English
“Idon’tknow,”saidSylvie.“Hush!Imustthink.Icouldgotohim,bymyself,wellenough.ButIwantyoutocometoo.”
“Letmegowithyou,”Ipleaded.“Icanwalkasfastasyoucan,I’msure.”
Sylvielaughedmerrily.“Whatnonsense!”shecried.“Why,youca’n’twalkabit!You’relyingquiteflatonyourback!Youdon’tunderstandthesethings.”
“Icanwalkaswellasyoucan,”Irepeated.
AndItriedmybesttowalkafewsteps:butthegroundslippedawaybackwards,quiteasfastasIcouldwalk,sothatImadenoprogressatall.Sylvielaughedagain.
“There,Itoldyouso!You’venoideahowfunnyyoulook,movingyourfeetaboutintheair,asifyouwerewalking!Waitabit.
I’llasktheProfessorwhatwe’dbetterdo.”Andsheknockedathisstudy-door.
Thedooropened,andtheProfessorlookedout.“What’sthatcryingIheardjustnow?”heasked.“Isitahumananimal?”
“It’saboy,”Sylviesaid.
“I’mafraidyou’vebeenteasinghim?”
“No,indeedIhaven’t!”Sylviesaid,veryearnestly.“Ineverteasehim!”
“Well,ImustasktheOtherProfessoraboutit.”
Hewentbackintothestudy,andweheardhimwhispering“smallhumananimal—saysshehasn’tbeenteasinghim—thekindthat’scalledBoy—”
“AskherwhichBoy,”saidanewvoice.TheProfessorcameoutagain.
“WhichBoyisitthatyouhaven’tbeenteasing?”
Sylvielookedatmewithtwinklingeyes.“Youdearoldthing!”
sheexclaimed,standingontiptoetokisshim,whilehegravelystoopedtoreceivethesalute.“Howyoudopuzzleme!
Why,thereareseveralboysIhaven’tbeenteasing!”
TheProfessorreturnedtohisfriend:andthistimethevoicesaid“Tellhertobringthemhere—allofthem!”
“Ica’n’t,andIwon’t!“Sylvieexclaimed,themomenthereappeared.
“It’sBrunothat’scrying:andhe’smybrother:and,please,webothwanttogo:heca’n’twalk,youknow:he’s—he’sdreaming,youknow”(thisinawhisper,forfearofhurtingmyfeelings).“Dolet’sgothroughtheIvoryDoor!”
“I’llaskhim,”saidtheProfessor,disappearingagain.Hereturneddirectly.“Hesaysyoumay.Followme,andwalkontip-toe.”
Thedifficultywithmewouldhavebeen,justthen,nottowalkontip-toe.Itseemedveryhardtoreachdownfarenoughtojusttouchthefloor,asSylvieledmethroughthestudy.
TheProfessorwentbeforeustounlocktheIvoryDoor.
IhadjusttimetoglanceattheOtherProfessor,whowassittingreading,withhisbacktous,beforetheProfessorshowedusoutthroughthedoor,andlockeditbehindus.
Brunowasstandingwithhishandsoverhisface,cryingbitterly.
“What’sthematter,darling?”saidSylvie,withherarmsroundhisneck.
“Hurtedmineselfwellymuch!”sobbedthepoorlittlefellow.
“I’msosorry,darling!Howeverdidyoumanagetohurtyourselfso?”
“CourseImanagedit!”saidBruno,laughingthroughhistears.“Doosoothinknobodyelsebutooca’n’tmanagethings?”
Matterswerelookingdistinctlybrighter,nowBrunohadbeguntoargue.“Come,let’shearallaboutit!”Isaid.
“Myfoottookitintoitsheadtoslip—”Brunobegan.
“Afoothasn’tgotahead!”Sylvieputin,butallinvain.
“Islipteddownthebank.AndItriptedoverastone.Andthestonehurtedmyfoot!AndItrodonaBee.AndtheBeestingedmyfinger!”PoorBrunosobbedagain.
Thecompletelistofwoeswastoomuchforhisfeelings.
“AnditknewedIdidn’tmeantotrodonit!”headded,astheclimax.
“ThatBeeshouldbeashamedofitself!”Isaidseverely,andSylviehuggedandkissedthewoundedherotillalltearsweredried.
