueenlookedateachother,oeachother,andsmiledinawaythatJilldidlylike.ShelikedtheKierthantheQueen.Hehadafine,curledbeardandastraighteagle-likenose,andwasreallyrathergood-lookingasgiantsgo.TheQueenwasdreadfullyfatandhadadoubleandafat,powderedface-whitaveryhingatthebestoftimes,andofcourselooksmuchworsewhenitisteoobig.ThentheKingputouthistongueandlickedhislips.Anyonemightdothat:

  buthistonguewassoverylargeandred,andcameoutsouedly,thatitgaveJillquiteashock.

  "Oh,whatgoodchildren!"saidtheQueen.("Perhapsshesthenieafterall,"thoughtJill.)

  "Yesindeed,"saidtheKing."Quiteexcellentchildren.Weweleyoutoourcourt.

  Givemeyourhands.”

  Hestretcheddownhisgreatrighthand-veryandwithanynumbersonthefingers,butalsowithterriblepointednails.Hewasmuchtoobigtoshakethehandswhichthechildren,inturn,helduptohim;butheshookthearms.

  "Andwhatsthat?"askedtheKing,pointingtoPuddleglum.

  "Reshpeckobiggle,"saidPuddleglum.

  "Oh!"screamedtheQueen,gatheringherskirtscloseaboutherankles."Thehorridthing!

  Itsalive.”

  "Hesquiteallright,yourMajesty,really,heis,"saidScrubbhastily."Youlllikehimmuchbetterwhenyougettoknowhim.Imsureyouwill.”

  IhopeyouwontlosealliinJillfortherestofthebookifItellyouthatatthismomentshebegantocry.Therewasagooddealofexcuseforher.Herfeetandhandsandearsandnosewerestillonlyjustbeginningtothaw;meltedsnowwastrigoffherclothes;shehadhadhardlyanythiordrinkthatday;andherlegswereagsothatshefeltshecouldnotgoonstandingmuger.Anyway,itdidmoodatthemomentthananythingelsewouldhavedone,fortheQueensaid:"Ah,thepoorchild!Mylord,wedtokeepuestsstanding.Quieofyou!Takethemaway.Givethemfoodandwineandbaths.fortthelittlegirl.Giveherlollipops,giveherdolls,giveherphysics,giveherallyouthinkof-possetsandfitsandcarawaysandlullabiesandtoys.Dontcry,littlegirl,oryouwontbegoodforanythihefeastes.”

  JillwasjustasindignantasyouandIwouldhavebeenatthementionoftoysanddolls;and,thoughlollipopsandfitsmightbeallverywellintheirway,sheverymuchhopedthatsomethingmoresolidwouldbeprovided.TheQueensfoolishspeech,however,producedexcelles,forPuddleglumandScrubbwereatoncepickedupbygigantitlemen-in-waiting,andJillbyagiganticmaidofhonour,andcarriedofftotheirrooms.

  Jillsroomwasaboutthesizeofachurdwouldhavebeenrathergrimifithadnothadarfireonthehearthahickcrimsoncarpetonthefloor.Andheredelightfulthiohappentoher.ShewashandedovertotheQueensoldNurse,

  whowas,fromthegiantspointofview,alittleoldwomanalmostbentdoublewithage,and,fromthehumanpointofview,agiantesssmallenoughtogoaboutanordinaryroomwithoutknogherheadontheceiling.Shewasverycapable,thoughJilldidwishshewouldntkeeponclighertongueandsayingthingslike"Ohla,la!Ups-adaisy"and"Theresaduck"and"Nowwellbeallright,mypoppet".Shefilledagiantfoot-bathwithhotwaterandhelpedJillintoit.Ifyouswim(asJillcould)agiantbathisalovelything.Andgianttowels,thoughabitroughandcoarse,arelovelytoo,becausethereareacresofthem.Infactyoudoodryatall,youjustrollaboutontheminfrontofthefireandenjoyyourself.Ahatwasover,,fresh,warmedclotheswereputonJill:verysplendidclothesandalittletoobigforher,butclearlymadeforhumansnotgiantesses."Isupposeifthatwomaninthegreenkirtleeshere,theymustbeusedtoguestsofoursize,"thoughtJill.

  Shesoonsawthatshewasrightaboutthis,foratableandchairoftherightheightforanordinarygrown-uphumanwereplacedforher,andtheknivesandforksandspoohepropersizetoo.Itwasdelightfultositdown,feelingwarmalast.Herfeetwerestillbareanditwaslovelytotreadonthegiantcarpet.Shesankinitwelloverheranklesanditwasjustthethingforsorefeet.Themeal-whichIsupposewemustcalldihoughitwaseatime-wascock-a-leekiesoup,andhotroastturkey,andasteamedpudding,androastchestnuts,andasmuchfruitasyoucouldeat.

