THE SILVER CHAIR-第14章

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〃now；　froggy；〃　said　the　porter　to　puddleglum；　〃you　look　as　if　you　wanted　　some　cheering　up。〃　he　produced　a　black　bottle　very　like　puddleglums　own；　but　about　　twenty　times　larger。　〃let　me　see；　let　me　see；〃　said　the　porter。　〃i　cant　give　you　a　cup　　or　youll　drown　yourself。　let　me　see。　this　salt…cellar　will　be　just　the　thing。　you　neednt　mention　it　over　at　the　house。　the　silver　will　keep　on　getting　over　　here；　and　its　not　my　fault。”

the　salt…cellar　was　not　very　like　one　of　ours；　being　narrower　and　more　　upright；　and　made　quite　a　good　cup　for　puddleglum；　when　the　giant　set　it　down　on　the　floor　　beside　him。　the　children　expected　puddleglum　to　refuse　it；　distrusting　the　gentle　giants　as　　he　did。　but　he　muttered；　〃its　rather　late　to　be　thinking　of　precautions　now　that　were　　inside　and　the　door　shut　behind　us。〃　then　he　sniffed　at　the　liquor。　〃smells　all　right；〃　he　　said。　〃but　thats　nothing　to　go　by。　better　make　sure；〃　and　took　a　sip。　〃tastes　all　right；　　too；〃　he　said。　〃but　it　might　do　that　at　the　first　sip。　how　does　it　go　on？〃　he　took　a　larger　sip。　　〃ah！〃　he　said。

〃but　is　it　the　same　all　the　way　down？〃　and　took　another。　〃therell　be　　something　nasty　at　the　bottom；　i　shouldnt　wonder；〃　he　said；　and　finished　the　drink。　he　licked　　his　lips　and　remarked　to　the　children；　〃thisll　be　a　test；　you　see。　if　i　curl　up；　or　　burst；　or　turn　into　a　lizard；　or　something；　then　youll　know　not　to　take　anything　they　offer　　you。〃　but　the　giant；　who　was　too　far　up　to　hear　the　things　puddleglum　had　been　saying　under　his　　breath；　roared　with　laughter　and　said；　〃why；　froggy；　youre　a　man。　see　him　put　it　　away！”

〃not　a　man　。　。　。　marsh…wiggle；〃　replied　puddleglum　in　a　somewhat　indistinct　　voice。　〃not　frog　either：　marshwiggle。”

at　that　moment　the　door　opened　behind　them　and　the　younger　giant　came　in　　saying；　〃theyre　to　go　to　the　throne…room　at　once。”

the　children　stood　up　but　puddleglum　remained　sitting　and　said；　〃marsh…　wiggle。　marsh…wiggle。　very　respectable　marsh…wiggle。　respectowiggle。”

〃show　them　the　way；　young　un；〃　said　the　giant　porter。　〃youd　better　carry　　froggy。　hes　had　a　drop　more　thans　good　for　him。”

〃nothing　wrong　with　me；〃　said　puddleglum。　〃not　a　frog。　nothing　frog　with　　me。　im　a　respectabiggle。”

but　the　young　giant　caught　him　up　by　the　waist　and　signed　to　the　children　　to　follow。　in　this　undignified　way　they　crossed　the　courtyard。　puddleglum；　held　in　the　　giants　fist；　and　vaguely　kicking　the　air；　did　certainly　look　very　like　a　frog。　but　they　had　　little　time　to　notice　this；　for　they　soon　entered　the　great　doorway　of　the　main　castle　…　　both　their　hearts　beating　faster　than　usual　…　and；　after　pattering　along　several　corridors　at　　a　trot　to　keep　up　with　the　giants　paces；　found　themselves　blinking　in　the　light　of　an　　enormous　room；　where　lamps　glowed　and　a　fire　roared　on　the　hearth　and　both　were　reflected　　from　the　gilding　of　roof　and　cornice。　more　giants　than　they　could　count　stood　on　　their　left　and　right；　all　in　magnificent　robes；　and　on　two　thrones　at　the　far　end；　sat　two　　huge　shapes　that　appeared　to　be　the　king　and　queen。

about　twenty　feet　from　the　thrones；　they　stopped。　scrubb　and　jill　made　an　　awkward　attempt　at　a　bow　（girls　are　not　taught　how　to　curtsey　at　experiment　house）　　and　the　young　giant　carefully　put　puddleglum　down　on　the　floor；　where　he　collapsed　into　a　　sort　of　sitting　position。　with　his　long　limbs　he　looked；　to　tell　the　truth；　　unmonly　like　a　large　spider。

