English
“Won’tyoubedreadfullysorrytoleavethislovelyplace?”BetsyaskedtheUglyOne.
“No,indeed,”saidhe.“Jewelsandgoldarecoldandheartlessthings,andIamsureIwouldpresentlyhavediedoflonelinesshadInotfoundthenaturalforestattheedgeoftheartificialone.
Anyhow,withouttheserealtreesIshouldsoonhavestarvedtodeath.”
Betsylookedaroundatthequainttrees.
“Idon’tjustunderstandthat,”sheadmitted.“Whatcouldyoufindtoeathere.”
“Thebestfoodintheworld,”Uglyanswered.“Doyouseethatgroveatyourleft?”
headded,pointingitout;“well,suchtreesasthosedonotgrowinyourcountry,orinanyotherplacebutthiscavern.
Ihavenamedthem‘HotelTrees,’becausetheybearacertainkindoftabled’hotefruitcalled‘Three-CourseNuts.’“
“That’sfunny!”saidBetsy.“Whatarethe‘Three-CourseNuts’like?”
“Somethinglikecocoanuts,tolookat,”explainedtheUglyOne.
“Allyouhavetodoistopickoneofthemandthensitdownandeatyourdinner.
Youfirstunscrewthetoppartandfindacupfulofgoodsoup.
Afteryou’veeatenthat,youunscrewthemiddlepartandfindahollowfilledwithmeatandpotatoes,vegetablesandafinesalad.
Eatthat,andunscrewthenextsection,andyoucometothedessertinthebottomofthenut.
Thatis,pieandcake,cheeseandcrackers,andnutsandraisins.
TheThree-CourseNutsarenotallexactlyalikeinflavororincontents,buttheyareallgoodandineachonemaybefoundacompletethree-coursedinner.”
“Buthowaboutbreakfasts?”inquiredBetsy.
“Why,thereareBreakfastTreesforthat,whichgrowoverthereattheright.
Theybearnuts,liketheothers,onlythenutscontaincoffeeorchocolate,insteadofsoup;oatmealinsteadofmeat-and-potatoes,andfruitsinsteadofdessert.
Sadashasbeenmylifeinthiswonderfulprison,ImustadmitthatnoonecouldlivemoreluxuriouslyinthebesthotelintheworldthanIhavelivedhere;butIwillbegladtogetintotheopenairagainandseethegoodoldsunandthesilverymoonandthesoftgreengrassandtheflowersthatarekissedbythemorningdew.
Ah,howmuchmorelovelyarethoseblessedthingsthantheglitterofgemsorthecoldgleamofgold!”
“Ofcourse,”saidBetsy.“Ionceknewalittleboywhowantedtocatchthemeasles,becauseallthelittleboysinhisneighborhoodbuthimhad‘em,andhewasreallyunhappy‘causehecouldn’tcatch‘em,tryashewould.
SoI’mprettycertainthatthethingswewant,andcan’thave,arenotgoodforus.Isn’tthattrue,Shaggy?”
“Notalways,mydear,”hegravelyreplied.
“Ifwedidn’twantanything,wewouldnevergetanything,goodorbad.
Ithinkourlongingsarenatural,andifweactasnaturepromptsuswecan’tgofarwrong.”
“Formypart,”saidQueenAnn,“Ithinktheworldwouldbeadrearyplacewithoutthegoldandjewels.”
“Allthingsaregoodintheirway,”saidShaggy;“butwemayhavetoomuchofanygoodthing.
AndIhavenoticedthatthevalueofanythingdependsuponhowscarceitis,andhowdifficultitistoobtain.”
“Pardonmeforinterruptingyou,”saidKingKaliko,comingtotheirside,“butnowthatwehaverescuedShaggy’sbrotherIwouldliketoreturntomyroyalcavern.
BeingtheKingoftheNomes,itismydutytolookaftermyrestlesssubjectsandseethattheybehavethemselves.”
SotheyallturnedandbeganwalkingthroughtheMetalForesttotheothersideofthegreatdomedcave,wheretheyhadfirstenteredit.
Shaggyandhisbrotherwalkedsidebysideandbothseemedrejoicedthattheyweretogetheraftertheirlongseparation.
Betsydidn’tdarelookatthepolkadothandkerchief,forfearshewouldlaughaloud;soshewalkedbehindthetwobrothersandledHankbyholdingfasttohisleftear.
Whenatlasttheyreachedtheplacewherethepassageledtotheouterworld,QueenAnnsaid,inahesitatingwaythatwasunusualwithher:
“IhavenotconqueredthisNomeCountry,nordoIexpecttodoso;butIwouldliketogatherafewoftheseprettyjewelsbeforeIleavethisplace.”
“Helpyourself,ma’am,”saidKingKaliko,andatoncetheofficersoftheArmytookadvantageofhisroyalpermissionandbeganfillingtheirpockets,whileAnntiedalotofdiamondsinabighandkerchief.
