English
“There’sahouse,awaytheretotheleft,”saidSylvie,afterwehadwalkedwhatseemedtomeaboutfiftymiles.“Let’sgoandaskforanight’slodging.”
“Itlooksaverycomfablehouse,”Brunosaid,asweturnedintotheroadleadinguptoit.“IdooshopetheDogswillbekindtous,Iissotiredandhungry!”
AMastiff,dressedinascarletcollar,andcarryingamusket,waspacingupanddown,likeasentinel,infrontoftheentrance.
Hestarted,oncatchingsightofthechildren,andcameforwardstomeetthem,keepinghismusketpointedstraightatBruno,whostoodquitestill,thoughheturnedpaleandkepttightholdofSylvie’shand,whiletheSentinelwalkedsolemnlyroundandroundthem,andlookedatthemfromallpointsofview.
“Oobooh,hoohboohooyah!”Hegrowledatlast.“Woobahyahwahoobooh!Bowwahbahwoobooyah?Bowwow?”heaskedBruno,severely.
OfcourseBrunounderstoodallthis,easilyenough.
AllFairiesunderstandDoggee—thatis,Dog-language.
But,asyoumayfinditalittledifficult,justatfirst,IhadbetterputitintoEnglishforyou.“Humans,Iverilybelieve!AcoupleofstrayHumans!WhatDogdoyoubelongto?Whatdoyouwant?”
“Wedon’tbelongtoaDog!”Brunobegan,inDoggee.(“PeoplesneverbelongstoDogs!”hewhisperedtoSylvie.)
ButSylviehastilycheckedhim,forfearofhurtingtheMastiff’sfeelings.
“Please,wewantalittlefood,andanight’slodging—ifthere’sroominthehouse,”sheaddedtimidly.
SylviespokeDoggeeveryprettily:butIthinkit’salmostbetter,foryou,togivetheconversationinEnglish.
“Thehouse,indeed!”growledtheSentinel.“HaveyouneverseenaPalaceinyourlife?Comealongwithme!HisMajestymustsettlewhat’stobedonewithyou.”
Theyfollowedhimthroughtheentrance-hall,downalongpassage,andintoamagnificentSaloon,aroundwhichweregroupeddogsofallsortsandsizes.
TwosplendidBlood-houndsweresolemnlysittingup,oneoneachsideofthecrown-bearer.
TwoorthreeBull-dogs—whomIguessedtobetheBody-GuardoftheKing—werewaitingingrimsilence:infacttheonlyvoicesatallplainlyaudiblewerethoseoftwolittledogs,whohadmountedasettee,andwereholdingalivelydiscussionthatlookedverylikeaquarrel.
“LordsandLadiesinWaiting,andvariousCourtOfficials,”ourguidegrufflyremarked,asheledusin.
OfmetheCourtierstooknonoticewhatever:butSylvieandBrunowerethesubjectofmanyinquisitivelooks,andmanywhisperedremarks,ofwhichIonlydistinctlycaughtone—madebyasly-lookingDachshundtohisfriend“BahwoohwahyahhoobahOobooh,hahbah?”
(“She’snotsuchabad-lookingHuman,isshe?”)
LeavingthenewarrivalsinthecentreoftheSaloon,theSentineladvancedtoadoor,atthefurtherendofit,whichboreaninscription,paintedonitinDoggee,“RoyalKennel—scratchandYell.”
Beforedoingthis,theSentinelturnedtothechildren,andsaid“Givemeyournames.”
“We’drathernot!”Brunoexclaimed,pulling’Sylvieawayfromthedoor.“Wewantthemourselves.Comeback,Sylvie!Comequick!”
“Nonsense!’,saidSylvieverydecidedly:andgavetheirnamesinDoggee.
ThentheSentinelscratchedviolentlyatthedoor,andgaveayellthatmadeBrunoshiverfromheadtofoot.
“Hooyahwah!”saidadeepvoiceinside.(That’sDoggeefor“Comein!”)
