the great big treasury of beatrix potter- 第5部分

〃They're　little　dicky　shirt…fronts　belonging　to　Tom　Titmousemost　terrible　particular！〃　said　Mrs。　Tiggy…　winkle。　〃Now　I've　finished　my　ironing；　I'm　going　to　air　some　clothes。〃

〃What　are　these　dear　soft　fluffy　things？〃　said　Lucie。

〃Oh　those　are　woolly　coats　belonging　to　the　little　lambs　at　Skelghyl。〃

〃Will　their　jackets　take　off？〃　asked　Lucie。

〃Oh　yes；　if　you　please'm；　look　at　the　sheep…mark　on　the　shoulder。　And　here's　one　marked　for　Gatesgarth；　and　three　that　come　from　Little…town。　They're　ALWAYS　marked　at　washing！〃　said　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle。


And　she　hung　up　all　sorts　and　sizes　of　clothessmall　brown　coats　of　mice；　and　one　velvety　black　moleskin　waist…coat；　and　a　red　tail…coat　with　no　tail　belonging　to　Squirrel　Nutkin；　and　a　very　much　shrunk　blue　jacket　belonging　to　Peter　Rabbit；　and　a　petticoat；　not　marked；　that　had　gone　lost　in　the　washingand　at　last　the　basket　was　empty！

Then　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle　made　teaa　cup　for　herself　and　a　cup　for　Lucie。　They　sat　before　the　fire　on　a　bench　and　looked　sideways　at　one　another。　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle's　hand；　holding　the　tea…cup；　was　very　very　brown；　and　very　very　wrinkly　with　the　soap…suds；　and　all　through　her　gown　and　her　cap；　there　were　HAIRPINS　sticking　wrong　end　out；　so　that　Lucie　didn't　like　to　sit　too　near　her。

When　they　had　finished　tea；　they　tied　up　the　clothes　in　bundles；　and　Lucie's　pocket…handkerchiefs　were　folded　up　inside　her　clean　pinny；　and　fastened　with　a　silver　safety…pin。


And　then　they　made　up　the　fire　with　turf；　and　came　out　and　locked　the　door；　and　hid　the　key　under　the　door…sill。

Then　away　down　the　hill　trotted　Lucie　and　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle　with　the　bundles　of　clothes！

All　the　way　down　the　path　little　animals　came　out　of　the　fern　to　meet　them；　the　very　first　that　they　met　were　Peter　Rabbit　and　Benjamin　Bunny！

And　she　gave　them　their　nice　clean　clothes；　and　all　the　little　animals　and　birds　were　so　very　much　obliged　to　dear　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle。

So　that　at　the　bottom　of　the　hill　when　they　came　to　the　stile；　there　was　nothing　left　to　carry　except　Lucie's　one　little　bundle。


Lucie　scrambled　up　the　stile　with　the　bundle　in　her　hand；　and　then　she　turned　to　say　〃Good…night；〃　and　to　thank　the　washer…woman。But　what　a　VERY　odd　thing！　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle　had　not　waited　either　for　thanks　or　for　the　washing　bill！

She　was　running　running　running　up　the　hilland　where　was　her　white　frilled　cap？　and　her　shawl？　and　her　gown…and　her　petticoat？

And　HOW　small　she　had　grown　and　HOW　brownand　covered　with　PRICKLES！

Why！　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle　was　nothing　but　a　HEDGEHOG！　　*　*　*　*　*　*

（Now　some　people　say　that　little　Lucie　had　been　asleep　upon　the　stilebut　then　how　could　she　have　found　three　clean　pocket…handkins　and　a　pinny；　pinned　with　a　silver　safety…pin？

And　besidesI　have　seen　that　door　into　the　back　of　the　hill　called　Cat　Bellsand　besides　_I_　am　very　well　acquainted　with　dear　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle！）




THE　PIE　AND　THE　PATTY…PAN




　　　　　Pussy…cat　sits　by　the　firehow　should　she　be　fair？　　　　　　In　walks　the　little　dogsays　〃Pussy　are　you　there？　　　　　　How　do　you　do　Mistress　Pussy？　Mistress　Pussy；　how　　　　　　　　　　　do　you　do？〃　　　　　　〃I　thank　you　kindly；　little　dog；　I　fare　as　well　as　you！〃　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　_Old　Rhyme＇



Once　upon　a　time　there　was　a　Pussy…cat　called　Ribby；　who　invited　a　little　dog　called　Duchess　to　tea。

〃Come　in　good　time；　my　dear　Duchess；〃　said　Ribby's　letter；　〃and　we　will　have　something　so　very　nice。　I　am　baking　it　in　a　pie…disha　pie…dish　with　a　pink　rim。　You　never　tasted　anything　so　good！　And　YOU　shall　eat　it　all！　_I_　will　eat　muffins；　my　dear　Duchess！〃　wrote　Ribby。

