首页 >出版文学> A Collection of Beatrix Potter Stories>第3章
  AndpresentlyatthesamemomentPeterandBenjaminnoticedthatwhenevertheyshookthewindow——
  thelittledooroppositeshookinanswer。Theyoungfamilywerealive;shutupintheoven!
  BenjaminwassoexcitedthatitwasamercyhedidnotawakeTommyBrock,whosesnorescontinuedsolemnlyinMr。Tod'sbed。
  Buttherereallywasnotverymuchcomfortinthediscovery。Theycouldnotopenthewindow;andalthoughtheyoungfamilywasalive——thelittlerabbitswerequiteincapableoflettingthemselvesout;theywerenotoldenoughtocrawl。
  Aftermuchwhispering,PeterandBenjamindecidedtodigatunnel。
  Theybegantoburrowayardortwolowerdownthebank。Theyhopedthattheymightbeabletoworkbetweenthelargestonesunderthehouse;thekitchenfloorwassodirtythatitwasimpossibletosaywhetheritwasmadeofearthorflags。
  Theyduganddugforhours。
  Theycouldnottunnelstraightonaccountofstones;butbytheendofthenighttheywereunderthekitchenfloor。Benjaminwasonhisback,scratchingupwards。Peter'sclawswereworndown;hewasoutsidethetunnel,shufflingsandaway。Hecalledoutthatitwasmorning——sunrise;andthatthejaysweremakinganoisedownbelowinthewoods。
  BenjaminBunnycameoutofthedarktunnel,shakingthesandfromhisears;hecleanedhisfacewithhispaws。Everyminutethesunshonewarmeronthetopofthehill。
  Inthevalleytherewasaseaofwhitemist,withgoldentopsoftreesshowingthrough。
  Againfromthefieldsdownbelowinthemisttherecametheangrycryofajay-followedbythesharpyelpingbarkofafox!
  Thenthosetworabbitslosttheirheadscompletely。Theydidthemostfoolishthingthattheycouldhavedone。Theyrushedintotheirshortnewtunnel,andhidthemselvesatthetopendofit,underMr。Tod'skitchenfloor。
  Mr。TodwascomingupBullBanks,andhewasintheveryworstoftempers。Firsthehadbeenupsetbybreakingtheplate。Itwashisownfault;butitwasachinaplate,thelastofthedinnerservicethathadbelongedtohisgrandmother,oldVixenTod。Thenthemidgeshadbeenverybad。Andhehadfailedtocatchahenpheasantonhernest;andithadcontainedonlyfiveeggs,twoofthemaddled。Mr。
  Todhadhadanunsatisfactorynight。
  Asusual,whenoutofhumour,hedeterminedtomovehouse。Firsthetriedthepollardwillow,butitwasdamp;andtheottershadleftadeadfishnearit。Mr。Todlikesnobody'sleavingsbuthisown。
  Hemadehiswayupthehill;histemperwasnotimprovedbynoticingunmistakablemarksofbadger。
  NooneelsegrubsupthemosssowantonlyasTommyBrock。
  Mr。Todslappedhisstickupontheearthandfumed;heguessedwhereTommyBrockhadgoneto。
  Hewasfurtherannoyedbythejaybirdwhichfollowedhimpersistently。
  Itflewfromtreetotreeandscolded,warningeveryrabbitwithinhearingthateitheracatorafoxwascominguptheplantation。Oncewhenitflewscreamingoverhishead——
  Mr。Todsnappedatit,andbarked。
  Heapproachedhishouseverycarefully,withalargerustykey。
  Hesniffedandhiswhiskersbristled。
  Thehousewaslockedup,butMr。
  Todhadhisdoubtswhetheritwasempty。Heturnedtherustykeyinthelock;therabbitsbelowcouldhearit。Mr。Todopenedthedoorcautiouslyandwentin。
  ThesightthatmetMr。Tod'seyesinMr。Tod'skitchenmadeMr。Todfurious。TherewasMr。Tod'schair,andMr。Tod'spiedish,andhisknifeandforkandmustardandsaltcellarandhistable-cloththathehadleftfoldedupinthedresser——allsetoutforsupper(orbreakfast)——withoutdoubtforthatodiousTommyBrockTherewasasmelloffreshearthanddirtybadger,whichfortunatelyoverpoweredallsmellofrabbit。