“It’stheKinghimself!”theMastiffwhisperedinanawestrucktone.“Takeoffyourwigs,andlaythemhumblyathispaws.”(Whatweshouldcall“athisfeet.”)
Sylviewasjustgoingtoexplain,verypolitely,thatreallytheycouldn’tperformthatceremony,becausetheirwigswouldn’tcomeoff,whenthedooroftheRoyalKennelopened,andanenormousNewfoundlandDogputhisheadout.“Bowwow?”washisfirstquestion.
“WhenHisMajestyspeakstoyou,”theSentinelhastilywhisperedtoBruno,“youshouldprickupyourears!”
BrunolookeddoubtfullyatSylvie.“I’drathernot,please,”hesaid.“Itwouldhurt.”
“Itdoesn’thurtabit!”theSentinelsaidwithsomeindignation.“Look!It’slikethis!”Andheprickeduphisearsliketworailwaysignals.
Sylviegentlyexplainedmatters.“I’mafraidweca’n’tmanageit,”shesaidinalowvoice.
“I’mverysorry:butourearshaven’tgottheright—”shewantedtosay“machinery”inDoggee:butshehadforgottentheword,andcouldonlythinkof“steam-engine.”
TheSentinelrepeatedSylvie’sexplanationtotheKing.
“Can’tprickuptheirearswithoutasteam-engine!”HisMajestyexclaimed.“Theymustbecuriouscreatures!Imusthavealookatthem!”
AndhecameoutofhisKennel,andwalkedsolemnlyuptothechildren.
Whatwastheamazement—nortosaythehorrorofthewholeassembly,whenSylvieactuallypattedHisMajestyonthehead,whileBrunoseizedhislongearsandpretendedtotiethemtogetherunderhischin!
TheSentinelgroanedaloud:abeautifulGreyhoundwhoappearedtobeoneoftheLadiesinWaiting—faintedaway:andalltheotherCourtiershastilydrewback,andleftplentyofroomforthehugeNewfoundlandtospringupontheaudaciousstrangers,andtearthemlimbfromlimb.
Only—hedidn’t.OnthecontraryhisMajestyactuallysmiledsofarasaDogcansmile—and(theotherDogscouldn’tbelievetheireyes,butitwastrue,allthesame)hisMajestywaggedhistail!
“Yah!Hoohhahwooh!”(thatis“Well!Inever!”)wastheuniversalcry.
HisMajestylookedroundhimseverely,andgaveaslightgrowl,whichproducedinstantsilence.
“Conductmyfriendstothebanqueting-hall!”
hesaid,layingsuchanemphasison“myfriends”thatseveralofthedogsrolledoverhelplesslyontheirbacksandbegantolickBruno’sfeet.
Aprocessionwasformed,butIonlyventuredtofollowasfarasthedoorofthebanqueting-hall,sofuriouswastheuproarofbarkingdogswithin.
SoIsatdownbytheKing,whoseemedtohavegonetosleep,andwaitedtillthechildrenreturnedtosaygood-night,whenHisMajestygotupandshookhimself.
“Timeforbed!”hesaidwithasleepyyawn.
“Theattendantswillshowyouyourroom,”headded,aside,toSylvieandBruno.“Bringlights!”
And,withadignifiedair,heheldouthispawforthemtokiss.
ButthechildrenwereevidentlynotwellpracticedinCourt-manners.Sylviesimplystrokedthegreatpaw:Brunohuggedit:theMasteroftheCeremonieslookedshocked.
AllthistimeDog-waiters,insplendidlivery,wererunningupwithlightedcandles:but,asfastastheyputthemuponthetable,otherwaitersranawaywiththem,sothatthereneverseemedtobeoneforme,thoughtheMasterkeptnudgingmewithhiselbow,andrepeating”Ica’n’tletyousleephere!You’renotinbed,youknow!”
Imadeagreateffort,andjustsucceededingettingoutthewords“IknowI’mnot.I’minanarm-chair.”
“Well,fortywinkswilldoyounoharm,”theMastersaid,andleftme.