“Myfinger’squiteunstungnow!”saidBruno.“Whydoostherebestones?MisterSir,doosooknow?”
“They’regoodforsomething,”Isaid:“evenifwedon’tknowwhat.What’sthegoodofdandelions,now?”
“Dindledums?”saidBruno.“Oh,they’reeversopretty!Andstonesaren’tpretty,onebit.Wouldoolikesomedindledums,MisterSir?”
“Bruno!”Sylviemurmuredreproachfully.“Youmustn’tsay‘Mister’and‘Sir,’bothatonce!RememberwhatItoldyou!”
“YoutelledmeIweretosayMister’whenIspokedabouthim,andIweretosay‘Sir’whenIspokedtohim!”
“Well,you’renotdoingboth,youknow.”
“Ah,butIisdoingbofe,MissPraticular!”Brunoexclaimedtriumphantly.“IwishtedtospeakabouttheGemplun—andIwishtedtospeaktotheGemplun.SoacourseIsaid‘MisterSir’!”
“That’sallright,Bruno,”Isaid.
“Courseit’sallright!”saidBruno.“Sylviejustknowsnuffinatall!”
“Thereneverwasanimpertinenterboy!”saidSylvie,frowningtillherbrighteyeswerenearlyinvisible.
“Andthereneverwasanignorantergirl!”retortedBruno.“Comealongandpicksomedindledums.That’sallshe’sfitfor!”headdedinaveryloudwhispertome.
“Butwhydoyousay‘Dindledums,’Bruno?Dandelionsistherightword.”
“It’sbecausehejumpsaboutso,”Sylviesaid,laughing.
“Yes,that’sit,”Brunoassented.“Sylvietellsmethewords,andthen,whenIjumpabout,theygetshookenupinmyhead—tillthey’reallfroth!”
Iexpressedmyselfasperfectlysatisfiedwiththisexplanation.“Butaren’tyougoingtopickmeanydindledums,afterall?”
“Coursewewill!”criedBruno.“Comealong,Sylvie!”Andthehappychildrenracedaway,boundingovertheturfwiththefleetnessandgraceofyoungantelopes.
“Thenyoudidn’tfindyourwaybacktoOutland?”IsaidtotheProfessor.
“Ohyes,Idid!”hereplied,“WenevergottoQueerStreet;butIfoundanotherway.
I’vebeenbackwardsandforwardsseveraltimessincethen.
IhadtobepresentattheElection,youknow,astheauthorofthenewMoney-act.
TheEmperorwassokindastowishthatIshouldhavethecreditofit.
‘Letcomewhatcomemay,’(IremembertheverywordsoftheImperialSpeech)‘ifitshouldturnoutthattheWardenisalive,youwillbearwitnessthatthechangeinthecoinageistheProfessor’sdoing,notmine!’
Ineverwassoglorifiedinmylife,before!”
Tearstrickleddownhischeeksattherecollection,whichapparentlywasnotwhollyapleasantone.
“IstheWardensupposedtobedead?”
“Well,it’ssupposedso:but,mindyou,Idon’tbelieveit!
Theevidenceisveryweak—merehear-say.
AwanderingJester,withaDancing-Bear(theyfoundtheirwayintothePalace,oneday)hasbeentellingpeoplehecomesfromFairyland,andthattheWardendiedthere.
IwantedtheVice-Wardentoquestionhim,but,mostunluckily,heandmyLadywerealwaysoutwalkingwhentheJestercameround.Yes,theWarden’ssupposedtobedead!”
Andmoretearstrickleddowntheoldman’scheeks.
“ButwhatisthenewMoney-Act?”
TheProfessorbrightenedupagain.“TheEmperorstartedthething,”hesaid.
“HewantedtomakeeverybodyinOutlandtwiceasrichashewasbeforejusttomakethenewGovernmentpopular.
Onlytherewasn’tnearlyenoughmoneyintheTreasurytodoit.
SoIsuggestedthathemightdoitbydoublingthevalueofeverycoinandbank-noteinOutland.It’sthesimplestthingpossible.
Iwondernobodyeverthoughtofitbefore!Andyouneversawsuchuniversaljoy.
Theshopsarefullfrommorningtonight.Everybody’sbuyingeverything!”
“Andhowwastheglorifyingdone?”