  ButwhatabsorbedMr。Tod'sattentionwasanoise——adeepslowregularsnoringgruntingnoise,comingfromhisownbed。
  Hepeepedthroughthehingesofthehalf-openbedroomdoor。Thenheturnedandcameoutofthehouseinahurry。Hiswhiskersbristledandhiscoat-collarstoodonendwithrage。
  ForthenexttwentyminutesMr。Todkeptcreepingcautiouslyintothehouse,andretreatinghurriedlyoutagain。Bydegreesheventuredfurtherin——rightintothebedroom。Whenhewasoutsidethehouse,hescratcheduptheearthwithfury。Butwhenhewasinside——hedidnotlikethelookofTommyBrock'steeth。
  Hewaslyingonhisbackwithhismouthopen,grinningfromeartoear。Hesnoredpeacefullyandregularly;butoneeyewasnotperfectlyshut。
  Mr。Todcameinandoutofthebedroom。Twicehebroughtinhiswalking-stick,andoncehebroughtinthecoal-scuttle。Buthethoughtbetterofit,andtookthemaway。
  Whenhecamebackafterremovingthecoal-scuttle,TommyBrockwaslyingalittlemoresideways;
  butheseemedevensounderasleep。
  Hewasanincurablyindolentperson;
  hewasnotintheleastafraidofMr。Tod;hewassimplytoolazyandcomfortabletomove。
  Mr。Todcamebackyetagainintothebedroomwithaclothesline。HestoodaminutewatchingTommyBrockandlisteningattentivelytothesnores。Theywereveryloudindeed,butseemedquitenatural。
  Mr。Todturnedhisbacktowardsthebed,andundidthewindow。
  Itcreaked;heturnedroundwithajump。TommyBrock,whohadopenedoneeye——shutithastily。
  Thesnorescontinued。
  Mr。Tod'sproceedingswerepeculiar,andratheruneasy,(becausethebedwasbetweenthewindowandthedoorofthebedroom)。Heopenedthewindowalittleway,andpushedoutthegreaterpartoftheclotheslineontothewindowsill。Therestoftheline,withahookattheend,remainedinhishand。
  TommyBrocksnoredconscientiously。
  Mr。Todstoodandlookedathimforaminute;thenhelefttheroomagain。
  TommyBrockopenedbotheyes,andlookedattheropeandgrinned。
  Therewasanoiseoutsidethewindow。TommyBrockshuthiseyesinahurry。
  Mr。Todhadgoneoutatthefrontdoor,androundtothebackofthehouse。Ontheway,hestumbledovertherabbitburrow。Ifhehadhadanyideawhowasinsideit,hewouldhavepulledthemoutquickly。
  HisfootwentthroughthetunnelnearlyuponthetopofPeterRabbitandBenjamin,butfortunatelyhethoughtthatitwassomemoreofTommyBrock'swork。
  Hetookupthecoiloflinefromthesill,listenedforamoment,andthentiedtheropetoatree。
  TommyBrockwatchedhimwithoneeye,throughthewindow。Hewaspuzzled。
  Mr。Todfetchedalargeheavypailfulofwaterfromthespring,andstaggeredwithitthroughthekitchenintohisbedroom。
  TommyBrocksnoredindustriously,withratherasnort。
  Mr。Todputdownthepailbesidethebed,tookuptheendofropewiththehook——hesitated,andlookedatTommyBrock。Thesnoreswerealmostapoplectic;butthegrinwasnotquitesobig。
  Mr。Todgingerlymountedachairbytheheadofthebedstead。HislegsweredangerouslyneartoTommyBrock'steeth。
  Hereachedupandputtheendofrope,withthehook,overtheheadofthetesterbed,wherethecurtainsoughttohang。
  (Mr。Tod'scurtainswerefoldedup,andputaway,owingtothehousebeingunoccupied。Sowasthecounterpane。TommyBrockwascoveredwithablanketonly。)
  Mr。Todstandingontheunsteadychairlookeddownuponhimattentively;hereallywasafirstprizesoundsleeper!