Thisaccomplished,theyallenteredthepassage,thenomesgoingfirsttolightthewaywiththeirtorches.TheyhadnotproceededfarwhenBetsyexclaimed:
“Why,therearejewelshere,too!”
Alleyeswereturneduponthegroundandtheyfoundaregulartrailofjewelsstrewnalongtherockfloor.
“Thisisodd!”saidKaliko,muchsurprised.“ImustsendsomeofmynomestogatherupthesegemsandreplacethemintheMetalForest,wheretheybelong.Iwonderhowtheycametobehere?”
Allthewayalongthepassagetheyfoundthistrailofjewels,butwhentheynearedtheendthemysterywasexplained.
Forthere,squatteduponthefloorwithhisbacktotherockwall,satoldRuggedo,puffingandblowingasifhewasalltiredout.
Thentheyrealizeditwashewhohadscatteredthejewels,fromhismanypockets,whichonebyonehadburstwiththeweightoftheircontentsashehadstumbledalongthepassage.
“ButIdon’tmind,”saidRuggedo,withadeepsigh.
“InowrealizethatIcouldnothavecarriedsuchaweightyloadveryfar,evenhadImanagedtoescapefromthispassagewithit.
Thewomanwhosewedthepocketsonmyrobeusedpoorthread,forwhichIshallthankher.”
“Haveyouanyjewelsleft?”inquiredBetsy.
Heglancedintosomeoftheremainingpockets.
“Afew,”saidhe,“buttheywillbesufficienttosupplymywants,andInolongerhaveanydesiretoberich.
Ifsomeofyouwillkindlyhelpmetorise,I’llgetoutofhereandleaveyou,forIknowyoualldespisemeandprefermyroomtomycompany.”
ShaggyandKalikoraisedtheoldKingtohisfeet,whenhewasconfrontedbyShaggy’sbrother,whomhenownoticedforthefirsttime.
ThestrangeandunexpectedappearanceoftheUglyOnesostartledRuggedothathegaveawildcryandbegantotremble,asifhehadseenaghost.
“Wh—wh—whoisthis?”hefaltered.
“Iamthathelplessprisonerwhomyourcruelmagictransformedfromahandsomemanintoanuglyone!”answeredShaggy’sbrother,inavoiceofsternreproach.
“Really,Ruggedo,”saidBetsy,“yououghttobeashamedofthatmeantrick.”
“Iam,mydear,”admittedRuggedo,whowasnowasmeekandhumbleasformerlyhehadbeencruelandvindictive.
“Then,”returnedthegirl,“you’dbetterdosomemoremagicandgivethepoormanhisownfaceagain.”
“IwishIcould,”answeredtheoldKing;“butyoumustrememberthatTititi-Hoochoohasdeprivedmeofallmymagicpowers.
However,InevertookthetroubletolearnjusthowtobreakthecharmIcastoverShaggy’sbrother,forIintendedheshouldalwaysremainugly.”
“Everycharm,”remarkedprettyPolychrome,“hasitsantidote;and,ifyouknewthischarmofugliness,Ruggedo,youmusthaveknownhowtodispelit.”
Heshookhishead.
“IfIdid,I—I’veforgotten,”hestammeredregretfully.
“Trytothink!”pleadedShaggy,anxiously.“Pleasetrytothink!”
Ruggedoruffledhishairwithbothhands,sighed,slappedhischest,rubbedhisear,andstaredstupidlyaroundthegroup.
“I’veafaintrecollectionthattherewasonethingthatwouldbreakthecharm,”saidhe;“butmisfortunehassoaddledmybrainthatIcan’trememberwhatitwas.”
“Seehere,Ruggedo,”saidBetsy,sharply,“we’vetreatedyouprettywell,sofar,butwewon’tstandforanynonsense,andifyouknowwhat’sgoodforyourselfyou’llthinkofthatcharm!”
“Why?”hedemanded,turningtolookwonderinglyatthelittlegirl.
“BecauseitmeanssomuchtoShaggy’sbrother.
He’sdreadfullyashamedofhimself,thewayheisnow,andyou’retoblameforit.
Factis,Ruggedo,you’vedonesomuchwickednessinyourlifethatitwon’thurtyoutodoakindactnow.”
Ruggedoblinkedather,andsighedagain,andthentriedveryhardtothink.
“Iseemtoremember,dimly,”saidhe,“thatacertainkindofakisswillbreakthecharmofugliness.”
“Whatkindofakiss?”
“Whatkind?Why,itwas—itwas—itwaseitherthekissofaMortalMaid;or—or—thekissofaMortalMaidwhohadoncebeenaFairy;or—orthekissofonewhoisstillaFairy.Ican’trememberwhich.
Butofcoursenomaid,mortalorfairy,wouldeverconsenttokissapersonsougly—sodreadfully,fearfully,terriblyugly—asShaggy’sbrother.”
“I’mnotsosureofthat,”saidBetsy,withadmirablecourage;“I’maMortalMaid,andifitismykissthatwillbreakthisawfulcharm,I—I’lldoit!”
