a collection of beatrix potter stories-第15节
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your paper is all right。〃 Pigling
Bland did not like going on alone；
and it was beginning to rain。 But
it is unwise to argue with the police；
he gave his brother a peppermint；
and watched him out of sight。
To conclude the adventures of
Alexanderthe policeman sauntered
up to the house about tea
time； followed by a damp subdued
little pig。 I disposed of Alexander
in the neighbourhood； he did fairly
well when he had settled down。
Pigling Bland went on alone
dejectedly； he came to cross…roads
and a sign…post〃To Market Town；
5 miles；〃 〃Over the Hills； 4 miles；〃
〃To Pettitoes Farm； 3 miles。〃
Pigling Bland was shocked；
there was little hope of sleeping in
Market Town； and to…morrow was
the hiring fair； it was deplorable to
think how much time had been
wasted by the frivolity of Alexander。
He glanced wistfully along the
road towards the hills； and then set
off walking obediently the other
way； buttoning up his coat against
the rain。 He had never wanted to
go； and the idea of standing all
by himself in a crowded market； to
be stared at； pushed； and hired by
some big strange farmer was very
disagreeable
〃I wish I could have a little
garden and grow potatoes；〃 said
Pigling Bland。
He put his cold hand in his
pocket and felt his paper； he put his
other hand in his other pocket and
felt another paperAlexander's！
Pigling squealed； then ran back
frantically； hoping to overtake
Alexander and the policeman。
He took a wrong turnseveral
wrong turns； and was quite lost。
It grew dark； the wind whistled；
the trees creaked and groaned。
Pigling Bland became frightened
and cried 〃Wee； wee； wee！ I can't
find my way home！〃
After an hour's wandering he
got out of the wood； the moon
shone through the clouds； and
Pigling Bland saw a country that
was new to him。
The road crossed a moor； below
was a wide valley with a river
twinkling in the moonlight； and
beyond； in misty distance； lay
the hills。
He saw a small wooden hut；
made his way to it； and crept
inside〃I am afraid it IS a hen
house； but what can I do？〃 said
Pigling Bland； wet and cold and
quite tired out。
〃Bacon and eggs； bacon and
eggs！〃 clucked a hen on a perch。
〃Trap； trap； trap！ cackle； cackle；
cackle！〃 scolded the disturbed
cockerel。 〃To market； to market！
jiggetty jig！〃 clucked a broody
white hen roosting next to him。
Pigling Bland； much alarmed；
determined to leave at daybreak。
In the meantime； he and the hens
fell asleep。
In less than an hour they were
all awakened。 The owner； Mr。
Peter Thomas Piperson； came with
a lantern and a hamper to catch
six fowls to take to market in the
morning。
He grabbed the white hen
roosting next to the cock； then
his eye fell upon Pigling Bland；
squeezed up in a corner。 He made
a singular remark〃Hallo； here's
another！〃seized Pigling by the
scruff of the neck； and dropped him
into the hamper。 Then he dropped
in five more dirty； kicking； cackling
hens upon the top of Pigling Bland。
The hamper containing six fowls
and a young pig was no light
weight； it was taken down hill；
unsteadily； with jerks。 Pigling；
although nearly scratched to pieces；
contrived to hide the papers and
peppermints inside his clothes。
At last the hamper was bumped
down upon a kitchen floor； the lid
was opened； and Pigling was lifted
out。 He looked up； blinking； and
saw an offensively ugly elderly
man； grinning from ear to ear。
〃This one's come of himself；
whatever；〃 said Mr。 Piperson；
turning Pigling's pockets inside out。
He pushed the hamper into a
corner； threw a sack over it to
keep the hens quiet； put a pot on
the fire； and unlaced his boots。
Pigling Bland drew forward a
coppy stool； and sat on the edge of
it； shyly warming his hands。 Mr。
Piperson pulled off a boot and
threw it against the wainscot at
the further end of the kitchen。
There was a smothered noise
〃Shut up！〃 said Mr。 Piperson。
Pigling Bland warmed his hands；
and eyed him。
Mr。 Piperson pulled off the other
boot and flung it after the first；
there was again a curious noise
〃Be quiet； will ye？〃 said Mr。
Piperson。 Pigling Bland sat on the
