登陆注册
5197700000020

第20章

An enormous dead cod-fish was lying on the bank, with the hook in its mouth.

"I had always fancied," the Baron faltered, "that cod were salt-water fish?""Not in this country," said the Vice-Warden."Shall we go in?

Ask my son some question on the way any subject you like!"And the sulky boy was violently shoved forwards, to walk at the Baron's side.

"Could your Highness tell me," the Baron cautiously began, "how much seven times nine would come to?""Turn to the left!" cried the Vice-Warden, hastily stepping forwards to show the way---so hastily, that he ran against his unfortunate guest, who fell heavily on his face.

"So sorry!" my Lady exclaimed, as she and her husband helped him to his feet again."My son was in the act of saying 'sixty-three' as you fell!"The Baron said nothing: he was covered with dust, and seemed much hurt, both in body and mind.However, when they had got him into the house, and given him a good brushing, matters looked a little better.

Dinner was served in due course, and every fresh dish seemed to increase the good-humour of the Baron: but all efforts, to get him to express his opinion as to Uggug's cleverness, were in vain, until that interesting youth had left the room, and was seen from the open window, prowling about the lawn with a little basket, which he was filling with frogs.

"So fond of Natural History as he is, dear boy!" said the doting mother."Now do tell us, Baron, what you think of him!""To be perfectly candid, said the cautious Baron, "I would like a little more evidence.I think you mentioned his skill in--""Music?" said the Vice-Warden."Why, he's simply a prodigy!

You shall hear him play the piano? And he walked to the window.

"Ug--I mean my boy! Come in for a minute, and bring the music-master with you! To turn over the music for him," he added as an explanation.

Uggug, having filled his basket with frogs, had no objection to obey, and soon appeared in the room, followed by a fierce-looking little man, who asked the Vice-Warden "Vot music vill you haf?""The Sonata that His Highness plays so charmingly," said the Vice-Warden.

"His Highness haf not--" the music-master began, but was sharply stopped by the Vice-warden.

"Silence, Sir! Go and turn over the music for his Highness.

My dear," (to the Wardeness) "will you show him what to do?

And meanwhile, Baron, I'll just show you a most interesting map we have--of Outland, and Fairyland, and that sort of thing."By the time my Lady had returned, from explaining things to the music-master, the map had been hung up, and the Baron was already much bewildered by the Vice-Warden's habit of pointing to one place while he shouted out the name of another.

[Image...The map of fairyland]

My Lady joining in, pointing out other places, and shouting other names, only made matters worse; and at last the Baron, in despair, took to pointing out places for himself, and feebly asked "Is that great yellow splotch Fairyland?""Yes, that's Fairyland," said the Vice-warden: "and you might as well give him a hint," he muttered to my Lady, "about going back to-morrow.

He eats like a shark! It would hardly do for me to mention it."His wife caught the idea, and at once began giving hints of the most subtle and delicate kind."Just see what a short way it is back to Fairyland! Why, if you started to-morrow morning, you'd get there in very little more than a week!"The Baron looked incredulous."It took me a full month to come," he said.

"But it's ever so much shorter, going back, you know!'

The Baron looked appealingly to the Vice-warden, who chimed in readily.

"You can go back five times, in the time it took you to come here once--if you start to-morrow morning!"All this time the Sonata was pealing through the room.The Baron could not help admitting to himself that it was being magnificently played:

but he tried in vain to get a glimpse of the youthful performer.

Every time he had nearly succeeded in catching sight of him, either the Vice-Warden or his wife was sure to get in the way, pointing out some new place on the map, and deafening him with some new name.

He gave in at last, wished a hasty good-night, and left the room, while his host and hostess interchanged looks of triumph.

"Deftly done!" cried the Vice-Warden."Craftily contrived!

But what means all that tramping on the stairs?" He half-opened the door, looked out, and added in a tone of dismay, "The Baron's boxes are being carried down!""And what means all that rumbling of wheels?" cried my Lady.She peeped through the window curtains."The Baron's carriage has come round!"she groaned.

At this moment the door opened: a fat, furious face looked in: a voice, hoarse with passion, thundered out the words "My room is full of frogs--I leave you!": and the door closed again.

And still the noble Sonata went pealing through the room: but it was Arthur's masterly touch that roused the echoes, and thrilled my very soul with the tender music of the immortal 'Sonata Pathetique':

and it was not till the last note had died away that the tired but happy traveler could bring himself to utter the words "good-night!" and to seek his much-needed pillow.

同类推荐
  • 太极拳小序

    太极拳小序

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上救苦天尊说拔度血湖宝忏

    太上救苦天尊说拔度血湖宝忏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 四分僧戒本

    四分僧戒本

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 家世旧闻

    家世旧闻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 竹林寺女科

    竹林寺女科

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 闪婚萌妻,征服亿万总裁!

    闪婚萌妻,征服亿万总裁!

    一场意外而荒唐的午夜缠绵,她却从不知那晚的男人竟然是……*黎皓远,34岁,香江最炙手可热的钻石单身权贵,名下产业数以亿万计。家族企业濒临破产,安妮无计可施不得已利用了一下高冷矜贵的黎大公子。却被他暧昧地抵进女洗手间,“一回生二回熟,我很期待你今晚的表现。”躲开男人灼烫的气息,她心虚不已,“黎总,我很抱歉造成您家人的误会——”可是黎先生说,“我需要一个妻子。”而年仅22岁就被迫扛起沉重家业的唐安妮,更需要一个强而有力的支撑。*各取所需的婚姻。她选择埋葬掉那段楔入骨髓的青春疼痛,努力扮演好黎太太的角色。直至那晚,他解开腰间的皮带,冷笑着拍上她的小脸,“小丫子片子,我还不信治不了你了!”她大惊失色,“黎皓远,你别乱来!婚内强……也是犯罪!”男人凉薄的唇却将她最后的一丝抵抗也狠狠碾压掉,“你以为我还有退路吗?对你,我早已经罪孽深重……”*全香江都知道,黎皓远的心里住了一个女人。一个让他甘愿放逐自己,十年空窗仍相思刻骨的心尖宠。可是,最后他却出人意料地将唐安妮纳入了他殷厚的胸膛里,不但许了唐氏一个辉煌前程,也许了她万千宠爱。
  • 高层领导枕边书

