登陆注册
5391200000028

第28章

'But how did you come to be locked up in the church-tower?' asked the Vicar.

'We went up,' said Robert slowly, 'and we were tired, and we all went to sleep, and when we woke up we found the door was locked, so we yelled.'

'I should think you did!' said the Vicar's wife. 'Frightening everybody out of their wits like this! You ought to be ashamed of yourselves.'

'We are,' said Jane gently.

'But who locked the door?' asked the Vicar.

'I don't know at all,' said Robert, with perfect truth. 'Do please send us home.'

'Well, really,' said the Vicar, 'I suppose we'd better. Andrew, put the horse to, and you can take them home.'

'Not alone, I don't,' said Andrew to himself.

'And,' the Vicar went on, 'let this be a lesson to you ...' He went on talking, and the children listened miserably. But the keeper was not listening. He was looking at the unfortunate Cyril.

He knew all about poachers of course, so he knew how people look when they're hiding something. The Vicar had just got to the part about trying to grow up to be a blessing to your parents, and not a trouble and a disgrace, when the keeper suddenly said:

'Arst him what he's got there under his jacket'; and Cyril knew that concealment was at an end. So he stood up, and squared his shoulders and tried to look noble, like the boys in books that no one can look in the face of and doubt that they come of brave and noble families and will be faithful to the death, and he pulled out the soda-water syphon and said:

'Well, there you are, then.'

There was a silence. Cyril went on - there was nothing else for it:

'Yes, we took this out of your larder, and some chicken and tongue and bread. We were very hungry, and we didn't take the custard or jam. We only took bread and meat and water - and we couldn't help its being the soda kind -just the necessaries of life; and we left half-a-crown to pay for it, and we left a letter. And we're very sorry. And my father will pay a fine or anything you like, but don't send us to prison. Mother would be so vexed. You know what you said about not being a disgrace. Well, don't you go and do it to us - that's all! We're as sorry as we can be. There!'

'However did you get up to the larder window?' said Mrs Vicar.

'I can't tell you that,' said Cyril firmly.

'Is this the whole truth you've been telling me?' asked the clergyman.

'No,' answered Jane suddenly; 'it's all true, but it's not the whole truth. We can't tell you that. It's no good asking. Oh, do forgive us and take us home!' She ran to the Vicar's wife and threw her arms round her. The Vicar's wife put her arms round Jane, and the keeper whispered behind his hand to the Vicar:

'They're all right, sir - I expect it's a pal they're standing by.

Someone put 'em up to it, and they won't peach. Game little kids.'

'Tell me,' said the Vicar kindly, 'are you screening someone else?

Had anyone else anything to do with this?'

'Yes,' said Anthea, thinking of the Psammead; 'but it wasn't their fault.'

'Very well, my dears,' said the Vicar, 'then let's say no more about it. Only just tell us why you wrote such an odd letter.'

'I don't know,' said Cyril. 'You see, Anthea wrote it in such a hurry, and it really didn't seem like stealing then. But afterwards, when we found we couldn't get down off the church-tower, it seemed just exactly like it. We are all very sorry -'

'Say no more about it,' said the Vicar's wife; 'but another time just think before you take other people's tongues. Now - some cake and milk before you go home?'

When Andrew came to say that the horse was put to, and was he expected to be led alone into the trap that he had plainly seen from the first, he found the children eating cake and drinking milk and laughing at the Vicar's jokes. Jane was sitting on the Vicar's wife's lap.

So you see they got off better than they deserved.

The gamekeeper, who was the cook's cousin, asked leave to drive home with them, and Andrew was only too glad to have someone to protect him from the trap he was so certain of.

When the wagonette reached their own house, between the chalk-quarry and the gravel-pit, the children were very sleepy, but they felt that they and the keeper were friends for life.

Andrew dumped the children down at the iron gate without a word.

'You get along home,' said the Vicarage cook's cousin, who was a gamekeeper. 'I'll get me home on Shanks' mare.'

So Andrew had to drive off alone, which he did not like at all, and it was the keeper that was cousin to the Vicarage cook who went with the children to the door, and, when they had been swept to bed in a whirlwind of reproaches, remained to explain to Martha and the cook and the housemaid exactly what had happened. He explained so well that Martha was quite amiable the next morning.

After that he often used to come over and see Martha; and in the end - but that is another story, as dear Mr Kipling says.

Martha was obliged to stick to what she had said the night before about keeping the children indoors the next day for a punishment.

But she wasn't at all snarky about it, and agreed to let Robert go out for half an hour to get something he particularly wanted.

This, of course, was the day's wish.

Robert rushed to the gravel-pit, found the Psammead, and presently wished for - But that, too, is another story.

同类推荐
  • 战略

    战略

    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。
  • 紫团丹经

    紫团丹经

    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。
  • Dreams

    Dreams

    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。
  • 慈悲道场忏法

    慈悲道场忏法

    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。
  • 乾淳岁时记

    乾淳岁时记

    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
  • 玄黄大帝

    玄黄大帝

    少年姬东流偶得无名宝珠,从此横炼体、种灵植、操阵法、控山河、掌玄黄、斗转日月星辰,修炼至强神体,登无上大帝之位。在这个法术昌盛,炼体没落的时代,任你千般法术、万般神通,我只问一句,敌得过我一拳吗!
  • 年轻人一定要懂得的人情世故