Icouldscarcelyhearhiswords:andnowonder:hewasleaningoverthesideofaship,thatwasmilesawayfromthepieronwhichIstood.
TheshippassedoverthehorizonandIsankbackintothearm-chair.
ThenextthingIrememberisthatitwasmorning:breakfastwasjustover:SylviewasliftingBrunodownfromahighchair,andsayingtoaSpaniel,whowasregardingthemwithamostbenevolentsmile,“Yes,thankyouwe’vehadaverynicebreakfast.Haven’twe,Bruno?”
Therewastoomanybonesinthe—Brunobegan,butSylviefrownedathim,andlaidherfingeronherlips,for,atthismoment,thetravelerswerewaitedonbyaverydignifiedofficer,theHead-Growler,whosedutyitwas,firsttoconductthemtotheKingtobidhimfarewellandthentoescortthemtotheboundaryofDogland.
ThegreatNewfoundlandreceivedthemmostaffablybutinsteadofsaying“good-byehestartledtheHead-growlerintogivingthreesavagegrowls,byannouncingthathewouldescortthemhimself.
Itisamostunusualproceeding,yourMajesty!
theHead-Growlerexclaimed,almostchokingwithvexationatbeingsetaside,forhehadputonhisbestCourt-suit,madeentirelyofcat-skins,fortheoccasion.
“Ishallescortthemmyself,”hisMajestyrepeated,gentlybutfirmly,layingasidetheRoyalrobes,andchanginghiscrownforasmallcoronet,“andyoumaystayathome.”
“Iareglad!”BrunowhisperedtoSylvie,whentheyhadgotwelloutofhearing.“Heweresowellycross!”
AndhenotonlypattedtheirRoyalescort,butevenhuggedhimroundtheneckintheexuberanceofhisdelight.
HisMajestycalmlywaggedtheRoyaltail.
“It’squitearelief,”hesaid,“gettingawayfromthatPalacenowandthen!
RoyalDogshaveadulllifeofit,Icantellyou!
Wouldyoumind”(thistoSylvie,inalowvoice,andlookingalittleshyandembarrassed)“wouldyoumindthetroubleofjustthrowingthatstickformetofetch?”
Sylviewastoomuchastonishedtodoanythingforamoment:itsoundedsuchamonstrousimpossibilitythataKingshouldwishtorunafterastick.
ButBrunowasequaltotheoccasion,andwithagladshoutof“Hithen!Fetchit,goodDoggie!”hehurleditoveraclumpofbushes.
ThenextmomenttheMonarchofDoglandhadboundedoverthebushes,andpickedupthestick,andcamegallopingbacktothechildrenwithitinhismouth.
Brunotookitfromhimwithgreatdecision.“Begforit!”heinsisted;andHisMajestybegged.“Paw!”
commandedSylvie;andHisMajestygavehispaw.
Inshort,thesolemnceremonyofescortingthetravelerstotheboundariesofDoglandbecameonelonguproariousgameofplay!
“Butbusinessisbusiness!”theDog-Kingsaidatlast.“AndImustgobacktomine.
Icouldn’tcomeanyfurther,”headded,consultingadog-watch,whichhungonachainroundhisneck,“noteveniftherewereaCatinsight!”
TheytookanaffectionatefarewellofHisMajesty,andtrudgedon.
“Thatwereadeardog!”Brunoexclaimed.“Haswetogofar,Sylvie?I’stired!”
“Notmuchfurther,darling!”Sylviegentlyreplied.
“Doyouseethatshining,justbeyondthosetrees?
I’malmostsureit’sthegateofFairyland!
Iknowit’sallgolden—Fathertoldmesoandsobright,sobright!”shewentondreamily.
“Itdazzles!”saidBruno,shadinghiseyeswithonelittlehand,whiletheotherclungtightlytoSylvie’shand,asifhewerehalf-alarmedatherstrangemanner.
Forthechildmovedonasifwalkinginhersleep,herlargeeyesgazingintothefardistance,andherbreathcomingandgoinginquickpantingsofeagerdelight.
