the golden age(金色时代)-第7章
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the undergrowth and crouched by the water's rim； it was easyif your
imagination were in healthy working orderto transport yourself in a trice
to the heart of a tropical forest。 Overhead the monkeys chattered； parrots
flashed from bough to bough； strange large blossoms shone around you；
and the push and rustle of great beasts moving unseen thrilled you
deliciously。 And if you lay down with your nose an inch or two from the
water； it was not long ere the old sense of proportion vanished clean away。
The glittering insects that darted to and fro on its surface became sea…
monsters dire； the gnats that hung above them swelled to albatrosses； and
the pond itself stretched out into a vast inland sea； whereon a navy might
ride secure； and whence at any moment the hairy scalp of a sea serpent
might be seen to emerge。
It is impossible； however； to play at tropical forests properly； when
homely accents of the human voice intrude； and all my hopes of seeing a
tiger seized by a crocodile while drinking （vide picture…books； passim）
vanished abruptly； and earth resumed her old dimensions； when the sound
of Charlotte's prattle somewhere hard by broke in on my primeval
seclusion。 Looking out from the bushes； I saw her trotting towards an
open space of lawn the other side the pond； chattering to herself in her
accustomed fashion； a doll tucked under either arm； and her brow knit
with care。 Propping up her double burden against a friendly stump； she
sat down in front of them； as full of worry and anxiety as a Chancellor on
a Budget night。
Her victims； who stared resignedly in front of them； were recognisable
as Jerry and Rosa。 Jerry hailed from far Japan： his hair was straight and
black； his one garment cotton； of a simple blue； and his reputation was
distinctly bad。 Jerome was his proper name； from his supposed likeness
to the holy man who hung in a print on the staircase； though a shaven
crown was the only thing in common 'twixt Western saint and Eastern
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sinner。 Rosa was typical British； from her flaxen poll to the stout calves
she displayed so liberally； and in character she was of the blameless order
of those who have not yet been found out。
I suspected Jerry from the first； there was a latent devilry in his slant
eyes as he sat there moodily； and knowing what he was capable of I
scented trouble in store for Charlotte。 Rosa I was not so sure about； she
sat demurely and upright； and looked far away into the tree…tops in a
visionary； world…forgetting sort of way； yet the prim purse of her mouth
was somewhat overdone； and her eyes glittered unnaturally。
〃Now； I'm going to begin where I left off；〃 said Charlotte； regardless
of stops； and thumping the turf with her fist excitedly： 〃and you must pay
attention； 'cos this is a treat； to have a story told you before you're put to
bed。 Well； so the White Rabbit scuttled off down the passage and Alice
hoped he'd come back 'cos he had a waistcoat on and her flamingo flew up
a treebut we haven't got to that part yetyou must wait a minute； and
where had I got to？〃
Jerry only remained passive until Charlotte had got well under way；
and then began to heel over quietly in Rosa's direction。 His head fell on
her plump shoulder； causing her to start nervously。
Charlotte seized and shook him with vigour； 〃O Jerry；〃 she cried
piteously； 〃if you're not going to be good； how ever shall I tell you my
story？〃
Jerry's face was injured innocence itself。 〃Blame if you like；
Madam；〃 he seemed to say； 〃the eternal laws of gravitation； but not a
helpless puppet； who is also an orphan and a stranger in the land。〃
〃Now we'll go on；〃 began Charlotte once more。 〃So she got into the
garden at lastI've left out a lot； but you won't care； I'll tell you some other
timeand they were all playing croquet； and that's where the flamingo
comes in； and the Queen shouted out； ‘Off with her head！'〃
At this point Jerry collapsed forward； suddenly and completely； his
bald pate between his knees。 Charlotte was not very angry this time。
The sudden development of tragedy in the story had evidently been too
much for the poor fellow。 She straightened him out； wiped his nose； and；
after trying him in various positions； to which he refused to adapt himself；
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she propped him against the shoulder of the （apparently） unconscious