〃I　will　come　very　punctually；　my　dear　Ribby；〃　wrote　Duchess；　and　then　at　the　end　she　added〃I　hope　it　isn't　mouse？〃

And　then　she　thought　that　did　not　look　quite　polite；　so　she　scratched　out　〃isn't　mouse〃　and　changed　it　to　〃I　hope　it　will　be　fine；〃　and　she　gave　her　letter　to　the　postman。

But　she　thought　a　great　deal　about　Ribby's　pie；　and　she　read　Ribby's　letter　over　and　over　again。


〃I　am　dreadfully　afraid　it　WILL　be　mouse！〃　said　Duchess　to　herself〃I　really　couldn't；　COULDN'T　eat　mouse　pie。　And　I　shall　have　to　eat　it；　because　it　is　a　party。　And　MY　pie　was　going　to　be　veal　and　ham。　A　pink　and　white　pie…dish！　and　so　is　mine；　just　like　Ribby's　dishes；　they　were　both　bought　at　Tabitha　Twitchit's。〃

Duchess　went　into　her　larder　and　took　the　pie　off　a　shelf　and　looked　at　it。

〃Oh　what　a　good　idea！　Why　shouldn't　I　rush　along　and　put　my　pie　into　Ribby's　oven　when　Ribby　isn't　there？〃

Ribby　in　the　meantime　had　received　Duchess's　answer；　and　as　soon　as　she　was　sure　that　the　little　dog　would　comeshe　popped　HER　pie　into　the　oven。　There　were　two　ovens；　one　above　the　other；　some　other　knobs　and　handles　were　only　ornamental　and　not　intended　to　open。　Ribby　put　the　pie　into　the　lower　oven；　the　door　was　very　stiff。

〃The　top　oven　bakes　too　quickly；〃　said　Ribby　to　herself。


Ribby　put　on　some　coal　and　swept　up　the　hearth。　Then　she　went　out　with　a　can　to　the　well；　for　water　to　fill　up　the　kettle。

Then　she　began　to　set　the　room　in　order；　for　it　was　the　sitting…room　as　well　as　the　kitchen。

When　Ribby　had　laid　the　table　she　went　out　down　the　field　to　the　farm；　to　fetch　milk　and　butter。

When　she　came　back；　she　peeped　into　the　bottom　oven；　the　pie　looked　very　comfortable。

Ribby　put　on　her　shawl　and　bonnet　and　went　out　again　with　a　basket；　to　the　village　shop　to　buy　a　packet　of　tea；　a　pound　of　lump　sugar；　and　a　pot　of　marmalade。

And　just　at　the　same　time；　Duchess　came　out　of　HER　house；　at　the　other　end　of　the　village。

Ribby　met　Duchess　half…way　down　the　street；　also　carrying　a　basket；　covered　with　a　cloth。　They　only　bowed　to　one　another；　they　did　not　speak；　because　they　were　going　to　have　a　party。


As　soon　as　Duchess　had　got　round　the　corner　out　of　sightshe　simply　ran！　Straight　away　to　Ribby's　house！

Ribby　went　into　the　shop　and　bought　what　she　required；　and　came　out；　after　a　pleasant　gossip　with　Cousin　Tabitha　Twitchit。

Ribby　went　on　to　Timothy　Baker's　and　bought　the　muffins。　Then　she　went　home。

There　seemed　to　be　a　sort　of　scuffling　noise　in　the　back　passage；　as　she　was　coming　in　at　the　front　door。　But　there　was　nobody　there。

Duchess　in　the　meantime；　had　slipped　out　at　the　back　door。

〃It　is　a　very　odd　thing　that　Ribby's　pie　was　NOT　in　the　oven　when　I　put　mine　in！　And　I　can't　find　it　anywhere；　I　have　looked　all　over　the　house。　I　put　MY　pie　into　a　nice　hot　oven　at　the　top。　I　could　not　turn　any　of　the　other　handles；　I　think　that　they　are　all　shams；〃　said　Duchess；　〃but　I　wish　I　could　have　removed　the　pie　made　of　mouse！　I　cannot　think　what　she　has　done　with　it？　I　heard　Ribby　coming　and　I　had　to　run　out　by　the　back　door！〃


Duchess　went　home　and　brushed　her　beautiful　black　coat；　and　then　she　picked　a　bunch　of　flowers　in　her　garden　as　a　present　for　Ribby；　and　passed　the　time　until　the　clock　struck　four。

Ribbyhaving　assured　herself　by　careful　search　that　there　was　really　no　one　hiding　in　the　cupboard　or　in　the　larderwent　upstairs　to　change　her　dress。