  Theonlyannoyingthingwasthattheinginandout,aimeshecamein,shebroughtagigantictoywithher-ahugedoll,biggerthanJillherself,awoodenhorseonwheels,aboutthesizeofanelephant,adrumthatlookedlikeayounggasometer,andawoollylamb.Theywerecrude,badlymadethings,paintedinverybrightcolours,andJillhatedthesightofthem.ShekeptontellingtheNurseshedidntwantthem,buttheNursesaid:"Tut-tut-tut-tut.Youllwantemallrightwhenyouvehadabitofarest,Iknow!Te-he-he!Beddybye,noreciouspoppet!”

  Thebedwasnotagiaonlyabigfour-poster,likewhatyoumightseeinanold-fashioel;andverysmallitlookedinthatenormousroom.Shewasverygladtotumbleintoit.

  "Isitstillsnowing,Nurse?"sheaskedsleepily.

  "No.Rainingnow,ducky!"saidthegiantess."Rainllwashawayallthenastysnow.

  Preciouspoppetwillbeabletogooutandplaytomorrow!"AuckedJillupandsaidgoodnight.

  Iknownothingsodisagreeableasbeingkissedbyagiantess.Jillthoughtthesame,butwasasleepinfiveminutes.

  Theraieadilyalltheeveningandallthenight,dashingagainstthewindowsofthecastle,andJillneverhearditbutsleptdeeply,pastsuppertimeandpastmidnight.And

  thehedeadesthourofthenightandnothingstirredbutmithehouseofthegiants.AtthathourtherecametoJilladream.Itseemedtoherthatsheawokeinthesameroomandsawthefire,sunklowandred,andinthefirelightthegreatwoodenhorse.Andthehorsecameofitsownwill,rollingonitswheelsacrossthecarpet,andstoodatherhead.Andnowitwasnolongerahorse,butalionasbigasthehorse.Awasnotatoylion,butareallion,TheRealLion,justasshehadseenhimonthemountainbeyondtheworldsend.Andasmellofallsweet-smellingthingstherearefilledtheroom.ButtherewassometroubleinJillsmind,thoughshecouldnotthinkwhatitwas,aearsstreameddownherfadwetthepillow.TheLiontoldhertorepeatthesigns,andshefoundthatshehadfottenthemall.Atthat,agreathorrorcameoverher.AndAslantookherupinhisjaws(shecouldfeelhislipsandhisbreathbutnothisteeth)andcarriedhertothewindowandmadeherlookout.Themoonshht;andwrittenilettersacrosstheworldorthesky(shedidnotknowwhich)

  werethewordsUNDERME.Afterthat,thedreamfadedaway,andwhenshewoke,verylatem,shedidnotrememberthatshehaddreamedatall.

  SheanddressedandhadfinishedbreakfastinfrontofthefirewhentheNurseopehedoorandsaid:"Heresprettypoppetslittlefriendsetoplaywithher.”

  IncameScrubbandtheMarsh-wiggle.

  "Hullo!Go,"saidJill."Isntthisfun?Ivesleptaboutfifteenhours,Ibelieve.Idofeelbetter,dontyou?”

  "1do,"saidScrubb,"butPuddleglumsayshehasaheadache.Hullo!-yourwindowhasawindowseat.Ifwegotuponthat,wecouldseeout."Andatoheyalldidso:andatthefirstglanceJillsaid,"Oh,howperfectlydreadful!”

  Thesunwasshiningand,exceptforafewdrifts,thesnowhadbeenalmostpletelywashedawaybytherain.Dowhem,spreadoutlikeamap,laytheflathill-topwhichtheyhadstruggledoveryesterdayafternoon;seenfromthecastle,itcouldakenforanythingbuttheruinsofagiganticcity.Ithadbeenflat,asJillnowsaw,becauseitwasstill,onthewhole,paved,thoughinplacesthepavementwasbroken.Thecriss-crossbanksasleftofthewallsofhugebuildingswhichmightoncehavebeengiantspaladtemples.Oofwall,aboutfivehundredfeethigh,wasstillstanding;itwasthatwhichshehadthoughtwasacliff.Thethingsthathadlookedlikefactoryeyswereenormouspillars,brokenoffatunequalheights;theirfragmentslayattheirbaseslikefelledtreesofmonstrousstoheledgeswhichtheyhadclimbeddownohsideofthehill-andalso,nodoubttheeswhichtheyhadclimbedupohside-weretheremainingstepsofgiantstairs.Toall,inlarge,darkletteringacrossthetreofthepavement,ranthewordsUNDERME.