Rosa。 Then my eyes were opened； and the full measure of Jerry's infamy
became apparent。 This； then； was what he had been playing up for。 The
fellow had designs。 I resolved to keep him under close observation。
〃If you'd been in the garden；〃 went on Charlotte； reproachfully； 〃and
flopped down like that when the Queen said ‘Off with his head！' she'd
have offed with your head； but Alice wasn't that sort of girl at all。 She
just said； ‘I'm not afraid of you； you're nothing but a pack of cards'oh；
dear！ I've got to the end already； and I hadn't begun hardly！ I never can
make my stories last out！ Never mind； I'll tell you another one。〃
Jerry didn't seem to care； now he had gained his end； whether the
stories lasted out or not。 He was nestling against Rosa's plump form with
a look of satisfaction that was simply idiotic； and one arm had disappeared
from viewwas it round her waist？ Rosa's natural blush seemed deeper
than usual； her head inclined shyly it must have been round her waist。
〃If it wasn't so near your bedtime；〃 continued Charlotte； reflectively；
〃I'd tell you a nice story with a bogy in it。 But you'd be frightened； and
you'd dream of bogies all night。 So I'll tell you one about a White Bear；
only you mustn't scream when the bear says ‘Wow；' like I used to； 'cos he's
a good bear really〃
Here Rosa fell flat on her back in the deadest of faints。 Her limbs
were rigid； her eyes glassy； what had Jerry been doing？ It must have
been something very bad； for her to take on like that。 I scrutinised him
carefully； while Charlotte ran to comfort the damsel。 He appeared to be
whistling a tune and regarding the scenery。 If I only possessed Jerry's
command of feature； I thought to myself； half regretfully； I would never be
found out in anything。
〃It's all your fault； Jerry；〃 said Charlotte； reproachfully； when the lady
had been restored to consciousness： 〃Rosa's as good as gold； except
when you make her wicked。 I'd put you in the corner； only a stump
hasn't got a cornerwonder why that is？ Thought everything had corners。
Never mind； you'll have to sit with your face to the wallSO。 Now you
can sulk if you like！〃
Jerry seemed to hesitate a moment between the bliss of indulgence in
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sulks with a sense of injury； and the imperious summons of beauty waiting
to be wooed at his elbow； then； carried away by his passion； he fell
sideways across Rosa's lap。 One arm stuck stiffly upwards； as in
passionate protestation； his amorous countenance was full of entreaty。
Rosa hesitatedwaveredand yielded； crushing his slight frame under the
weight of her full… bodied surrender。
Charlotte had stood a good deal； but it was possible to abuse even her
patience。 Snatching Jerry from his lawless embraces； she reversed him
across her knee； and thenthe outrage offered to the whole superior sex in
Jerry's hapless person was too painful to witness； but though I turned my
head away； the sound of brisk slaps continued to reach my tingling ears。
When I looked again； Jerry was sitting up as before； his garment；
somewhat crumpled； was restored to its original position； but his pallid
countenance was set hard。 Knowing as I did； only too well； what a
volcano of passion and shame must be seething under that impassive
exterior； for the moment I felt sorry for him。
Rosa's face was still buried in her frock； it might have been shame； it
might have been grief for Jerry's sufferings。 But the callous Japanese
never even looked her way。 His heart was exceeding bitter within him。
In merely following up his natural impulses he had run his head against
convention； and learnt how hard a thing it was； and the sunshiny world
was all black to him。
Even Charlotte softened somewhat at the sight of his rigid misery。 〃If
you'll say you're sorry。 Jerome；〃 she said； 〃I'll say I'm sorry； too。〃
Jerry only dropped his shoulders against the stump and stared out in
the direction of his dear native Japan； where love was no sin； and
smacking had not been introduced。 Why had he ever left it？ He would
go back to…morrowand yet there were obstacles： another grievance。
Nature； in endowing Jerry with every grace of form and feature； along
with a sensitive soul； had somehow forgotten the gift of locomotion。
There was a crackling in the bushes behind me； with sharp short pants
as of a small steam…engine； and Rollo； the black retriever； just released
from his chain by some friendly hand； burst through the underwood；
seeking congenial company。 I joyfully hailed him to stop and be a