。。



CHAPTER　EIGHT

～　　
the　house　of　harfang　　〃go　on；　pole；　do　your　stuff；〃　whispered　scrubb。

jill　found　that　her　mouth　was　so　dry　that　she　couldnt　speak　a　word。　she　　nodded　savagely　at　scrubb。

thinking　to　himself　that　he　would　never　forgive　her　（or　puddleglum　either）；　　scrubb　licked　his　lips　and　shouted　up　to　the　king　giant。

〃if　you　please；　sire；　the　lady　of　the　green　kirtle　salutes　you　by　us　and　　said　youd　like　to　have　us　for　your　autumn　feast。”

the　giant　king　and　queen　looked　at　each　other；　nodded　to　each　other；　and　　smiled　in　a　way　that　jill　didnt　exactly　like。　she　liked　the　king　better　than　the　　queen。　he　had　a　fine；　curled　beard　and　a　straight　eagle…like　nose；　and　was　really　rather　good…　looking　as　giants　go。　the　queen　was　dreadfully　fat　and　had　a　double　chin　and　a　fat；　powdered　　face　…　which　isnt　a　very　nice　thing　at　the　best　of　times；　and　of　course　looks　much　　worse　when　it　is　ten　times　too　big。　then　the　king　put　out　his　tongue　and　licked　his　lips。　anyone　　might　do　that：　　

but　his　tongue　was　so　very　large　and　red；　and　came　out　so　unexpectedly；　　that　it　gave　jill　quite　a　shock。

〃oh；　what　good　children！〃　said　the　queen。　（〃perhaps　shes　the　nice　one　　after　all；〃　thought　jill。）

〃yes　indeed；〃　said　the　king。　〃quite　excellent　children。　we　wele　you　to　　our　court。

give　me　your　hands。”

he　stretched　down　his　great　right　hand　…　very　clean　and　with　any　number　of　　rings　on　the　fingers；　but　also　with　terrible　pointed　nails。　he　was　much　too　big　to　shake　　the　hands　which　the　children；　in　turn；　held　up　to　him；　but　he　shook　the　arms。

〃and　whats　that？〃　asked　the　king；　pointing　to　puddleglum。

〃reshpeckobiggle；〃　said　puddleglum。

〃oh！〃　screamed　the　queen；　gathering　her　skirts　close　about　her　ankles。　〃the　　horrid　thing！

its　alive。”

〃hes　quite　all　right；　your　majesty；　really；　he　is；〃　said　scrubb　hastily。　　〃youll　like　him　much　better　when　you　get　to　know　him。　im　sure　you　will。”

i　hope　you　wont　lose　all　interest　in　jill　for　the　rest　of　the　book　if　i　　tell　you　that　at　this　moment　she　began　to　cry。　there　was　a　good　deal　of　excuse　for　her。　her　feet　　and　hands　and　ears　and　nose　were　still　only　just　beginning　to　thaw；　melted　snow　was　　trickling　off　her　clothes；　she　had　had　hardly　anything　to　eat　or　drink　that　day；　and　her　　legs　were　aching　so　that　she　felt　she　could　not　go　on　standing　much　longer。　anyway；　it　did　　more　good　at　the　moment　than　anything　else　would　have　done；　for　the　queen　said：　　〃ah；　the　poor　child！　my　lord；　we　do　wrong　to　keep　our　guests　standing。　　quick；　some　of　you！　take　them　away。　give　them　food　and　wine　and　baths。　fort　the　little　　girl。　give　her　lollipops；　give　her　dolls；　give　her　physics；　give　her　all　you　can　think　　of　…　possets　and　fits　and　caraways　and　lullabies　and　toys。　dont　cry；　little　girl；　or　you　　wont　be　good　for　anything　when　the　feast　es。”