  Thethreetravellerslookedateachotherindismay,and,afterashortwhistle,Scrubbsaidwhattheywereallthinking,"Thesedandthirdsignsmuffed."AndatthatmomentJillsdreamrushedbatohermind.

  "Itsmyfault,"shesaidindespairingtones."I-Idgiveingthesignseverynight.IfIdbeenthinkingaboutthemIcouldhaveseenitwasthecity,eveninallthatsnow.”

  "Imworse,"saidPuddleglum."Ididsee,ornearly.Ithoughtitlookedunonlylikearuiy.”

  "Youretheonlyonewhoisnttoblame,"saidScrubb."Youdidtrytomakeusstop.”

  "Didnttryhardenough,though,"saidtheMarshwiggle."AndIdnocallt.Ioughttohavedo.AsifIcouldnthavestoppedyoutwowithonehandeach!”

  "Thetruthis,"saidScrubb,"weweresojollykeeingtothisplacethatwewerentbaboutanythingelse.AtleastIknowIwas.Eversihatwomanwiththeknightwhodidnttalk,wevebeenthinkingofnothingelse.WednearlyfottenaboutPrinceRilian.”

  "Ishouldntwonder,"saidPuddleglum,"ifthatwaslywhatsheintended.”

  "WhatIdontquiteuand,"saidJill,"ishowwedidhelettering?Orcouldithaveetheresinight.Couldhe-Aslan-haveputitthereinthenight?Ihadsuchaqueerdream."Aoldthemallaboutit.

  "Why,youchump!"saidScrubb."Wedidseeit.Wegotintothelettering.Dontyousee?

  WegotintotheletterEihatwasyoursunklane.WewalkedaloomstrokeoftheE,duenorth-turhtalongtheupright-cametoaurntht-thatsthemiddlestroke-andtheontothetopleft-hander,or(ifyoulike)thenorth-easterneroftheletter,andcameback.Liketheballyidiotsweare."Hekickedthewindowseatsavagely,aon,"Soitsnogood,Pole.IknowwhatyouwerethinkingbecauseIwasthinkingthesame.YouwerethinkinghowwouldhavebeenifAslanhadntputtheinstrusooheruiytillafterwedpassedit.Awouldhavebeenhisfault,notours.Solikely,isntit?

  justownup.Weveonlyfnstogoby,andwevemuffedthefirstthree.”

  "YoumeanIhave,"saidJill."Itsquitetrue.Ivespoiledeverythingeversinceyhtmehere.Allthesame-Imfrightfullysorryandallthat-allthesame,whataretheinstrus?UNDERMEdoesomakemuse.”

  "Yesitdoes,though,"saidPuddleglum."ItmeanswevegottolookforthePrinderthatcity.”

  "Buthowwe?"askedJill.

  "Thatsthequestion,"saidPuddleglum,rubbinghisbig,frog-likehandstogether."Ho?Nodoubt,ifwedhadourmindsonourjobereattheRuinous

  City,wedhavebeenshownhow-foundalittledoor,oracave,oratunnel,metsomeoohelpus.Mighthavebeen(youneverknow)Aslanhimself.Wedhavegotdowhosepaving-stonessomehoworother.Aslansinstrusalwayswork:therearenoexceptions.Buthowtodoitnow-thatsater.”

  "Well,weshalljusthavetogoback,Isuppose,"saidJill.

  "Easy,isntit?"saidPuddleglum."Wemighttryopeningthatdoortobeginwith."Andtheyalllookedatthedoorandsawthathemcouldreachthehandle,andthatalmostcertainlynoonecouldturnitiftheydid.

  "Doyouthinktheywousoutifweask?"saidJill.Andnobodysaid,buteveryohought,"Supposingtheydont.”

  Itwasnotapleasantidea.Puddleglumwasdeadagainstaellingthegiantstheirrealbusinessandsimplyaskingtobeletout;andofcoursethechildrencouldnttellwithouthispermission,becausetheyhadpromised.Andallthreefeltprettysurethattherewouldbenoceofesgfromthecastlebynight.Oheywereintheirroomswiththedoorsshut,theywouldbeprisoillm.Theymight,ofcourse,asktohavetheirdoorsleftopen,butthatwouldrousesuspis.

  "Ouronlyce,"saidScrubb,"istotrytosneakawaybydaylight.Mightnttherebeanhouriernoonwhenmostofthegiantsareasleep?-andifwecouldstealdownintothekit,mightnttherebeabackdooropen?”

