English
Asbaldasbald,”wasthebewilderingreply.“Now,Bruno,I’lltellyouastory.”
“AndI’lltellooastory,”saidBruno,beginninginahurryforfearofSylviegettingthestartofhim:“oncetherewereaMouse—alittletinyMouse—suchalittleMouse!OoneversawsuchatinyMouse—”
“Didnothingeverhappentoit,Bruno?”Iasked.“Haven’tyouanythingmoretotellus,besidesitsbeingtiny?”
“Nothingneverhappenedtoit,”Brunosolemnlyreplied.
“Whydidnothingneverhappentoit?”saidSylvie,whowassitting,withherheadonBruno’sshoulder,patientlywaitingforachanceofbeginningherstory.
“Itweretootiny,”Brunoexplained.
“That’snoreason!”Isaid.“Howevertinyitwas,thingsmighthappentoit.”
Brunolookedpityinglyatme,asifhethoughtmeverystupid.“Itweretootiny,”herepeated.“Ifanythinghappenedtoit,itwoulddie—itweresoverytiny!”
“Reallythat’senoughaboutitsbeingtiny!”Sylvieputin.“Haven’tyouinventedanymoreaboutit?”
“Haven’tinventednomoreyet.”
“Well,then,youshouldn’tbeginastorytillyou’veinventedmore!Nowbequiet,there’sagoodboy,andlistentomystory.”
AndBruno,havingquiteexhaustedallhisinventivefaculty,bybeginningintoogreatahurry,quietlyresignedhimselftolistening.“TellabouttheotherBruno,please,”hesaidcoaxingly.
Sylvieputherarmsroundhisneck,andbegan:—
“Thewindwaswhisperingamongthetrees,”(”Thatwasn’tgoodmanners!”Brunointerrupted.
“Nevermindaboutmanners,”saidSylvie)“anditwasevening—anicemoonyevening,andtheOwlswerehooting—”
“Pretendtheyweren’tOwls!”Brunopleaded,strokinghercheekwithhisfatlittlehand.“Idon’tlikeOwls.Owlshavesuchgreatbigeyes.PretendtheywereChickens!”
“Areyouafraidoftheirgreatbigeyes,Bruno?”Isaid.
“Aren’t’fraidofnothing,”Brunoansweredinascarelessatoneashecouldmanage:“they’reuglywiththeirgreatbigeyes.
Ithinkiftheycried,thetearswouldbeasbig—oh,asbigasthemoon!”Andhelaughedmerrily.“DoosOwlscryever,MisterSir?”
“Owlscrynever,”Isaidgravely,tryingtocopyBruno’swayofspeaking:“they’vegotnothingtobesorryfor,youknow.”
“Oh,buttheyhave!”Brunoexclaimed.“They’reeversosorry,‘causetheykilledthepoorlittleMouses!”
“Butthey’renotsorrywhenthey’rehungry,Isuppose?”
“Oodon’tknownothingaboutOwls!”Brunoscornfullyremarked.
“Whenthey’rehungry,they’revery,verysorrytheykilledthelittleMouses,‘causeiftheyhadn’tkilledthemthere’dbesumfinforsupper,ooknow!”
Brunowasevidentlygettingintoadangerouslyinventivestateofmind,soSylviebrokeinwith“NowI’mgoingonwiththestory.
SotheOwls—theChickens,Imean—werelookingtoseeiftheycouldfindanicefatMousefortheirsupper—”
“Pretenditwasanice‘abbit!”saidBruno.
“Butitwasn’tanicehabit,tokillMouses,”Sylvieargued.“Ica’n’tpretendthat!”
“Ididn’tsay’habit’,oosillyfellow!”Brunorepliedwithamerrytwinkleinhiseye.“’abbits—thatrunsaboutinthefields!”
“Rabbit?WellitcanbeaRabbit,ifyoulike.Butyoumustn’taltermystorysomuch,Bruno.AChickencouldn’teataRabbit!”