    年轻人一定要懂得的人情世故

    每个人都会做“人”,却有巧拙的不同。因为人都是自我的、爱表现的,不过聪明人常常懂得收敛自己,把风头让给别人出。“为人作嫁”、“甘当绿叶”、“和光同尘”的处世技巧,不但是“爱现”的年轻人该学的,恐怕连活过大半辈子的中年人。都该好好想一想。这世上,做什么事都应该掌握好分寸,记得留三分地给别人走。当你把“机关算尽”,占尽便宜的时候,吃亏的可能是你自己。中国文化所讲的“人情”是指人与人之间融洽相处的感情,包括了社会学、政治学、心理学、行为科学等等学问都在内;“世故”就是透彻了解事物,懂得过去、现在、未来,明白世界上的这些事情。
  • 重生之首席宝贝

    重生之首席宝贝

    苍白的医院走廊上,到处都弥漫着药水的味道,韩薇薇低着头,看着又一个年轻的女孩从自己的面前走过,一滴鲜红的血液落在地上、接着又是一滴……地上练成了一条血线,她恐惧的看着那女孩的大腿早已被鲜血染红,身体也忍不住的颤抖起来。“韩薇薇!”护士站在门口喊道,“韩薇薇……”“在,在这里!”回答的不是韩薇薇,而是陪她来流产的男人钟引辉,男人扶着韩薇薇站起来,几乎是把她推到手术室的门口,“……
  • 千金宠妻

    千金宠妻

    她,是最拙劣的间谍、无情拜金女,被“恩人”卖了,还搭上清白替人数钱;他,是腹黑霸道首席,被“拜金女”吸引,还被她骗去感情。有仇不报?No,这绝非总裁大人作风!就算她逃到天涯海角,他也势必将她抓回来。背叛他的下场就是:被他囚禁一辈子!
  • 灯下漫笔:鲁迅诗文选

    灯下漫笔:鲁迅诗文选

    本书所选的鲁迅散文稍稍远离了他耿直、犀利、斥责黑暗现实的主色调。它记录的是鲁迅对于人生的思考与反思。
  • 北山酒经

    北山酒经

    《北山酒经》分上、中、下三卷。上卷追述了酿酒的发展历史,中卷和下卷介绍了酿酒的具体技艺。《北山酒经》虽为酿酒技艺的专著,实则却渗透着酒文化的浓重缩影,为饮而酿,酿则必饮,可谓关乎酒之品质的重要著作。
  • 闪婚试爱

    闪婚试爱

    顶着二十五岁“高龄”,景灿开始她人生漫长的相亲生涯,厌倦了陌生浮夸的嘴脸,却又不想母亲失望大街上,她拉过一个男人,有些嚣张问道:跟姐结婚,敢不?*******为了家庭和谐,共赴小康,景灿和龙景腾共同制定夫妻守则如下:第一、夫妻财产各自保管,每个月房租、水电、燃气等费用均摊;第二、在家的时候回各自的房间,互不打扰,不许乱带朋友回来,尤其在家开party之类;第三、禁止窥探对方私生活;第四、如需对方配合,在不是很过分的要求下,可以尽量配合,例如回家看望双方父母,人前演戏扮恩爱;第五、结婚满一年之后,可以离婚。男人大手一挥:第六、未尽事宜,以后再补。【推荐新文】《军门闪婚》(《闪婚试爱》姐妹篇)《军门狼少,今夜求战》
  • 暴帝狂爱

    暴帝狂爱

    重要提示:本书加入了半价书库,五折优惠哦。大概人民币3块以下。———————————————————————————————四帝集团:掌控了全球一半的金融,在商界呼风唤雨一跺脚即能震动半边天,黑白两道通吃,四帝集团宗旨,人不犯我我不犯人,人若犯我后果自负。他,几年后又遇到了她。可是,她已完全不认得他了。仿若重生的她,完完全全的勾起了他的兴趣。可是,为何她却只对别人笑靥绽放。对他却避之若蝎。那是只有他才拥有的权利。他现在在此宣布,你——紫昕,是我的了。这人是谁?为何三番两次的调戏她。还装出一副跟她很熟的样子。什么跟什么啊。她最讨厌这种人了,看他那似笑非笑的笑容和眼神,仿佛所有的人都是笨蛋似的嘲讽别人。她,紫昕,决定第一个讨厌的人就是他了。———————————————————————————————
  • 牵着你成家立业

    牵着你成家立业

    女:怎么第一次谈恋爱就遇到了一个渣男!!!我还能找到真爱吗,不过一个人生活也挺好的,除了妈妈会唠叨不停。男:我看上你了,跟我回去做我老婆吧。女:纳尼。在一起后。女:哈哈,做你老婆不错嘛!
  • 暴君绝宠:皇后霸王花

    暴君绝宠:皇后霸王花

    她一名二十一世纪的女大学生,病逝后居然得到了重生?大将军的女儿?很好!重生的生活有点无聊,那就找点其他事来做吧!做生意?符合她以前的专业......学医?也符合她以前的专业......这些都有点无聊?好吧,那咱就来组建一支强大的杀手队伍吧!七岁的一次邂逅,居然有人已经定了她的终身?这也太......**********他,十岁登基他,是三国中公认的暴君他,还是让三国都胆战心惊的强者!不是他没有能力去吞并你,而是,他现在不想动你,还要跟你玩玩呢!不然,生活会很无趣的!什么?抢他的女人?那要看你有没有这个能耐!哼,抢他的女人?有胆量抢,那就得承受他得怒火!......**********本文是一对一的。求点击收藏加票票自荐夕雨的新文《恶魔儿子天价娘》【本文女主腹黑强大,走着复仇的道路。宝宝亦是个腹黑的主,扮猪吃老虎是常有的事。中间带着窝心的宠爱,本文一对一!】