AsuddengloomovercasttheProfessor’sjollyface.
“TheydiditasIwenthomeaftertheElection,”hemournfullyreplied.
“ItwaskindlymeantbutIdidn’tlikeit!
TheywavedflagsallroundmetillIwasnearlyblind:andtheyrangbellstillIwasnearlydeaf:andtheystrewedtheroadsothickwithflowersthatIlostmyway!”Andthepooroldmansigheddeeply.
“HowfarisittoOutland?”Iasked,tochangethesubject.
“Aboutfivedays’march.Butonemustgoback—occasionally.
Yousee,asCourt-Professor,IhavetobealwaysinattendanceonPrinceUggug.
TheEmpresswouldbeveryangryifIlefthim,evenforanhour.”
“Butsurely,everytimeyoucomehere,youareabsenttendays,atleast?”
“Oh,morethanthat!”theProfessorexclaimed.“Afortnight,sometimes.
ButofcourseIkeepamemorandumoftheexacttimewhenIstarted,sothatIcanputtheCourt-timebacktotheverymoment!”“Excuseme,”Isaid.“Idon’tunderstand.”
SilentlytheProfessordrewfronthispocketasquaregoldwatch,withsixoreighthands,andhelditoutformyinspection.“This,”hebegan,“isanOutlandishWatch—”
“SoIshouldhavethought.”
“—whichhasthepeculiarpropertythat,insteadofitsgoingwiththetime,thetimegoeswithit.Itrustyouunderstandmenow?”
“Hardly,”Isaid.
“Permitmetoexplain.Solongasitisletalone,ittakesitsowncourse.Timehasnoeffectuponit.”
“Ihaveknownsuchwatches,”Iremarked.
“Itgoes,ofcourse,attheusualrate.Onlythetimehastogowithit.
Hence,ifImovethehands,Ichangethetime.
Tomovethemforwards,inadvanceofthetruetime,isimpossible:butIcanmovethemasmuchasamonthbackwards—thatisthelimit.
Andthenyouhavetheeventsalloveragain—withanyalterationsexperiencemaysuggest.”
“Whatablessingsuchawatchwouldbe,”Ithought,“inreallife!Tobeabletounsaysomeheedlessword—toundosomerecklessdeed!MightIseethethingdone?”
“Withpleasure!”saidthegoodnaturedProfessor.“WhenImovethishandbacktohere,”pointingouttheplace,“Historygoesbackfifteenminutes!”
Tremblingwithexcitement,Iwatchedhimpushthehandroundashedescribed.
“Hurtedmineselfwellymuch!”
Shrillyandsuddenlythewordsranginmyears,and,morestartledthanIcaredtoshow,Iturnedtolookforthespeaker.
Yes!TherewasBruno,standingwiththetearsrunningdownhischeeks,justasIhadseenhimaquarterofanhourago;andtherewasSylviewithherarmsroundhisneck!
Ihadnotthehearttomakethedearlittlefellowgothroughhistroublesasecondtime,sohastilybeggedtheProfessortopushthehandsroundintotheirformerposition.
InamomentSylvieandBrunoweregoneagain,andIcouldjustseetheminthefardistance,picking‘dindledums.’
“Wonderful,indeed!”Iexclaimed.
“Ithasanotherproperty,yetmorewonderful,”saidtheProfessor.“Youseethislittlepeg?Thatiscalledthe‘ReversalPeg.’
Ifyoupushitin,theeventsofthenexthourhappeninthereverseorder.Donottryitnow.
IwilllendyoutheWatchforafewdays,andyoucanamuseyourselfwithexperiments.”
“Thankyouverymuch!”IsaidashegavemetheWatch.“I’lltakethegreatestcareofit—why,herearethechildrenagain!”
“Wecouldonlybutfindsixdindledums,”saidBruno,puttingthemintomyhands,“’causeSylviesaiditweretimetogoback.Andhere’sabigblackberryforooself!Wecouldn’tonlyfindbuttwo!”
“Thankyou:it’sverynice,”Isaid.AndIsupposeyouatetheother,Bruno?”
“No,Ididn’t,”Brunosaid,carelessly.“Aren’ttheyprettydindledums,MisterSir?”
“Yes,very:butwhatmakesyoulimpso,mychild?”