“Butitmighthavewishedtoseeifitcouldtrytoeatit.”
“Well,itwishedtoseeifitcouldtry—oh,really,Bruno,that’snonsense!IshallgobacktotheOwls.”
“Well,then,pretendtheyhadn’tgreateyes!”
“AndtheysawalittleBoy,”Sylviewenton,disdainingtomakeanyfurthercorrections.“Andheaskedthemtotellhimastory.
AndtheOwlshootedandflewaway—”(”Ooshouldn’tsay’flewed’;ooshouldsay’flied’,”Brunowhispered.ButSylviewouldn’thear.)“AndhemetaLion.
AndheaskedtheLiontotellhimastory.AndtheLionsaid‘yes’,itwould.
And,whiletheLionwastellinghimthestory,itnibbledsomeofhisheadoff—”
“Don’tsay‘nibbled’!”Brunoentreated.“Onlylittlethingsnibble—littlethinsharpthings,withedges—”
“Well,then,it’nubbled’,”saidSylvie.“Andwhenithadnubbledallhisheadoff,hewentaway,andheneversaid‘thankyou’!”
“Thatwereveryrude,”saidBruno.“Ifhecouldn’tspeak,hemighthavenodded—no,hecouldn’tnod.Well,hemighthaveshakedhandswiththeLion!”
“Oh,I’dforgottenthatpart!”saidSylvie.“Hedidshakehandswithit.Hecamebackagain,youknow,andhethankedtheLionverymuch,fortellinghimthestory.”
“Thenhisheadhadgrowedupagain?”saidBruno.
“Ohyes,itgrewupinaminute.AndtheLionbeggedpardon,andsaiditwouldn’tnubbleofflittleboys’heads—notnevernomore!”
Brunolookedmuchpleasedatthischangeofevents.“Nowthatareareallynicestory!”hesaid.“Aren’titanicestory,MisterSir?”
“Very,”Isaid.“IwouldliketohearanotherstoryaboutthatBoy.”
“SowouldI,”saidBruno,strokingSylvie’scheekagain.“PleasetellaboutBruno’sPicnic;anddon’ttalkaboutnubblyLions!”
“Iwo’n’t,ifitfrightensyou,”saidSylvie.
“Flightensme!”Brunoexclaimedindignantly.“Itisn’tthat!
It’s‘cause‘nubbly’‘ssuchagrumblywordtosay—whenoneperson’sgotherheadonanotherperson’sshoulder.
Whenshetalkslikethat,”heexclaimedtome,“thetalkinggoesdownbofesidesofmyface—allthewaytomychin—anditdoostickleso!
It’senoughtomakeabeardgrow,thatitis!”
Hesaidthiswithgreatseverity,butitwasevidentlymeantforajoke:soSylvielaughed—adeliciousmusicallittlelaugh,andlaidhersoftcheekonthetopofherbrother’scurlyhead,asifitwereapillow,whileshewentonwiththestory.“SothisBoy—”
“Butitwasn’tme,ooknow!”Brunointerrupted.“Andooneedn’ttrytolookasifitwas,MisterSir!”
Irepresented,respectfully,thatIwastryingtolookasifitwasn’t.
“—hewasamiddlinggoodBoy—”
“HewereawellygoodBoy!”Brunocorrectedher.“Andheneverdidnothinghewasn’ttoldtodo—”
“Thatdoesn’tmakeagoodBoy!”Sylviesaidcontemptuously.
“ThatdomakeagoodBoy!”Brunoinsisted.
Sylviegaveupthepoint.“Well,hewasaverygoodboyandhealwayskepthispromises,andhehadabigcupboard—”
“—fortokeepallhispromisesin!”criedBruno.
“Ifhekeptallhispromises,”Sylviesaid,withamischievouslookinhereyes,“hewasn’tlikesomeBoysIknowof!”
“Hehadtoputsaltwiththem,a-course,”Brunosaidgravely:“ooca’n’tkeeppromiseswhenthereisn’tanysalt.Andhekepthisbirthdayonthesecondshelf.”