  "ItshardlywhatIcallace,"saidtheMarshwiggle."Butitsallthecewerelikelytoget."Asamatteroffact,Scrubbsplanwasnotquitesohopelessasyoumightthink.Ifyouwanttogetoutofahousewithoutbeihemiddleoftheafternoonisinsomewaysabettertimetotryitthanthemiddleofthenight.Doorsandwindowsaremorelikelytobeopen;andifyouarecaught,youalretendyouwerentmeaningtogofarandhadnoparticularplans.(Itisveryhardtomakeeithergiantsrown-upsbelievethisifyourefoundclimbingoutofabedroomwindowatoneoclothem.)

  "Wemustputthemofftheirguard,though,"saidScrubb."WemustpretendwelovebeinghereandarelongingforthisAutum.”

  "Thatstomorrownight,"saidPuddleglum."Iheardohemsayso.”

  "Isee,"saidJill."Wemustpretendtobeawfullyexcitedaboutit,andkeeponaskiions.Theythinkwereabsoluteinfantsanyway,whichwillmakeiteasier.”

  "Gay,"saidPuddleglumsigh."Thatswhatwevegottobe.Gay.Asifwehadntacareintheworld.Frolie.Youtwoyoungstershaventalwaysghspirits,Ivenoticed.Youmustwatchme,anddoasIdo.Illbegay.Likethis"-andheassumedaghastlygrin."Andfrolie"-herehecutamostmournfulcaper."Youll

  soooit,ifyoukeepyoureyesoheythinkImafunnyfellowalready,yousee.IdaresayyoutwothoughtIwasatrifletipsylastnight,butIdoassureyouitwas-well,mostofituton.Ihadawouldeinuseful,somehow.”

  Thechildreheytalkedovertheiradveerwards,couldneverfeelsurewhetherthislaststatementwasquitestrictlytrue;buttheyweresurethatPuddleglumthoughtitwastruewhenhemadeit.

  "Allright.Gaystheword,"saidScrubb."Now,ifwecouldosomeooopenthisdoor.Whilewerefoolingaboutandbeinggay,wevegottofindoutallweaboutthiscastle.”

  Luckily,atthatverymomentthedooropened,andthegiantledinsaying,"Now,mypoppets.LiketoeaheKingandallthecourtsettingoutoing?Suchaprettysight!”

  Theylostnotimeinrushingoutpastherandclimbingdownthefirststaircasetheycameto.Thenoiseofhoundsandhornsandgiantvoicesguidedthem,sothatinafewmiheyreachedthecourtyard.Thegiantswereallonfoot,fortherearenogianthorsesinthatpartoftheworld,andthegiantshuntingisdoneonfoot;likebeaglinginEngland.

  Thehoundswerealsoofnormalsize.WhenJillsawthattherewerenohorsesshewasatfirstdreadfullydisappointed,forshefeltsurethatthegreatfatQueenwouldnevergoafterhoundsonfoot;anditwouldohaveheraboutthehouseallday.ButtheheQueeninakindoflittersupportedontheshouldersofsixyounggiants.Thesillyoldcreaturewasallgotupingreenandhadahornatherside.

  Twentyorthirtygiants,includingtheKing,wereassembled,readyforthesport,alltalkingandlaughingfittodeafenyou:anddownbelow,nearerJillslevel,therewerewaggingtails,andbarking,andloose,slobberymouthsandnosesofdogsthrustintoyourhand.Puddleglumwasjustbeginningtostrikewhathethoughtagayandgamesomeattitude(whichmighthavespoiledeverythingifithadbeennoticed)whenJillputonhermostattractivelychildishsmile,rushedacrosstotheQueenslitterandshouteduptotheQueen.

  "Oh,please!Yourenotgoingaway,areyou?Youwilleback?”

  "Yes,mydear,"saidtheQueen."Illbebaight.”

  "Oh,good.Howlovely!"saidJill."Andwemayetothefeasttomorrownight,mayntwe?Weresolongingfortomorrownight!Andwedolovebeinghere.Andwhileyoureout,wemayruhewholecastleandseeeverything,mayntwe?Dosayyes.”

  TheQueendidsayyes,butthelaughterofallthecourtiersnearlydrownedhervoice.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

• 推荐自己的新书《天命讨债人》

  齐天大魔猴

  桀骜齐天圣，铮铮大魔猴
• 第817章 四公子当真与众不同？

  清穿后每天被迫撩

  【欢脱独宠，沙雕撩夫日
• 新书《谜城》开启

  神峰

  一次偶然， 他踏足修
• 第270章 酒吧偶遇

  网游之影子大师

  我，在黑夜中行走 我
• 007儿女成群

  婚城难入

  十八岁的她，一心想用高
• 第四百一十六章 邀请

  剑神之剑弑乾坤

  《剑神之剑弑乾坤》是一