very edge of the coppy stool。
Mr。 Piperson fetched meal from
a chest and made porridge。 It
seemed to Pigling that something
at the further end of the kitchen
was taking a suppressed interest in
the cooking； but he was too hungry
to be troubled by noises。
Mr。 Piperson poured out three
platefuls： for himself； for Pigling；
and a thirdafter glaring at Pigling
he put away with much scuffling；
and locked up。 Pigling Bland ate
his supper discreetly。
After supper Mr。 Piperson
consulted an almanac； and felt Pigling's
ribs； it was too late in the season
for curing bacon； and he grudged
his meal。 Besides； the hens had
seen this pig。
He looked at the small remains
of a flitch； and then looked
undecidedly at Pigling。 〃You may
sleep on the rug；〃 said Mr。 Peter
Thomas Piperson。
Pigling Bland slept like a top。
In the morning Mr。 Piperson made
more porridge； the weather was
warmer。 He looked to see how much
meal was left in the chest； and
seemed dissatisfied〃You'll likely
be moving on again？〃 said he to
Pigling Bland。
Before Pigling could reply； a
neighbour； who was giving Mr。
Piperson and the hens a lift；
whistled from the gate。 Mr。 Piperson
hurried out with the hamper；
enjoining Pigling to shut the door
behind him and not meddle with
nought； or 〃I'll come back and skin
ye！〃 said Mr。 Piperson。
It crossed Pigling's mind that if
HE had asked for a lift； too； he
might still have been in time for
market。
But he distrusted Peter Thomas。
After finishing breakfast at his
leisure； Pigling had a look round
the cottage； everything was locked
up。 He found some potato peelings
in a bucket in the back kitchen。
Pigling ate the peel； and washed
up the porridge plates in the bucket。
He sang while he worked
〃Tom with his pipe made such a noise；
He called up all the girls and boys
〃And they all ran to hear him play
〃 'Over the hills and far away！' 〃
Suddenly a little smothered voice
chimed in
〃Over the hills and a great way off；
The wind shall blow my top knot off！〃
Pigling Bland put down a plate
which he was wiping； and listened。
After a long pause； Pigling went
on tip…toe and peeped round the
door into the front kitchen。 There
was nobody there。
After another pause； Pigling
approached the door of the locked
cupboard； and snuffed at the key…
hole。 It was quite quiet。
After another long pause； Pigling
pushed a peppermint under the door。
It was sucked in immediately。
In the course of the day Pigling
pushed in all the remaining six
peppermints。
When Mr。 Piperson returned； he
found Pigling sitting before the
fire； he had brushed up the hearth
and put on the pot to boil； the meal
was not get…at…able。
Mr。 Piperson was very affable；
he slapped Pigling on the back；
made lots of porridge and forgot
to lock the meal chest。 He did
lock the cupboard door； but without
properly shutting it。 He went
to bed early； and told Pigling upon
no account to disturb him next day
before twelve o'clock。
Pigling Bland sat by the fire；
eating his supper。
All at once at his elbow； a little
voice spoke〃My name is Pig…
wig。 Make me more porridge；
please！〃 Pigling Bland jumped；
and looked round。
A perfectly lovely little black
Berkshire pig stood smiling beside
him。 She had twinkly little
screwed up eyes； a double chin；
and a short turned up nose。
She pointed at Pigling's plate；
he hastily gave it to her； and
fled to the meal chest。 〃How did
you come here？〃 asked Pigling
Bland。
〃Stolen；〃 replied Pig…wig； with
her mouth full。 Pigling helped
himself to meal without scruple。
〃What for？〃 〃Bacon； hams；〃
replied Pig…wig cheerfully。 〃Why
on earth don't you run away？〃
exclaimed the horrified Pigling。
〃I shall after supper；〃 said Pig…
wig decidedly。
Pigling Bland made more porridge
and watched her shyly。
She finished a second plate； got
up； and looked about her； as though
she were going to start。
〃You can't go in the dark；〃 said
Pigling Bland。
Pig…wig looked anxious。
〃Do you know your way by
daylight？〃
〃I know we can see this little
white house from the hills across
the river。 Which way are YOU
going； Mr。 Pig？〃
〃To marketI have two pig
papers。 I might take you to the
bridge； if you have no objection；〃
said Pigling much confused and