“Howlongdidhekeephisbirthday?”Iasked.“Inevercankeepminemorethantwenty-fourhours.”
“Why,abirthdaystaysthatlongbyitself!”criedBruno.“Oodoosn’tknowhowtokeepbirthdays!ThisBoykepthisawholeyear!”
“Andthenthenextbirthdaywouldbegin,”saidSylvie.“Soitwouldbehisbirthdayalways.”
“Soitwere,”saidBruno.“Doosoohavetreatsonoorbirthday,MisterSir?”
“Sometimes,”Isaid.
“Whenoo’regood,Isuppose?”
“Why,itisasortoftreat,beinggood,isn’tit?”Isaid.
“Asortoftreat!”Brunorepeated.“It’sasortofpunishmentIthink!”
“Oh,Bruno!”Sylvieinterrupted,almostsadly.“Howcanyou?”
“Well,butitis,”Brunopersisted.“Why,lookhere,MisterSir!Thisisbeinggood!”Andhesatboltupright,andputonanabsurdlysolemnface.“Firstoomustsitupasstraightaspokers—”
“—asstraightasapoker,”Sylviecorrectedhim.
“—asstraightaspokers,”Brunofirmlyrepeated.“Thenoomustclaspoorhands—so.Then—‘Whyhasn’toobrushedoorhair?Goandbrushittoreckly!’
Then—’Oh,Bruno,oomustn’tdog’s-earthedaisies!’
Didoolearnoorspellingwizdaisies,MisterSir?”
“IwanttohearaboutthatBoy’sBirthday,”Isaid.
Brunoreturnedtothestoryinstantly.“Well,sothisBoysaid‘Nowit’smyBirthday!’Andso—I’mtired!”
hesuddenlybrokeoff,layinghisheadinSylvie’slap.“Sylvieknowsitbest.Sylvie’sgrown-upperthanme.Goon,Sylvie!”
Sylviepatientlytookupthethreadofthestoryagain.“Sohesaid‘Nowit’smyBirthday.
WhatevershallIdotokeepmyBirthday?’
AllgoodlittleBoys—”(SylvieturnedawayfromBruno,andmadeagreatpresenceofwhisperingtome)“—allgoodlittleBoys—Boysthatlearntheirlessonsquiteperfect—theyalwayskeeptheirbirthdays,youknow.
SoofcoursethislittleBoykepthisBirthday.”
“OomaycallhimBruno,ifoolike,”thelittlefellowcarelesslyremarked.“Itweren’tme,butitmakesitmoreinteresting.”
“SoBrunosaidtohimself‘TheproperestthingtodoistohaveaPicnic,allbymyself,onthetopofthehill.
AndI’lltakesomeMilk,andsomeBread,andsomeApples:andfirstandforemost,IwantsomeMilk!’
So,firstandforemost,Brunotookamilk-pail—”
“AndhewentandmilktedtheCow!”Brunoputin.
“Yes,”saidSylvie,meeklyacceptingthenewverb.“AndtheCowsaid‘Moo!
WhatareyougoingtodowithallthatMilk?’
AndBrunosaid‘Please’m,IwantitformyPicnic.’AndtheCowsaid‘Moo!ButIhopeyouwo’n’tboilanyofit?’AndBrunosaid‘No,indeedIwo’n’t!
NewMilk’ssoniceandsowarm,itwantsnoboiling!’”
“Itdoesn’twantnoboiling,’Brunoofferedasanamendedversion.
“SoBrunoputtheMilkinabottle.AndthenBrunosaid‘NowIwantsomeBread!’SohewenttotheOven,andhetookoutadeliciousnewLoaf.AndtheOven—”.
“—eversolightandsopuffy!”Brunoimpatientlycorrectedher.“Ooshouldn’tleaveoutsomanywords!”
Sylviehumblyapologized.“—adeliciousnewLoaf,eversolightandsopuffy.AndtheOvensaid—”HereSylviemadealongpause.“ReallyIdon’tknowwhatanOvenbeginswith,whenitwantstospeak!”