  Itseemedasthoughnothingwouldwakenhim——noteventheflappingropeacrossthebed。
  Mr。Toddescendedsafelyfromthechair,andendeavouredtogetupagainwiththepailofwater。
  Heintendedtohangitfromthehook,danglingovertheheadofTommyBrock,inordertomakeasortofshower-bath,workedbyastring,throughthewindow。
  Butnaturallybeingathin-leggedperson(thoughvindictiveandsandywhiskered)——hewasquiteunabletolifttheheavyweighttothelevelofthehookandrope。Heverynearlyoverbalancedhimself。
  Thesnoresbecamemoreandmoreapoplectic。OneofTommyBrock'shindlegstwitchedundertheblanket,butstillhesleptonpeacefully。
  Mr。Todandthepaildescendedfromthechairwithoutaccident。
  Afterconsiderablethought,heemptiedthewaterintoawash-basinandjug。Theemptypailwasnottooheavyforhim;heslungitupwobblingovertheheadofTommyBrock。
  Surelythereneverwassuchasleeper!Mr。Todgotupanddown,downanduponthechair。
  Ashecouldnotliftthewholepailfulofwateratonce,hefetchedamilkjug,andladledquartsofwaterintothepailbydegrees。Thepailgotfullerandfuller,andswunglikeapendulum。Occasionallyadropsplashedover;butstillTommyBrocksnoredregularlyandnevermoved,——exceptoneeye。
  AtlastMr。Tod'spreparationswerecomplete。Thepailwasfullofwater;theropewastightlystrainedoverthetopofthebed,andacrossthewindowsilltothetreeoutside。
  "Itwillmakeagreatmessinmybedroom;butIcouldneversleepinthatbedagainwithoutaspringcleaningofsomesort,"saidMr。Tod。
  Mr。Todtookalastlookatthebadgerandsoftlylefttheroom。Hewentoutofthehouse,shuttingthefrontdoor。Therabbitsheardhisfootstepsoverthetunnel。
  Heranroundbehindthehouse,intendingtoundotheropeinordertoletfallthepailfulofwateruponTommyBrock——
  "Iwillwakehimupwithanunpleasantsurprise,"saidMr。Tod。
  Themomenthehadgone,TommyBrockgotupinahurry;herolledMr。Tod'sdressing-gownintoabundle,putitintothebedbeneaththepailofwaterinsteadofhimself,andlefttheroomalso——grinningimmensely。
  Hewentintothekitchen,lightedthefireandboiledthekettle;forthemomenthedidnottroublehimselftocookthebabyrabbits。
  WhenMr。Todgottothetree,hefoundthattheweightandstrainhaddraggedtheknotsotightthatitwaspastuntying。Hewasobligedtognawitwithhisteeth。
  Hechewedandgnawedformorethantwentyminutes。Atlasttheropegavewaywithsuchasuddenjerkthatitnearlypulledhisteethout,andquiteknockedhimoverbackwards。
  Insidethehousetherewasagreatcrashandsplash,andthenoiseofapailrollingoverandover。
  Butnoscreams。Mr。Todwasmystified;hesatquitestill,andlistenedattentively。Thenhepeepedinatthewindow。Thewaterwasdrippingfromthebed,thepailhadrolledintoacorner。
  Inthemiddleofthebedundertheblanket,wasawetflattenedSOMETHING——muchdingedin,inthemiddlewherethepailhadcaughtit(asitwereacrossthetummy)。ItsheadwascoveredbythewetblanketanditwasNOTSNORINGANYLONGER。
  Therewasnothingstirring,andnosoundexceptthedrip,drop,dropdripofwatertricklingfromthemattress。
  Mr。Todwatcheditforhalfanhour;hiseyesglistened。
  Thenhecutacaper,andbecamesoboldthatheeventappedatthewindow;butthebundlenevermoved。
  Yes——therewasnodoubtaboutit——ithadturnedoutevenbetterthanhehadplanned;thepailhadhitpooroldTommyBrock,andkilledhimdead!