She　came　downstairs　again；　and　made　the　tea；　and　put　the　teapot　on　the　hob。　She　peeped　again　into　the　BOTTOM　oven；　the　pie　had　become　a　lovely　brown；　and　it　was　steaming　hot。

She　sat　down　before　the　fire　to　wait　for　the　little　dog。　〃I　am　glad　I　used　the　BOTTOM　oven；〃　said　Ribby；　〃the　top　one　would　certainly　have　been　very　much　too　hot。〃

Very　punctually　at　four　o'clock；　Duchess　started　to　go　to　the　party。

At　a　quarter　past　four　to　the　minute；　there　came　a　most　genteel　little　tap…tappity。　〃Is　Mrs。　Ribston　at　home？〃　inquired　Duchess　in　the　porch。


〃Come　in！　and　how　do　you　do；　my　dear　Duchess？〃　cried　Ribby。　〃I　hope　I　see　you　well？〃

〃Quite　well；　I　thank　you；　and　how　do　YOU　do；　my　dear　Ribby？〃　said　Duchess。　〃I've　brought　you　some　flowers；　what　a　delicious　smell　of　pie！〃

〃Oh；　what　lovely　flowers！　Yes；　it　is　mouse　and　bacon！〃

〃I　think　it　wants　another　five　minutes；〃　said　Ribby。　〃Just　a　shade　longer；　I　will　pour　out　the　tea；　while　we　wait。　Do　you　take　sugar；　my　dear　Duchess？〃

〃Oh　yes；　please！　my　dear　Ribby；　and　may　I　have　a　lump　upon　my　nose？〃

〃With　pleasure；　my　dear　Duchess。〃

Duchess　sat　up　with　the　sugar　on　her　nose　and　sniffed

〃How　good　that　pie　smells！　I　do　love　veal　and　hamI　mean　to　say　mouse　and　bacon〃

She　dropped　the　sugar　in　confusion；　and　had　to　go　hunting　under　the　tea…　table；　so　did　not　see　which　oven　Ribby　opened　in　order　to　get　out　the　pie。


Ribby　set　the　pie　upon　the　table；　there　was　a　very　savoury　smell。

Duchess　came　out　from　under　the　table…cloth　munching　sugar；　and　sat　up　on　a　chair。

〃I　will　first　cut　the　pie　for　you；　I　am　going　to　have　muffin　and　marmalade；〃　said　Ribby。

〃I　think〃（thought　Duchess　to　herself）〃I　THINK　it　would　be　wiser　if　I　helped　myself　to　pie；　though　Ribby　did　not　seem　to　notice　anything　when　she　was　cutting　it。　What　very　small　fine　pieces　it　has　cooked　into！　I　did　not　remember　that　I　had　minced　it　up　so　fine；　I　suppose　this　is　a　quicker　oven　than　my　own。〃

The　pie…dish　was　emptying　rapidly！　Duchess　had　had　four　helps　already；　and　was　fumbling　with　the　spoon。

〃A　little　more　bacon；　my　dear　Duchess？〃　said　Ribby。

〃Thank　you；　my　dear　Ribby；　I　was　only　feeling　for　the　patty…pan。〃

〃The　patty…pan？　my　dear　Duchess？〃

〃The　patty　pan　that　held　up　the　pie…crust；〃　said　Duchess；　blushing　under　her　black　coat。


〃Oh；　I　didn't　put　one　in；　my　dear　Duchess；〃　said　Ribby；　〃I　don't　think　that　it　is　necessary　in　pies　made　of　mouse。〃

Duchess　fumbled　with　the　spoon　〃I　can't　find　it！〃　she　said　anxiously。

〃There　isn't　a　patty…pan；〃　said　Ribby；　looking　perplexed。

〃Yes；　indeed；　my　dear　Ribby；　where　can　it　have　gone　to？〃　said　Duchess。

Duchess　looked　very　much　alarmed；　and　continued　to　scoop　the　inside　of　the　pie…dish。

〃I　have　only　four　patty…pans；　and　they　are　all　in　the　cupboard。〃

Duchess　set　up　a　howl。

〃I　shall　die！　I　shall　die！　I　have　swallowed　a　patty…pan！　Oh；　my　dear　Ribby；　I　do　feel　so　ill！〃

〃It　is　impossible；　my　dear　Duchess；　there　was　not　a　patty…pan。〃

〃Yes　there　WAS；　my　dear　Ribby；　I　am　sure　I　have　swallowed　it！〃

〃Let　me　prop　you　up　with　a　pillow；　my　dear　Duchess；　where　do　you　think　you　feel　it？〃

〃Oh　I　do　feel　so　ill　ALL　OVER　me；　my　dear　Ribby。〃

〃Shall　I　run　for　the　doctor？〃