the grey brethren(阴郁的教友们)-第10章
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mischief … although she never teased the owls any more； you may be sure
of that … she took to tormenting the squirrels instead。 She used to find their
stores of nuts and carry them away and fill the holes with pebbles； and this；
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The Grey Brethren
when you are a hard…working squirrel with a large family to support； is
very trying to the temper。 Then she would tie acorns to their tails； and
she would clap her hands to frighten them； and pull the baby…squirrels'
ears； till at last they offered a reward to anyone who could catch Fairy
Fluffikins and bring her to be punished。
No one caught Fairy Fluffikins； but she caught herself； as you shall
hear。
She was poking about round a haystack one night； trying to find
something naughty to do； when she came upon a sweet little house with
pretty wire walls and a wooden door standing invitingly open。 In hopped
Fluffikins； thinking she was going to have some new kind of fun。 There
was a little white thing dangling from the roof； and she laid hold of it。
Immediately there was a bang； the wooden door slammed； and Fluffikins
was caught。
How she cried and stamped and pushed at the door； and promised to be
a good fairy and a great many other things！ But all to no purpose： the
door was tight shut； and Fluffikins was not like some fortunate fairies who
can get out of anywhere。
There she remained； and in the morning one of the labourers found her；
and； thinking she was some kind of dormouse； he carried her home to his
little girl； and if you call on Mary Ann Smith you will see Fairy Fluffikins
there still in a little cage。 They give her nuts and cheese and bread； and
all the things she doesn't like； and there is no one to tease and no mischief
to get into； so if there is a miserable little Fairy anywhere it is Fairy
Fluffikins； and I'm not sure it doesn't serve her quite right。
The Story of the Tinkle…Tinkle。
ONCE upon a time there lived a Tinkle…Tinkle。 I cannot tell you
what he was like； because no man knows； not even the Tinkle…Tinkle
himself。 Sometimes he lived on the ground； sometimes in a tree；
sometimes in the water； sometimes in a cave； and I can't tell you what he
lived on； for no man knows； not even the Tinkle…Tinkle himself。
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The Grey Brethren
One day the Tinkle…Tinkle was going through a wood； when he heard a
piteous weeping。 He stopped； for he was a kindly Tinkle…Tinkle； and
found two small dormice sobbing under a tree because they had been
cruelly deserted by their parents。 He wiped their eyes tenderly and took
them to his cave home； but I cannot tell you how he went； for no man
knows； not even the Tinkle…Tinkle。 However； when he got there he put
the dormice to bed in his grandmother's boots； for which he had never
found any use before； and fed them on periwinkles and tea； and was very
kind to them； and when they grew older he bought them caps and aprons；
and they became the Tinkle… Tinkle's housemaid and parlourmaid。
Now I must tell you that it was a great grief to the Tinkle…Tinkle not to
know what he was； or how he lived； or where he was going to； and it often
made him depressed； but he always concealed it from the dormice；
appearing a most cheerful and contented creature。
One day he found a poor green bird lying on the ground with its leg
broken。 Fortunately Tinkle…Tinkle had his grandmother's black silk
reticule with him which had never been of any service to him before。 He
gently placed the green bird in the bottom and carried it to the cave。
The dormice laid the poor sufferer on a soft bed and put the broken leg
up carefully in plaster of Paris； and they nursed the green bird with the
greatest attention so that it was soon well enough to hop about on crutches；
and it sang so beautifully that all the inhabitants round gave it money； and
its fame spread abroad； but it was so tenderly attached to the Tinkle…Tinkle
and the dormice that it would not leave them。
Now it happened on a certain evening that the Tinkle…Tinkle was
travelling over the sea； when suddenly in the depths he caught sight of a
most beautiful Creature。 It was all sorts of colours … white； rosy pink；
and deep crimson； and pale blue fading into white and gold。 It had no
face but a bright light； and it had quantities of beautiful iridescent wings；
like the rainbow； and the most lovely voice you ever heard； like the
sighing of the waves in the hollow of the sea。
The Tinkle…Tinkle was so astonished and entranced that he stopped；
and the beautiful Creature cried out to him； and its voice made Tinkle…
Tinkle remember a dream he had once had of sunshine； and forest trees；
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The Grey Brethren
and the song of birds； and the Creature said； 〃Ah； Tinkle…Tinkle！ you are
lonely and perplexed and sad； and you do not know whence you came nor
why you are here； but the dormice know and the green bird knows； and I
know； and we are glad for your being。 Go on； Tinkle…Tinkle； and do not
sorrow； for some day you shall come back to me； and I will wrap you in
my wings and take you where you belong； and then you will understand。〃
When the Tinkle…Tinkle heard this he was glad with a new strange
gladness； and he went back to his cave； but not alone； for the spirit of hope
went with him。
The Tinkle…Tinkle had one gift … he could sing … how； no man knew；
not even the Tinkle…Tinkle himself； and this is how he discovered his gift。
One day in a secluded spot in the forest he found a dying stag； and the
Tinkle…Tinkle was moved with great compassion and yet could do nothing。
The great stag's head drooped lower and lower till even the sun melted
in a mist of pity； and the trees sighed； and the breezes hushed their voices。
Then suddenly the Tinkle…Tinkle crept close and began to sing； why or
how he knew not。 As he sang； the birds and the stream were silenced and
the breezes ceased； and the great stag's breathing grew less and less
laboured； and his eyes brightened； and presently he rose slowly to his feet
and paced away to join the rest of the herd； and the Tinkle…Tinkle went
with him。
When the stag's companions heard the story； they wept for all that had
befallen their leader； but rejoiced also and blessed the Tinkle…Tinkle； and
he sang once more for them； and the Star…spirits leaned out of their bright
little windows to listen； and the night was glad。
Many were the adventures of the Tinkle…Tinkle； and countless the
creatures he cheered and helped； yet he never fancied himself any use or
knew why he was in the world。 He brought home a poor old crab
without a claw； and the green bird and the dormice found a hook and
screwed it in； and the poor old crab used to carry parcels for the
neighbours； but he still lived with the Tinkle…Tinkle。
Another time it was a snail with a broken shell； for him they built a
beautiful little house； and he made little rush brooms and sold them to the
passers…by； but he lived ever after close to the Tinkle…Tinkle's front door。
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So it went on till all the Tinkle…Tinkle's homes were full of strange
occupants； and he began to feel very old and worn and weary。 Then he
remembered the promise of the beautiful Creature； and went slowly over
the sea hoping the time had come for it to be fulfilled； and it had。 The
beautiful Creature stretched out its lovely rose and purple wings and
wrapped the Tinkle…Tinkle in their warm soft greatness； and bore him
down and down through the depths till they came to the Great Gate。 At
the beautiful Creature's voice it swung slowly back； and they passed down
the Blue Pathway； which is all ice； cut and carved into lovely pinnacles
and spires； very blue with the blue of the summer sky and the southern
seas。 The Tinkle…Tinkle could just see it from between the beautiful
Creature's wings； stretching away in the blue distance； and at the end one
star。
Presently … and though the time had been one thousand years it had not
seemed long to the Tinkle…Tinkle … they came out into a beautiful place
that was nothing but light； and the beautiful Creature set the Tinkle…Tinkle
down； he looked around him and saw many other Tinkle…Tinkles； and he
knew them for what they were and loved their beauty； and the Creature
gently swept one of its purple pinions across him； and the Tinkle…Tinkle
took form。 He had many； many little soft； strong hands and many little
white feet； and long sweeping wings and a face which shone with
something of the light of the beautiful Creature； and the Tinkle…Tinkle saw
and understood and sang for joy。
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