Bothchildrenlookedappealinglyatme;butIcouldonlysay,helplessly,“Ihaven’ttheleastidea!IneverheardanOvenspeak!”
Foraminuteortwoweallsatsilent;andthenBrunosaid,verysoftly,“Ovenbeginswiz‘O’.”
“Goodlittleboy!”Sylvieexclaimed.“Hedoeshisspellingverynicely.He’sclevererthanheknows!”sheadded,aside,tome.“SotheOvensaid‘O!
WhatareyougoingtodowithallthatBread?’
AndBrunosaid‘Please—’IsanOven‘Sir’or‘m’,wouldyousay?”Shelookedtomeforareply.
“Both,Ithink,”seemedtomethesafestthingtosay.
Sylvieadoptedthesuggestioninstantly.
“SoBrunosaid‘Please,Sirm,IwantitformyPicnic.’AndtheOvensaid‘O!ButIhopeyouwo’n’ttoastanyofit?’AndBrunosaid,‘No,indeedIwo’n’t!
NewBread’ssolightandsopuffy,itwantsnotoasting!’”
“Itneverdoesn’twantnotoasting,”saidBruno.“Iwissoowouldn’tsayitsoshort!”
“SoBrunoputtheBreadinthehamper.ThenBrunosaid‘NowIwantsomeApples!’
Sohetookthehamper,andhewenttotheApple-Tree,andhepickedsomelovelyripeApples.
AndtheApple-Treesaid—”Herefollowedanotherlongpause.
Brunoadoptedhisfavouriteexpedientoftappinghisforehead;whileSylviegazedearnestlyupwards,asifshehopedforsomesuggestionfromthebirds,whoweresingingmerrilyamongthebranchesoverhead.Butnoresultfollowed.
“WhatdoesanApple-Treebeginwith,whenitwantstospeak?”Sylviemurmureddespairingly,totheirresponsivebirds.
Atlast,takingaleafoutofBruno’sbook,Iventuredonaremark.“Doesn’t‘Apple-Tree’alwaysbeginwith‘Eh!’?”
“Why,ofcourseitdoes!Howcleverofyou!”Sylviecrieddelightedly.
Brunojumpedup,andpattedmeonthehead.Itriednottofeelconceited.
“SotheApple-Treesaid‘Eh!WhatareyougoingtodowithallthoseApples?’
AndBrunosaid‘Please,Sir,IwantthemformyPicnic.’AndtheApple-Treesaid‘Eh!
ButIhopeyouwo’n’tbakeanyofthem?’AndBrunosaid‘No,indeedIwo’n’t!
RipeApplesaresoniceandsosweet,theywantnobaking!’”
“Theyneverdoesn’t—”Brunowasbeginning,butSylviecorrectedherselfbeforehecouldgetthewordsout.
“‘Theyneverdoesn’tnohowwantnobaking.’
SoBrunoputtheApplesinthehamper,alongwiththeBread,andthebottleofMilk.
AndhesetofftohaveaPicnic,onthetopofthehill,allbyhimself—”
“Hewasn’tgreedy,ooknow,tohaveitallbyhimself,”Brunosaid,pattingmeonthecheektocallmyattention;“‘causehehadn’tgotnobrothersandsisters.”
“Itwasverysadtohavenosisters,wasn’tit?”Isaid.
“Well,Idon’tknow,”Brunosaidthoughtfully,“‘causehehadn’tnolessonstodo.Sohedidn’tmind.”
Sylviewenton.“So,ashewaswalkingalongtheroadheheardbehindhimsuchacurioussortofnoise—asortofaThump!Thump!Thump!‘Whateveristhat?’saidBruno.‘Oh,Iknow!’saidBruno.‘Why,it’sonlymyWatcha-ticking!’”
“WereithisWatcha-ticking?”Brunoaskedme,witheyesthatfairlysparkledwithmischievousdelight.