Iknew,bysomemysteriousmentallight,thatagreatchangewastakingplaceinmysweetlittlefriend(forsuchIlovedtothinkher)andthatshewaspassingfromtheconditionofamereOutlandSpriteintothetrueFairy-nature.
UponBrunothechangecamelater:butitwascompletedinbothbeforetheyreachedthegoldengate,throughwhichIknewitwouldbeimpossibleformetofollow.
Icouldbutstandoutside,andtakealastlookatthetwosweetchildren,eretheydisappearedwithin,andthegoldengateclosedwithabang.
Andwithsuchabang!“Itneverwillshutlikeanyothercupboard-door,”Arthurexplained.
“There’ssomethingwrongwiththehinge.However,here’sthecakeandwine.Andyou’vehadyourfortywinks.
Soyoureallymustgetofftobed,oldman!You’refitfornothingelse.Witnessmyhand,ArthurForester,M.D.”
BythistimeIwaswide-awakeagain.“Notquiteyet!”Ipleaded.“ReallyI’mnotsleepynow.Anditisn’tmidnightyet.”
“Well,Ididwanttosayanotherwordtoyou,”Arthurrepliedinarelentingtone,ashesuppliedmewiththesupperhehadprescribed.“OnlyIthoughtyouweretoosleepyforitto-night.”
Wetookourmidnightmealalmostinsilence;foranunusualnervousnessseemedtohaveseizedonmyoldfriend.
“Whatkindofanightisit?”heasked,risingandundrawingthewindow-curtains,apparentlytochangethesubjectforaminute.
Ifollowedhimtothewindow,andwestoodtogether,lookingout,insilence.
“WhenIfirstspoketoyouabout—”Arthurbegan,afteralongandembarrassingsilence,“thatis,whenwefirsttalkedabouther—forIthinkitwasyouthatintroducedthesubject—myownpositioninlifeforbademetodomorethanworshipherfromadistance:andIwasturningoverplansforleavingthisplacefinally,andsettlingsomewhereoutofallchanceofmeetingheragain.
Thatseemedtobemyonlychanceofusefulnessinlife.
Wouldthathavebeenwise?”Isaid.“Toleaveyourselfnohopeatall?”
“Therewasnohopetoleave,”Arthurfirmlyreplied,thoughhiseyesglitteredwithtearsashegazedupwardsintothemidnightsky,fromwhichonesolitarystar,theglorious‘Vega,’blazedoutinfitfulsplendorthroughthedrivingclouds.
“Shewaslikethatstartome—bright,beautiful,andpure,butoutofreach,outofreach!”
Hedrewthecurtainsagain,andwereturnedtoourplacesbythefireside.
“WhatIwantedtotellyouwasthis,”heresumed.
“Iheardthiseveningfrommysolicitor.
Ican’tgointothedetailsofthebusiness,buttheupshotisthatmyworldlywealthismuchmorethanIthought,andIam(orshallsoonbe)inapositiontooffermarriage,withoutimprudence,toanylady,evenifshebroughtnothing.
Idoubtiftherewouldbeanythingonherside:theEarlispoor,Ibelieve.
ButIshouldhaveenoughforboth,evenifhealthfailed.”
“Iwishyouallhappinessinyourmarriedlife!”Icried.“ShallyouspeaktotheEarlto-morrow?”
“Notyetawhile,”saidArthur.“Heisveryfriendly,butIdarenotthinkhemeansmorethanthat,asyet.
Andasfor—asforLadyMuriel,tryasImay,Icannotreadherfeelingstowardsme.Ifthereislove,sheishidingit!No,Imustwait,Imustwait!”
Ididnotliketopressanyfurtheradviceonmyfriend,whosejudgment,Ifelt,wassomuchmoresoberandthoughtfulthanmyown;andwepartedwithoutmorewordsonthesubjectthathadnowabsorbedhisthoughts,nay,hisverylife.
Thenextmorningaletterfrommysolicitorarrived,summoningmetotownonimportantbusiness.
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