  "Iwillburythatnastypersonintheholewhichhehasdug。Iwillbringmybeddingout,anddryitinthesun,"saidMr。Tod。
  "Iwillwashthetableclothandspreaditonthegrassinthesuntobleach。Andtheblanketmustbehungupinthewind;andthebedmustbethoroughlydisinfected,andairedwithawarming-pan;andwarmedwithahot-waterbottle。"
  "Iwillgetsoftsoap,andmonkeysoap,andallsortsofsoap;andsodaandscrubbingbrushes;andpersianpowder;andcarbolictoremovethesmell。Imusthaveadisinfecting。PerhapsImayhavetoburnsulphur。"
  Hehurriedroundthehousetogetashovelfromthekitchen——
  "FirstIwillarrangethehole——
  thenIwilldragoutthatpersonintheblanket……"
  Heopenedthedoor……
  TommyBrockwassittingatMr。
  Tod'skitchentable,pouringoutteafromMr。Tod'stea-potintoMr。Tod'stea-cup。Hewasquitedryhimselfandgrinning;andhethrewthecupofscaldingteaalloverMr。Tod。
  ThenMr。TodrusheduponTommyBrock,andTommyBrockgrappledwithMr。Todamongstthebrokencrockery,andtherewasaterrificbattlealloverthekitchen。
  Totherabbitsunderneathitsoundedasifthefloorwouldgivewayateachcrashoffallingfurniture。
  Theycreptoutoftheirtunnel,andhungaboutamongsttherocksandbushes,listeninganxiously。
  Insidethehousetheracketwasfearful。Therabbitbabiesintheovenwokeuptrembling;perhapsitwasfortunatetheywereshutupinside……
  Everythingwasupsetexceptthekitchentable。
  Andeverythingwasbroken,exceptthemantelpieceandthekitchenfender。Thecrockerywassmashedtoatoms。
  Thechairswerebroken,andthewindow,andtheclockfellwithacrash,andtherewerehandfulsofMr。Tod'ssandywhiskers。
  Thevasesfelloffthemantelpiece,thecanistersfellofftheshelf;thekettlefelloffthehob。
  TommyBrockputhisfootinajarofraspberryJam。
  AndtheboilingwateroutofthekettlefelluponthetailofMr。Tod。
  Whenthekettlefell,TommyBrock,whowasstillgrinning,happenedtobeuppermost;andherolledMr。Todoverandoverlikealog,outatthedoor。
  Thenthesnarlingandworryingwentonoutside;andtheyrolledoverthebank,anddownhill,bumpingovertherocks。TherewillneverbeanylovelostbetweenTommyBrockandMr。Tod。
  AssoonasthecoastwasclearPeterRabbitandBenjaminBunnycameoutofthebushes——
  "Nowforit!Runin,CousinBenjamin!RuninandgetthemwhileIwatchatthedoor。"
  ButBenjaminwasfrightened——
  "Oh;oh!theyarecomingback!"
  "Notheyarenot。"
  "Yestheyare!"
  "Whatdreadfulbadlanguage!
  Ithinktheyhavefallendownthestonequarry。"
  StillBenjaminhesitated,andPeterkeptpushinghim——
  "Bequick,it'sallright。Shuttheovendoor,CousinBenjamin,sothathewon'tmissthem。"
  DecidedlytherewerelivelydoingsinMr。Tod'skitchen!
  Athomeintherabbithole,thingshadnotbeenquitecomfortable。
  Afterquarrellingatsupper,FlopsyandoldMr。Bouncerhadpassedasleeplessnight,andquarrelledagainatbreakfast。OldMr。
  Bouncercouldnolongerdenythathehadinvitedcompanyintotherabbithole;butherefusedtoreplytothequestionsandreproachesofFlopsy。Thedaypassedheavily。
  OldMr。Bouncer,verysulky,washuddledupinacorner,barricadedwithachair。Flopsyhadtakenawayhispipeandhiddenthetobacco。Shehadbeenhavingacompleteturnoutandspring-
  cleaning,torelieveherfeelings。
  Shehadjustfinished。OldMr。
  Bouncer,behindhischair,waswonderinganxiouslywhatshewoulddonext。
  InMr。Tod'skitchen,amongstthewreckage,BenjaminBunnypickedhiswaytotheovennervously,throughathickcloudofdust。Heopenedtheovendoor,feltinside,andfoundsomethingwarmandwriggling。Helifteditoutcarefully,andrejoinedPeterRabbit。
  "I'vegotthem!Canwegetaway?
  Shallwehide,CousinPeter?"