“Nodoubtofit!”Ireplied.AndBrunolaughedexultingly.
“ThenBrunothoughtalittleharder.Andhesaid‘No!itca’n’tbemyWatcha-ticking;becauseIhaven’tgotaWatch!’”
Brunopeeredupanxiouslyintomyface,toseehowItookit.Ihungmyhead,andputathumbintomymouth,totheevidentdelightofthelittlefellow.
“SoBrunowentalittlefurtheralongtheroad.
Andthenhehearditagain,thatqueernoise—Thump!Thump!Thump!‘Whateveristhat?’saidBruno.‘Oh,Iknow!’saidBruno.
‘Why,it’sonlytheCarpenteramendingmyWheelbarrow!’”
“WereittheCarpentera-mendinghisWheelbarrow?”Brunoaskedme.
Ibrightenedup,andsaid“Itmusthavebeen!”inatoneofabsoluteconviction.
BrunothrewhisarmsroundSylvie’sneck.“Sylvie!”hesaid,inaperfectlyaudiblewhisper.“Hesaysitmusthavebeen!”
“ThenBrunothoughtalittleharder.Andhesaid‘No!Itca’n’tbetheCarpentera-mendingmyWheelbarrow,becauseIhaven’tgotaWheelbarrow!’”
ThistimeIhidmyfaceinmyhands,quiteunabletomeetBruno’slookoftriumph.
“SoBrunowentalittlefurtheralongtheroad.
Andthenheheardthatqueernoiseagain—Thump!Thump!Thump!
Sohethoughthe’dlookround,thistime,justtoseewhatitwas.
AndwhatshoulditbebutagreatLion!”
“AgreatbigLion,”Brunocorrectedher.
“AgreatbigLion.AndBrunowaseversofrightened,andheran—”
“No,hewasn’tflightenedabit!”Brunointerrupted.
(Hewasevidentlyanxiousforthereputationofhisnamesake.)
“HerunnedawaytogetagoodlookattheLion;‘causehewantedtoseeifitwerethesameLionwhatusedtonubblelittleBoys’headsoff;andhewantedtoknowhowbigitwas!”
“Well,heranaway,togetagoodlookattheLion.AndtheLiontrottedslowlyafterhim.
AndtheLioncalledafterhim,inaverygentlevoice,‘LittleBoy,littleBoy,Youneedn’tbeafraidofme!I’maverygentleoldLionnow.
InevernubblelittleBoys’headsoff,asIusedtodo.’
AndsoBrunosaid‘Don’tyoureally,Sir?Thenwhatdoyouliveon?’AndtheLion—”
“Ooseeheweren’tabitflightened!”Brunosaidtome,pattingmycheekagain.“‘causeherememberedtocallitSir’,ooknow.”
Isaidthatnodoubtthatwastherealtestwhetherapersonwasfrightenedornot.
“AndtheLionsaid‘Oh,Iliveonbread-and-butter,andcherries,andmarmalade,andplum-cake—”
“—andapples!”Brunoputin.
“Yes,‘andapples’.AndBrunosaid“wo’n’tyouwithmetomyPicnic?’AndtheLionsaid‘Oh,Ishouldlikeitverymuchindeed!’AndBrunoandtheLionwentawaytogether.”Sylviestoppedsuddenly.
“Isthatall?”Iasked,despondingly.
“Notquiteall,”Sylvieslilyreplied“There’sasentenceortwomore.Isn’tthere,Bruno?”
“Yes,”withacarelessnessthatwasevidentlyputon“justasentenceortwomore.”
“And,astheywerewalkingalong,theylookedoverahedge,andwhoshouldtheyseebutalittleblackLamb!AndtheLambwaseversofrightened.Anditran—”
“Itwerereallyflightened!”Brunoputin.
“Itranaway.AndBrunoranafterit.Andhecalled‘LittleLamb!Youneedn’tbeafraidofthisLion!Itneverkillsthings!Itlivesoncherries,andmarmalade—’”
“—andapples!”saidBruno.‘Ooalwaysforgetstheapples!”