“Oh,youreallycouldn’t,”protestedUgly.“Iwouldbeobligedtoremovemymask,andwhenyousawmyface,nothingcouldinduceyoutokissme,generousasyouare.”
“Well,asforthat,”saidthelittlegirl,“Ineedn’tseeyourfaceatall.
Here’smyplan:Youstayinthisdarkpassage,andwe’llsendawaythenomeswiththeirtorches.
Thenyou’lltakeoffthehandkerchief,andI—I’llkissyou.”
“Thisisawfullykindofyou,Betsy!”saidShaggy,gratefully.
“Well,itsurelywon’tkillme,”shereplied;“and,ifitmakesyouandyourbrotherhappy,I’mwillingtotakesomechances.”
SoKalikoorderedthetorch-bearerstoleavethepassage,whichtheydidbygoingthroughtherockopening.
QueenAnnandherarmyalsowentout;buttheothersweresointerestedinBetsy’sexperimentthattheyremainedgroupedatthemouthofthepassageway.
Whenthebigrockswungintoplace,closingtighttheopening,theywereleftintotaldarkness.
“Now,then,”calledBetsyinacheerfulvoice,“haveyougotthathandkerchiefoffyourface,Ugly?”
“Yes,”hereplied.
“Well,whereareyou,then?”sheasked,reachingoutherarms.
“Here,”saidhe.
“You’llhavetostoopdown,youknow.”
Hefoundherhandsandclaspingtheminhisownstoopeduntilhisfacewasneartothatofthelittlegirl.Theothersheardaclear,smackingkiss,andthenBetsyexclaimed:
“There!I’vedoneit,anditdidn’thurtabit!”
“Tellme,dearbrother;isthecharmbroken?”askedShaggy.
“Idonotknow,”wasthereply.“Itmaybe,oritmaynotbe.Icannottell.”
“Hasanyoneamatch?”inquiredBetsy.
“Ihaveseveral,”saidShaggy.
“ThenletRuggedostrikeoneofthemandlookatyourbrother’sface,whileweallturnourbacks.
Ruggedomadeyourbrotherugly,soIguesshecanstandthehorroroflookingathim,ifthecharmisn’tbroken.”
Agreeingtothis,Ruggedotookthematchandlightedit.Hegaveonelookandthenblewoutthematch.
“Uglyasever!”hesaidwithashudder.“Soitwasn’tthekissofaMortalMaid,afterall.”
“Letmetry,”proposedtheRosePrincess,inhersweetvoice.“IamaMortalMaidwhowasonceaFairy.Perhapsmykisswillbreakthecharm.”
Filesdidnotwhollyapproveofthis,buthewastoogeneroustointerfere.SotheRosePrincessfeltherwaythroughthedarknesstoShaggy’sbrotherandkissedhim.
Ruggedostruckanothermatch,whiletheyallturnedaway.
“No,”announcedtheformerKing;“thatdidn’tbreakthecharm,either.ItmustbethekissofaFairythatisrequired—orelsemymemoryhasfailedmealtogether.”
“Polly,”saidBetsy,pleadingly,“won’tyoutry?”
“OfcourseIwill!”answeredPolychrome,withamerrylaugh.
“I’veneverkissedamortalmaninallthethousandsofyearsIhaveexisted,butI’lldoittopleaseourfaithfulShaggyMan,whoseunselfishaffectionforhisuglybrotherdeservestoberewarded.”
EvenasPolychromewasspeakingshetrippedlightlytothesideoftheUglyOneandquicklytouchedhischeekwithherlips.
“Oh,thankyou—thankyou!”heferventlycried.“I’vechanged,thistime,Iknow.Icanfeelit!I’mdifferent.Shaggy—dearShaggy—Iammyselfagain!”
Files,whowasneartheopening,touchedthespringthatreleasedthebigrockanditsuddenlyswungbackwardandletinafloodofdaylight.
Everyonestoodmotionless,staringhardatShaggy’sbrother,who,nolongermaskedbythepolka-dothandkerchief,mettheirgazewithagladsmile.
“Well,”saidShaggyMan,breakingthesilenceatlastanddrawingalong,deepbreathofsatisfaction,“youarenolongertheUglyOne,mydearbrother;but,tobeentirelyfrankwithyou,thefacethatbelongstoyouisnomorehandsomethanitoughttobe.”
“Ithinkhe’srathergoodlooking,”remarkedBetsy,gazingatthemancritically.
“Incomparisonwithwhathewas,”saidKingKaliko,“heisreallybeautiful.
You,whoneverbeheldhisugliness,maynotunderstandthat;butitwasmymisfortunetolookattheUglyOnemanytimes,andIsayagainthat,incomparisonwithwhathewas,themanisnowbeautiful.”
“Allright,”returnedBetsy,briskly,“we’lltakeyourwordforit,Kaliko.Andnowletusgetoutofthistunnelandintotheworldagain.”
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