  Peterprickedhisears;distantsoundsoffightingstillechoedinthewood。
  FiveminutesafterwardstwobreathlessrabbitscamescutteringawaydownBullBanks,halfcarryinghalfdraggingasackbetweenthem,bumpettybumpoverthegrass。Theyreachedhomesafelyandburstintotherabbithole。
  GreatwasoldMr。Bouncer'sreliefandFlopsy'sjoywhenPeterandBenjaminarrivedintriumphwiththeyoungfamily。Therabbit-
  babieswererathertumbledandveryhungry;theywerefedandputtobed。Theysoonrecovered。
  AlongnewpipeandafreshsupplyofrabbittobaccowaspresentedtoMr。Bouncer。Hewasratheruponhisdignity;butheaccepted。
  OldMr。Bouncerwasforgiven,andtheyallhaddinner。ThenPeterandBenjamintoldtheirstory——buttheyhadnotwaitedlongenoughtobeabletotelltheendofthebattlebetweenTommyBrockandMr。Tod。
  THEEND
  THETALEOF
  MRS。TIGGY-WINKLE
  forTHEREALLITTLELUCIE
  OFNEWLANDS
  ONCEuponatimetherewasalittlegirlcalledLucie,wholivedatafarmcalledLittle-town。Shewasagoodlittlegirl——onlyshewasalwayslosingherpocket-
  handkerchiefs!
  OnedaylittleLuciecameintothefarm-yardcrying——
  oh,shedidcryso!"I'velostmypocket-handkin!Threehandkinsandapinny!HaveYOUseenthem,TabbyKitten?"
  THEKittenwentonwashingherwhitepaws;soLucieaskedaspeckledhen——
  "SallyHenny-penny,hasYOUfoundthreepocket-handkins?"
  Butthespeckledhenranintoabarn,clucking——
  "Igobarefoot,barefoot,barefoot!"
  ANDthenLucieaskedCockRobinsittingonatwig。
  CockRobinlookedsidewaysatLuciewithhisbrightblackeye,andheflewoverastileandaway。
  LucieclimbeduponthestileandlookedupatthehillbehindLittle-town-ahillthatgoesup——up——intothecloudsasthoughithadnotop!
  Andagreatwayupthehillsideshethoughtshesawsomewhitethingsspreaduponthegrass。
  LUCIEscrambledupthehillasfastasherstoutlegswouldcarryher;sheranalongasteeppath-way——upandup——untilLittle——townwasrightawaydownbelow——shecouldhavedroppedapebbledownthechimney!
  PRESENTLYshecametoaspring,bubblingoutfromthehill-side。
  Someonehadstoodatincanuponastonetocatchthewater——butthewaterwasalreadyrunningover,forthecanwasnobiggerthananegg-cup!Andwherethesanduponthepathwaswet——therewerefoot-marksofaVERY
  smallperson。
  Lucieranon,andon。
  THEpathendedunderabigrock。Thegrasswasshortandgreen,andtherewereclothes-propscutfrombrackenstems,withlinesofplaitedrushes,andaheapoftinyclothespins——butnopocket-handkerchiefs!
  Buttherewassomethingelse——adoor!straightintothehill;andinsideitsomeonewassinging——
  "Lily-whiteandclean,oh!
  Withlittlefrillsbetween,oh!
  Smoothandhot-redrustyspotNeverherebeseen,oh!"
  LUCIE,knocked——once——
  twice,andinterruptedthesong。Alittlefrightenedvoicecalledout"Who'sthat?"
  Lucieopenedthedoor:andwhatdoyouthinktherewasinsidethehill?——anicecleankitchenwithaflaggedfloorandwoodenbeams——justlikeanyotherfarmkitchen。OnlytheceilingwassolowthatLucie'sheadnearlytouchedit;
  andthepotsandpansweresmall,andsowaseverythingthere。
  THEREwasanicehotsingeysmell;andatthetable,withanironinherhandstoodaverystoutshortpersonstaringanxiouslyatLucie。
  Herprintgownwastuckedup,andshewaswearingalargeapronoverherstripedpetticoat。Herlittleblacknosewentsniffle,sniffle,snuffle,andhereyeswenttwinkle,twinkle;andunderneathhercap——whereLuciehadyellowcurls——thatlittlepersonhadPRICKLES!
  "WHOareyou?"saidLucie。"Haveyouseenmypocket-handkins?"