    高层领导枕边书

    本书介绍了高职位领导应具备的各方面素质,共四部分,内容包括:创造业绩——夯实底气;上下周旋——进退自如;硬权力管人 ——软实力服人;摆正心态——学会休闲。
  • 金圈子

    金圈子

    教授姓金,名字亮堂堂的,晃眼:金太阳。金太阳教授供职于北方音乐学院,从教四十多年,带出的学生上千人,全省历届音乐大赛、电视歌手大赛、金嗓子奖等各类比赛中均有获奖的,有的年份甚至囊括金银铜等前几个奖项,有几个在全国都出类拔萃。有一年全省一项音乐大赛,十二个评委中有一半是他的学生,还有三个曾跟他上过课。组委会的一个人开玩笑说,金教授,音乐界围绕着您老人家已经自然而然地形成了一个圈子。您这个圈子资源丰富,是个金圈子呀!从此,金圈子在北方音乐界成了一个专用名词,就是在全国音乐界也声名显赫。
  • 心如明镜爱如城

    心如明镜爱如城

    她爱他入骨,卑微如蝼蚁,他却不屑一顾。惨遭陷害,他见死不救,抱着另一个女人离开。而她和肚子里的宝宝被活活烧死。“封墨城,如果有来生,我不会爱上你!”重生归来,曾经的软弱包子,脱胎换骨。第一件事,就是远离他。她率先出手,拿出照片:“我昨晚跟别的男人在一起,这是我背叛你的证据,后会无期!”男人漫不经心地摁灭手中的烟,拿起照片,淡定优雅:“嗯,把我拍的不错。”
  • 鉴宝大师

    鉴宝大师

    一张神奇的鉴灵牌,带你畅游名画古瓷、珍珠美玉的世界,让一个普通的大学生终成一代鉴宝大师。一株神奇的何首乌,能够促进万物生长,从此种种花,养养鱼,什么三宫六院金皇后,什么红龙狮头水泡眼,统统滚到我的碗里来!......简介无能,直接看书吧,绝对比第一本强。书友群:331719917,欢迎加入!VIP群:543858947,全订可入,需验粉丝值截图,欢迎加入!
  • 邪尊绝宠妖孽妻

    邪尊绝宠妖孽妻

    饿死还遭雷劈,还有没有天理啊!她,梵卓·蛮,慵懒任性,狡猾多变,邪恶纨绔,乖张暴戾,是梵卓一族最让人头疼的吸血鬼公爵。虽说她是吸血鬼,可是对她来说血就是一种带着死鱼般腥臭味的东西。啊喂,是谁告诉你,血是这个味道的?众吸血鬼怒。她就想不明白了,这么恶心的东西,为什么她的子民们都那么喜欢?一只活了上千年的吸血鬼公爵,因为不吸血而饿死重生回到上古时代,魂魄附身到一只修行千年没有度过九重雷劫的九尾赤狐身上。还好身上还有吸血鬼千年修炼来的功力,才让自己幻化成人形,竟然一睁眼就遭雷劈!他,邪魅妖娆,冷枭嗜血,一张魅惑人心的脸,一袭摄人心魂的红衣。他,就是江湖上让人恨的牙痒痒,却同样是让他们怕的毛骨悚然的邪尊。第一次见她:她温顺乖巧,让他意乱。第二次见她:她狂妄不羁,让他赞赏。…每次见她都有让他有不一样的感觉,不一样的心动。
  • 农家丑媳

    农家丑媳

    二十一世纪私房菜老板叶青青,一觉醒来成为一名“沉鱼落雁”农家媳。村里人皆嘲笑她:“李家买来那丑妇,抬头能把大雁吓摔,低头能把小鱼吓疯,跟李家那病秧子倒也是绝配!”丑妇咬牙发奋,不但将自己改造成貌美如花,病秧子相公也被调理得日渐健康,好日子来咯!可是,不想突然蹦跶出一个女人称是她娘,指鼻子骂穷书生不配她,勒令她嫁给土财主。她淡定地抚着小腹问,“多给彩礼不?肚里还一个呢。”相公惊讶不说话,当夜就长篇大论起来,“古人有云:车无辕而不行,人无信则不立,业无信而不兴。”“怎么?”“为了家业兴隆,娘子,我们还是把肚里那个做实吧——”病秧子化身饿狼,夜夜耕耘不知休。良田大宅、连锁店铺、聪明包子、健壮夫君、美貌身材统统拿下。只是,相公,你的身份…有点可疑!
  • Socialism

    Socialism

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 重生之异界纪元

    重生之异界纪元

    18岁的少年,为了爱情,却因烈火将一切的一切燃烧殆尽。一颗星辰般璀璨的神秘宝石的陨落,却再次给与他重新来过的机会!虽然失去一切,但又何妨,他要做回自己,异界召唤,在这个刀剑与魔法充斥的世界里他要找回他前世所失去的东西。他的一生注定着不平凡,在异界又将兴起何等波澜。
  • 锦衣当权

    锦衣当权

    卧底十年,铁血军人孟岩重新活了过来,成为一名锦衣卫。一把绣春刀,一身霹雳胆,男儿血,尤未冷,美人随,斗权阉,收漠北,定安南,下西洋,权倾天下!