the grey brethren(阴郁的教友们)-第9节
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and now the Princess has greened you。 She's turned into a flea； and you
still want to eat her； and it never occurred to you； you green old grampus
of a Griffin； that fleas like CATS。 I suppose the Princess flea wouldn't
jump on to a tabby kitten； and you couldn't swallow the kitten … oh dear； no
… of course not 。 。 。 。〃
But the Griffin was gone。 He went to the Zoo； found a tabby kitten；
though they are rare in that country； and flew back with it to the Princess's
room。
He waited half an hour and then swallowed the kitten at one gulp； but
he instantly burst in four pieces； for the fluffy kitten tickled his digestive
organs so much that they cracked his sides and he died； and the flea and
the kitten came out quite unhurt； only a little damp。
Then a wonderful thing happened。 The tabby kitten changed into the
little yellow man who had laughed at the Griffin。 He grew； and grew； and
in a few minutes he was a handsome prince。 His name was Prince
Orange Plushikins。 One day a cruel witch whom he had offended had
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changed him into an ugly yellow man； and had sworn that he should only
regain his shape if he was eaten by a Griffin when under the form of a
tabby kitten； which you know was precisely what happened。 Well；
Prince Orange Plushikins at once asked the Princess flea to marry him；
and the minute the flea said 〃Yes；〃 the Princess reappeared。 She and the
Prince were married next morning； and all the cats went to the steam
laundry and were washed and bleached and had their tails crimped and
their whiskers starched； and they danced at the wedding； and everybody
lived happily ever after。
The Discontented Daffodils。
THEY had the very loveliest home you can imagine； with beautiful
soft moss and grass to grow in； trees to form a cosy shelter from the wind；
and a dear little babbling stream to water them。
There were lots of daffodils in this pretty place； and nobody ever
discovered the nook to gather them。 They rejoiced in the spring sunshine
and gentle breezes； the greeting of the birds； and the musical chatter of the
brook； then when their brief visit to the upper world was over they nestled
happily down in their warm mossy beds and slept till April came again to
wake them。
A little apart from the rest were four daffodils growing at the root of a
gnarled oak tree； and one fine sunshiny morning three of them took it into
their silly little heads that they were dull； the place was dull； the other
daffodils were dull； and they wanted a change。
It was mainly the fault of the cuckoo； for he was a grumbling；
mischief…making bird and used to spend a good deal of time talking to the
daffodils。 This particular spring he had taken up his abode in the oak tree；
and was fond of talking of all the grand things he had seen； and a great
many he had not seen； for the cuckoo is a bird of fine imagination； and at
last； as I have already said； three of the daffodils made up their minds that
to be a flower and live in a wood was a very dreadful thing； and not to be
put up with any longer。
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Now the cuckoo had told many strange tales about creatures with two
legs and beautiful coloured leaves which grew in an odd way； and feathers
only on their heads。 They could not fly； but they could run about from
place to place； and dance and sing； and at last the daffodils decided that
they wished to be like these curious creatures； which the cuckoo called
GIRLS。
Then there were sad times in that sweet little nook under the oak tree。
The naughty daffodils cried and quarrelled and bewailed their lot all
day long； till they made themselves and everybody else extremely
wretched。 Their little sister shook her head at them； and scolded and said
that for her part she was not meant to have legs； but it was all no use； the
daffodils would not be quiet。
One day the Fairy Visitor who looked after the flowers in that part
heard the silly blossoms crying； and stopped to ask what was the matter。
When she heard the story she told them they were very foolish and
discontented； and that the cuckoo was a most mischievous bird and liked
to get people into trouble； but the daffodils would not listen。 So knowing
there is nothing so likely to cure silly flower as to give them their own
silly way； she said … 〃Very well； my dears； you want to be girls； and girls
you shall be。〃
With that she waved her wand over the three daffodils and in a twinkle
they were gone； in their places stood three tall pretty maidens dressed in
soft yellow silk frocks with green stockings and shoes。 For a minute they
were too much astonished to speak； then clapping their hands they laughed
and skipped for joy； and wanted to kiss the old fairy because they were so
pleased at getting their own way； but the fairy would not look at them； and
stooped over the little flower now growing all alone； saying kindly：…
〃Well； little one； don't you want to be a pretty maiden； too？〃
But the daffodil shook her head with great determination：…
〃I don't want legs and I won't have legs。 I was meant to be a flower
and a flower I will be； but if you could keep that meddling； chattering
cuckoo away from this tree for a time I should be much obliged。〃
And the fairy laughed and promised。
Meanwhile the three pretty maidens had set of hand in hand to seek
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their fortunes。
They went singing and dancing over the meadows in the soft afternoon
sunshine； and thought how wise and clever they were to be girls instead of
little unnoticed flowers growing in a wood。
Presently they came to a house and stopped to ask whether they could
have a lodging for the night。 There was no difficulty about it； for that is a
happy country where there is no money and everything belongs to
everybody； so the people of the house … an old man and woman … were
delighted to see the beautiful maidens and made them heartily welcome；
and the daffodils went to bed that night very happy and quite content with
the result of their experiment。 When they came to undress； however；
they received a severe shock。
They were girls； real proper girls； they could chatter and eat and sleep；
for the fairy was not one to do things by halves； but when they pulled off
the dainty green shoes and stockings； they discovered that although they
had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world； they were quite
green； the colour of daffodil leaves。
There wasn't anything said about a 〃dear； darling； kind old fairy〃 then；
I can assure you。
The first daffodil said she was a wicked old witch。 The second said
she was a horrible old woman； and the third said she knew the fairy meant
to pay them out； and she would like to scratch her。 Then they all set to
work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies； when suddenly a
familiar 〃Cuck…oo！〃 sounded in their ears； and they saw our old
acquaintance perched on the window sill。
He looked at the six little green feet； and his eyes twinkled； but before
he could speak the three angry maidens all began scolding him at once； for
they were delighted to have somebody fresh to find fault with。
The cuckoo； being in some respects a philosopher； did not attempt to
interrupt； but when they were quite exhausted he said he really could not
see any reason for their distress。 No one would ever wish to see their feet；
and they could always wear stockings。 He added that he had great news；
and had come on purpose to bring it。
〃The King of Silverland；〃 he said； 〃is coming with all his court to hold
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high r