  Thelittlepersonmadeabob-curtsey——"Oh,yes,ifyouplease'm;mynameisMrs。
  Tiggy-winkle;oh,yesifyouplease'm,I'manexcellentclear-
  starcher!"Andshetooksomethingoutofaclothes-
  basket,andspreaditontheironing-blanket。
  "WHAT'Sthatthing?"
  saidLucie——"that'snotmypocket-handkin?"
  "Ohno,ifyouplease'm;
  that'salittlescarletwaist-coatbelongingtoCockRobin!"
  Andsheironeditandfoldedit,andputitononeside。
  THENshetooksomethingelseoffaclothes-horse——
  "Thatisn'tmypinny?"saidLucie。
  "Ohno,ifyouplease'm;
  that'sadamasktable-clothbelongingtoJennyWren;
  lookhowit'sstainedwithcurrantwine!It'sverybadtowash!"saidMrs。Tiggy-
  winkle。
  MRS。TIGGY-WINKLE'S
  nosewentsniffle,sniffle,snuffle,andhereyeswenttwinkle,twinkle;andshefetchedanotherhotironfromthefire。
  THERE'Soneofmypocket-handkins!"criedLucie——"andthere'smypinny!"
  Mrs。Tiggy-winkleironedit,andgofferedit,andshookoutthefrills。
  "OhthatISlovely!"saidLucie。
  "ANDwhatarethoselongyellowthingswithfingerslikegloves?"
  "Oh,that'sapairofstockingsbelongingtoSallyHenny-
  penny——lookhowshe'sworntheheelsoutwithscratchingintheyard!She'llverysoongobarefoot!"saidMrs。Tiggy-
  winkle。
  "WHY,there'sanotherhandkersniff——butitisn'tmine;it'sred?"
  "Ohno,ifyouplease'm;
  thatonebelongstooldMrs。
  Rabbit;anditDIDsosmellofonions!I'vehadtowashitseparately,Ican'tgetoutthesmell。"
  "There'sanotheroneofmine,"saidLucie。
  "WHATarethosefunnylittlewhitethings?"
  "That'sapairofmittensbelongingtoTabbyKitten;I
  onlyhavetoironthem;shewashesthemherself。"
  "There'smylastpocket-
  handkin!"saidLucie。
  "ANDwhatareyoudippingintothebasinofstarch?"
  "They'relittledickyshirt-
  frontsbelongingtoTomTitmouse——mostterribleparticular!"
  saidMrs。Tiggy-winkle。
  "NowI'vefinishedmyironing;
  I'mgoingtoairsomeclothes。"
  "WHATarethesedearsoftfluffythings?"saidLucie。
  "OhthosearewoolycoatsbelongingtothelittlelambsatSkelghyl。"
  "Willtheirjacketstakeoff?"
  askedLucy。
  "Ohyes,ifyouplease'm;
  lookatthesheep-markontheshoulder。Andhere'sonemarkedforGatesgarth,andthreethatcomefromLittletown。
  They'reALWAYSmarkedatwashing!"saidMrs。Tiggy-
  winkle。
  ANDshehungupallsortsandsizesofclothes——
  smallbrowncoatsofmice;
  andonevelvetyblackmole-
  skinwaist-coat;andaredtail-
  coatwithnotailbelongingtoSquirrelNutkin;andaverymuchshrunkbluejacketbelongingtoPeterRabbit;andapetticoat,notmarked,thathadgonelostinthewashing——andatlastthebasketwasempty!
  THENMrs。Tiggy-winklemadetea——acupforherselfandacupforLucie。Theysatbeforethefireonabenchandlookedsidewaysatoneanother。Mrs。Tiggy-winkle'shand,holdingthetea-cup,wasveryverybrown,andveryverywrinklywiththesoap-suds;
  andallthroughhergownandhercap,therewereHAIR-PINS
  stickingwrongendout;sothatLuciedidn'tliketosittoonearher。
  WHENtheyhadfinishedtea,theytieduptheclothesinbundles;andLucie'spocket-handkerchiefswerefoldedupinsidehercleanpinny,andfastenedwithasilversafety-pin。
  Andthentheymadeupthefirewithturf,andcameoutandlockedthedoor,andhidthekeyunderthedoor-sill。
  THENawaydownthehilltrottedLucieandMrs。