“Minefoot’scomehurtedagain!”Brunomournfullyreplied.Andhesatdownontheground,andbegannursingit.
TheProfessorheldhisheadbetweenhishands—anattitudethatIknewindicateddistractionofmind.“Betterrestaminute,”hesaid.
“Itmaybebetterthen—oritmaybeworse.
IfonlyIhadsomeofmymedicineshere!
I’mCourt-Physician,youknow,”headded,asidetome.
“ShallIgoandgetyousomeblackberries,darling?”Sylviewhispered,withherarmsroundhisneck;andshekissedawayatearthatwastricklingdownhischeek.
Brunobrightenedupinamoment.“Thatareagoodplan!”heexclaimed.“Ithinksmyfootwouldcomequiteunhurted,ifIeatedablackberry—twoorthreeblackberries—sixorsevenblackberries—”
Sylviegotuphastily.“I’dbettergoshesaid,asidetome,beforehegetsintothedoublefigures!
Letmecomeandhelpyou,Isaid.Icanreachhigherupthanyoucan.
Yes,please,saidSylvie,puttingherhandintomine:andwewalkedofftogether.
Brunolovesblackberries,shesaid,aswepacedslowlyalongbyatallhedge,thatlookedapromisingplaceforthem,anditwassosweetofhimtomakemeeattheonlyone!
Oh,itwasyouthatateit,then?Brunodidn’tseemtoliketotellmeaboutit.
No;Isawthat,saidSylvie.He’salwaysafraidofbeingpraised.Buthemademeeatit,really!Iwouldmuchratherhe—oh,what’sthat?
Andsheclungtomyhand,half-frightened,aswecameinsightofahare,lyingonitssidewithlegsstretchedoutjustintheentrancetothewood.
It’sahare,mychild.Perhapsit’sasleep.
No,itisn’tasleep,Sylviesaid,timidlygoingnearertolookatit:it’seyesareopen.Isit—isit—hervoicedroppedtoanawestruckwhisper,isitdead,doyouthink?”
“Yes,it’squitedead,”Isaid,afterstoopingtoexamineit.“Poorthing!Ithinkit’sbeenhuntedtodeath.Iknowtheharrierswereoutyesterday.Buttheyhaven’ttouchedit.
Perhapstheycaughtsightofanother,andleftittodieoffrightandexhaustion.”
“Huntedtodeath?”Sylvierepeatedtoherself,veryslowlyandsadly.“Ithoughthuntingwasathingtheyplayedatlikeagame.BrunoandIhuntsnails:butweneverhurtthemwhenwecatchthem!”
“Sweetangel!”Ithought.
“HowamItogettheideaofSportintoyourinnocentmind?”
Andaswestood,hand-in-hand,lookingdownatthedeadhare,Itriedtoputthethingintosuchwordsasshecouldunderstand.
“Youknowwhatfiercewild-beastslionsandtigersare?”Sylvienodded.
“Well,insomecountriesmenhavetokillthem,tosavetheirownlives,youknow.”
“Yes,”saidSylvie:“ifonetriedtokillme,Brunowouldkillitifhecould.”
“Well,andsothemen—thehunters—gettoenjoyit,youknow:therunning,andthefighting,andtheshouting,andthedanger.”
“Yes,”saidSylvie.“Brunolikesdanger.”
“Well,but,inthiscountry,therearen’tanylionsandtigers,loose:sotheyhuntothercreatures,yousee.”
Ihoped,butinvain,thatthiswouldsatisfyher,andthatshewouldasknomorequestions.
“Theyhuntfoxes,”Sylviesaid,thoughtfully.“AndIthinktheykillthem,too.Foxesareveryfierce.Idaresaymendon’tlovethem.Areharesfierce?”
“No,”Isaid.“Ahareisasweet,gentle,timidanimal—almostasgentleasalamb.”
“But,ifmenlovehares,why—why—”hervoicequivered,andhersweeteyeswerebrimmingoverwithtears.
“I’mafraidtheydon’tlovethem,dearchild.”
“Allchildrenlovethem,”Sylviesaid.“Allladieslovethem.”
“I’mafraidevenladiesgotohuntthem,sometimes.”
Sylvieshuddered.‘”Oh,no,notladies!’sheearnestlypleaded.“NotLadyMuriel!”