jill　was　just　as　indignant　as　you　and　i　would　have　been　at　the　mention　of　　toys　and　dolls；　and；　though　lollipops　and　fits　might　be　all　very　well　in　their　way；　she　　very　much　hoped　that　something　more　solid　would　be　provided。　the　queens　foolish　　speech；　however；　produced　excellent　results；　for　puddleglum　and　scrubb　were　at　once　　picked　up　by　gigantic　gentlemen…in…waiting；　and　jill　by　a　gigantic　maid　of　honour；　　and　carried　off　to　their　rooms。

jills　room　was　about　the　size　of　a　church；　and　would　have　been　rather　grim　　if　it　had　not　had　a　roaring　fire　on　the　hearth　and　a　very　thick　crimson　carpet　on　the　　floor。　and　here　delightful　things　began　to　happen　to　her。　she　was　handed　over　to　the　　queens　old　nurse；　　

who　was；　from　the　giants　point　of　view；　a　little　old　woman　almost　bent　　double　with　age；　and；　from　the　human　point　of　view；　a　giantess　small　enough　to　go　about　an　　ordinary　room　without　knocking　her　head　on　the　ceiling。　she　was　very　capable；　though　jill　　did　wish　she　wouldnt　keep　on　clicking　her　tongue　and　saying　things　like　〃oh　la；　la！　　ups…adaisy〃　and　〃theres　a　duck〃　and　〃now　well　be　all　right；　my　poppet〃。　she　filled　a　　giant　foot…bath　with　hot　water　and　helped　jill　into　it。　if　you　can　swim　（as　jill　could）　a　　giant　bath　is　a　lovely　thing。　and　giant　towels；　though　a　bit　rough　and　coarse；　are　lovely　　too；　because　there　are　acres　of　them。　in　fact　you　dont　need　to　dry　at　all；　you　just　　roll　about　on　them　in　front　of　the　fire　and　enjoy　yourself。　and　when　that　was　over；　clean；　fresh；　　warmed　clothes　were　put　on　jill：　very　splendid　clothes　and　a　little　too　big　for　her；　but　　clearly　made　for　humans　not　giantesses。　〃i　suppose　if　that　woman　in　the　green　kirtle　es　　here；　they　must　be　used　to　guests　of　our　size；〃　thought　jill。

she　soon　saw　that　she　was　right　about　this；　for　a　table　and　chair　of　the　　right　height　for　an　ordinary　grown…up　human　were　placed　for　her；　and　the　knives　and　forks　and　　spoons　were　the　proper　size　too。　it　was　delightful　to　sit　down；　feeling　warm　and　clean　　at　last。　her　feet　were　still　bare　and　it　was　lovely　to　tread　on　the　giant　carpet。　she　sank　in　　it　well　over　her　ankles　and　it　was　just　the　thing　for　sore　feet。　the　meal　…　which　i　suppose　　we　must　call　dinner；　though　it　was　nearer　tea　time　…　was　cock…a…leekie　soup；　and　hot　　roast　turkey；　and　a　steamed　pudding；　and　roast　chestnuts；　and　as　much　fruit　as　you　could　eat。

the　only　annoying　thing　was　that　the　nurse　kept　ing　in　and　out；　and　　every　time　she　came　in；　she　brought　a　gigantic　toy　with　her　…　a　huge　doll；　bigger　than　　jill　herself；　a　wooden　horse　on　wheels；　about　the　size　of　an　elephant；　a　drum　that　looked　　like　a　young　gasometer；　and　a　woolly　lamb。　they　were　crude；　badly　made　things；　painted　　in　very　bright　colours；　and　jill　hated　the　sight　of　them。　she　kept　on　telling　the　　nurse　she　didnt　want　them；　but　the　nurse　said：　　〃tut…tut…tut…tut。　youll　want　em　all　right　when　youve　had　a　bit　of　a　　rest；　i　know！　te…he…he！　beddy　bye；　now。　a　precious　poppet！”

the　bed　was　not　a　giant　bed