按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
had been dug up； and the spaces between the trees planted with currant bushes and celery in admirable rows； so that no future little cousins will be able to dream of celestial hosts coming towards them across the fields of daffodils； and will perhaps be the better for being free from visions of the kind； for as I grew older； uncomfortable doubts laid hold of my heart with cold fingers； dim uncertainties as to the exact ultimate position of the gardener and the governess； anxious questionings as to how it would be if it were they who turned out after all to be sheep； and I who？ For that we all three might be gathered into the same fold at the last never； in those days； struck me as possible； and if it had I should not have liked it。
〃Now what sort of person can that be；〃 I asked myself； shaking my head； as I contemplated the changes before me； 〃who could put a rockery among vegetables and currant bushes？ A rockery； of all things in the gardening world； needs consummate tact in its treatment。 It is easier to make mistakes in forming a rockery than in any other garden scheme。 Either it is a great success； or it is great failure； either it is very charming； or it is very absurd。 There is no state between the sublime and the ridiculous possible in a rockery。〃 I stood shaking my head disapprovingly at the rockery before me； lost in these reflections； when a sudden quick pattering of feet coming along in a great hurry made me turn round with a start； just in time to receive the shock of a body tumbling out of the mist and knocking violently against me。
It was a little girl of about twelve years old。
〃Hullo！〃 said the little girl in excellent English； and then we stared at each other in astonishment。
〃I thought you were Miss Robinson；〃 said the little girl； offering no apology for having nearly knocked me down。 〃Who are you？〃
〃Miss Robinson？ Miss Robinson？〃 I repeated； my eyes fixed on the little girl's face； and a host of memories stirring within me。 〃Why； didn't she marry a missionary； and go out to some place where they ate him？〃
The little girl stared harder。 〃Ate him？ Marry？ What； has she been married all this time to somebody who's been eaten and never let on？ Oh； I say； what a game！〃 And she threw back her head and laughed till the garden rang again。
〃O hush； you dreadful little girl！〃 I implored； catching her by the arm； and terrified beyond measure by the loudness of her mirth。 〃Don't make that horrid noisewe are certain to be caught if you don't stop 〃
The little girl broke off a shriek of laughter in the middle and shut her mouth with a snap。 Her eyes； round and black and shiny like boot buttons； came still further out of her head。 〃Caught？〃 she said eagerly。 〃What； are you afraid of being caught too？ Well； this is a game！〃 And with her hands plunged deep in the pockets of her coat she capered in front of me in the excess of her enjoyment； reminding me of a very fat black lamb frisking round the dazed and passive sheep its mother。
It was clear that the time had come for me to get down to the gate at the end of the garden as quickly as possible； and I began to move away in that direction。 The little girl at once stopped capering and planted herself squarely in front of me。 〃Who are you？〃 she said； examining me from my hat to my boots with the keenest interest。
I considered this ungarnished manner of asking questions impertinent； and； trying to look lofty； made an attempt to pass at the side。
The little girl； with a quick； cork…like movement； was there before me。
〃Who are you？〃 she repeated； her expression friendly but firm。 〃 Oh； II'm a pilgrim；〃 I said in desperation。
〃A pilgrim！〃 echoed the little girl。 She seemed struck； and while she was struck I slipped past her and began to walk quickly towards the door in the wall。 〃A pilgrim！〃 said the little girl； again； keeping close beside me； and looking me up and down attentively。 〃I don't like pilgrims。 Aren't they people who are always walking about； and have things the matter with their feet？ Have you got anything the matter with your feet？〃
〃Certainly not；〃 I replied indignantly； walking still faster。 〃And they never wash； Miss Robinson says。 You don't either； do you？〃
〃Not wash？ Oh； I'm afraid you are a very badly brought…up little girloh； leave me aloneI must run〃
〃So must I；〃 said the little girl； cheerfully； 〃for Miss Robinson must be close behind us。 She nearly had me just before I found you。〃 And she started running by my side。
The thought of Miss Robinson close behind us gave wings to my feet； and； casting my dignity； of which； indeed； there was but little left； to the winds； I fairly flew down the path。 The little girl was not to be outrun； and though she panted and turned weird colours； kept by my side and even talked。 Oh； I was tired； tired in body and mind； tired by the different shocks I had received； tired by the journey； tired by the want of food； and here I was being forced to run because this very naughty little girl chose to hide instead of going in to her lessons。
〃I saythis is jolly〃 she jerked out。
〃But why need we run to the same place？〃 I breathlessly asked； in the vain hope of getting rid of her。 〃Oh； yesthat's justthe fun。 We'd get ontogetheryou and I〃
〃No； no；〃 said I； decided on this point； bewildered though I was。
〃I can't stand washingeitherit's awfulin winter and makes one havechaps。〃
〃But I don't mind it in the least；〃 I protested faintly； not having any energy left。
〃Oh； I say！〃 said the little girl； looking at my face； and making the sound known as a guffaw。 The familiarity of this little girl was wholly revolting。
We had got safely through the door； round the corner past the radishes； and were in the shrubbery。 I knew from experience how easy it was to hide in the tangle of little paths； and stopped a moment to look round and listen。 The little girl opened her mouth to speak。 With great presence of mind I instantly put my muff in front of it and held it there tight； while I listened。 Dead silence； except for the laboured breathing and struggles of the little girl。
〃I don't hear a sound；〃 I whispered； letting her go again。 〃Now what did you want to say？〃 I added； eyeing her severely。
〃I wanted to say；〃 she panted； 〃that it's no good pretending you wash with a nose like that。〃
〃A nose like that！ A nose like what？〃 I exclaimed； greatly offended； and though I put up my hand and very tenderly and carefully felt it； I could find no difference in it。 〃I am afraid poor Miss Robinson must have a wretched life；〃 I said； in tones of deep disgust。
The little girl smiled fatuously； as though I were paying her compliments。 〃It's all green and brown；〃 she said； pointing。 〃Is it always like that？〃
Then I remembered the wet fir tree near the gate； and the enraptured kiss it had received； and blushed。
〃Won't it come off？〃 persisted the little girl。
〃Of course it will come off；〃 I answered； frowning。
〃Why don't you rub it off？ 〃
Then I remembered the throwing away of the handkerchief； and blushed again。
〃Please lend me your handkerchief；〃 I said humbly； 〃II have lost mine。〃
There was a great fumbling in six different pockets； a