“No,sheneverdoes,I’msure—butthisistoosadasightforyou,dear.Let’stryandfindsome—”
ButSylviewasnotsatisfiedyet.Inahushed,solemntone,withbowedheadandclaspedhands,sheputherfinalquestion.“DoesGODlovehares?”
“Yes!”Isaid.“I’msureHedoes!Heloveseverylivingthing.Evensinfulmen.Howmuchmoretheanimals,thatcannotsin!”
“Idon’tknowwhat‘sin’means,”saidSylvie.AndIdidn’ttrytoexplainit.
“Come,mychild,”Isaid,tryingtoleadheraway.“Wishgood-byetothepoorhare,andcomeandlookforblackberries.”
“Good-bye,poorhare!”Sylvieobedientlyrepeated,lookingoverhershoulderatitasweturnedaway.
Andthen,allinamoment,herself-commandgaveway.
Pullingherhandoutofmine,sheranbacktowherethedeadharewaslying,andflungherselfdownatitssideinsuchanagonyofgriefasIcouldhardlyhavebelievedpossibleinsoyoungachild.
“Oh,mydarling,mydarling!”shemoaned,overandoveragain.“AndGodmeantyourlifetobesobeautiful!”
Sometimes,butalwayskeepingherfacehiddenontheground,shewouldreachoutonelittlehand,tostrokethepoordeadthing,andthenoncemoreburyherfaceinherhands,andsobasifherheartwouldbreak.
Iwasafraidshewouldreallymakeherselfill:stillIthoughtitbesttoletherweepawaythefirstsharpagonyofgrief:and,afterafewminutes,thesobbinggraduallyceased,andSylvierosetoherfeet,andlookedcalmlyatme,thoughtearswerestillstreamingdownhercheeks.
Ididnotdaretospeakagain,justyet;butsimplyheldoutmyhandtoher,thatwemightquitthemelancholyspot.
Yes,I’llcomenow,shesaid.Veryreverentlyshekneeleddown,andkissedthedeadhare;thenroseandgavemeherhand,andwemovedoninsilence.
Achild’ssorrowisviolentbutshort;anditwasalmostinherusualvoicethatshesaidafteraminute“Ohstopstop!Herearesomelovelyblackberries!”
WefilledourhandswithfruitandreturnedinallhastetowheretheProfessorandBrunowereseatedonabankawaitingourreturn.
Justbeforewecamewithinhearing-distanceSylviecheckedme.“Pleasedon’ttellBrunoaboutthehare!”shesaid.
Verywell,mychild.Butwhynot?
TearsagainglitteredinthosesweeteyesandsheturnedherheadawaysothatIcouldscarcelyhearherreply.
“He’s—he’sveryfondofgentlecreaturesyouknow.Andhe’d—he’dbesosorry!Idon’twanthimtobemadesorry.”
Andyouragonyofsorrowistocountfornothing,then,sweetunselfishchild!Ithoughttomyself.
Butnomorewassaidtillwehadreachedourfriends;andBrunowasfartoomuchengrossed,inthefeastwehadbroughthim,totakeanynoticeofSylvie’sunusuallygravemanner.
“I’mafraidit’sgettingratherlate,Professor?”Isaid.
“Yes,indeed,”saidtheProfessor.“ImusttakeyouallthroughtheIvoryDooragain.You’vestayedyourfulltime.”
“Mightn’twestayalittlelonger!”pleadedSylvie.
“Justoneminute!”addedBruno.
ButtheProfessorwasunyielding.“It’sagreatprivilege,comingthroughatall,”hesaid.“Wemustgonow.”
AndwefollowedhimobedientlytotheIvoryDoor,whichhethrewopen,andsignedtometogothroughfirst.
“You’recomingtoo,aren’tyou?”IsaidtoSylvie.
“Yes,”shesaid:“butyouwon’tseeusafteryou’vegonethrough.”
“ButsupposeIwaitforyououtside?”Iasked,asIsteppedthroughthedoorway.
“Inthatcase,”saidSylvie,“Ithinkthepotatowouldbequitejustifiedinaskingyourweight.
Icanquiteimagineareallysuperiorkidney-potatodecliningtoarguewithanyoneunderfifteenstone!”
WithagreateffortIrecoveredthethreadofmythoughts.“Welapseveryquicklyintononsense!”Isaid.
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