“AndBrunosaid‘Wo’n’tyoucomewithustomyPicnic?’
AndtheLambsaid‘Oh,Ishouldlikeitverymuchindeed,ifmyMawillletme!’
AndBrunosaid‘Let’sgoandaskyourMa!’AndtheywenttotheoldSheep.
AndBrunosaid‘Please,mayyourlittleLambcometomyPicnic?’
AndtheSheepsaid‘Yes,ifit’slearntallitslessons.’AndtheLambsaid‘Ohyes,Ma!I’velearntallmylessons!’”
“Pretendithadn’tanylessons!”Brunoearnestlypleaded.
“Oh,thatwouldneverdo!”saidSylvie.
“Ica’n’tleaveoutallaboutthelessons!
AndtheoldSheepsaid‘DoyouknowyourABCyet?HaveyoulearntA?’AndtheLambsaid‘Ohyes,Ma!
IwenttotheA-field,andIhelpedthemtomakeA!’‘Verygood,mychild!AndhaveyoulearntB?’‘Ohyes,Ma!
IwenttotheB-hive,andtheBgavemesomehoney!’‘Verygood,mychild!AndhaveyoulearntC?’‘Ohyes,Ma!
IwenttotheC-side,andIsawtheshipssailingontheC!’‘Verygood,mychild!YoumaygotoBruno’sPicnic.’”
“Sotheysetoff.AndBrunowalkedinthemiddlesothattheLambmightn’tseetheLion—”
“Itwereflightened,”Brunoexplained.
“Yes,andittrembledso;anditgotpalerandpaler;and,beforethey’dgottothetopofthehill,itwasawhitelittleLamb—aswhiteassnow!”
“ButBrunoweren’tflightened!”saidtheownerofthatname.“Sohestaidblack!”
“No,hedidn’tstayblack!Hestaidpink!”laughedSylvie.“Ishouldn’tkissyoulikethis,youknow,ifyouwereblack!”
“Oo’dhaveto!”Brunosaidwithgreatdecision.“Besides,Brunowasn’tBruno,ooknow—Imean,Brunowasn’tme—Imean—don’ttalknonsense,Sylvie!”
“Iwo’n’tdoitagain!”Sylviesaidveryhumbly.
“Andso,astheywentalong,theLionsaid‘Oh,I’lltellyouwhatIusedtodowhenIwasayoungLion.
Iusedtohidebehindtrees,towatchforlittleboys.
’”(Brunocuddledalittleclosertoher.)
“‘And,ifalittlethinscraggyBoycameby,why,Iusedtolethimgo.But,ifalittlefatjuicy—’”
Brunocouldbearnomore.“Pretendhewasn’tjuicy!”hepleaded,half-sobbing.
“Nonsense,Bruno!”Sylviebrisklyreplied.“It’llbedoneinamoment!
‘—ifalittlefatjuicyBoycameby,why,Iusedtospringoutandgobblehimup!
Oh,you’venoideawhatadeliciousthingitis—alittlejuicyBoy!’
AndBrunosaid‘Oh,ifyouplease,Sir,don’ttalkabouteatinglittleboys!Itmakesmesoshivery!
TherealBrunoshivered,insympathywiththehero.
“AndtheLionsaid‘Oh,well,wewo’n’ttalkaboutit,then!I’lltellyouwhathappenedonmyweddingday—”
“Ilikethispartbetter,”saidBruno,pattingmycheektokeepmeawake.
“‘Therewas,oh,suchalovelywedding-breakfast!
Atoneendofthetabletherewasalargeplum-pudding.
AndattheotherendtherewasaniceroastedLamb!
Oh,you’venoideawhatadeliciousthingitis—aniceroastedLamb!’
AndtheLambsaid‘Oh,ifyouplease,Sir,don’ttalkabouteatingLambs!Itmakesmesoshivery!’
AndtheLionsaid‘Oh,well,wewo’n’ttalkaboutit,then!’”
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