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第20节

dream days-第20节

小说: dream days 字数: 每页4000字

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rather too highly coloured; perhaps; not always quite convincing;

but forming in the main a most serious roll of crime。  History

teaches us that the greatest rascals often possess all the

domestic virtues; and I fear that your cultivated friend; in

spite of the qualities which have won (and rightly) your regard;

has got to be speedily exterminated。〃



〃Oh; you've been taking in all the yarns those fellows have been

telling you;〃 said the Boy impatiently。  〃Why; our villagers

are the biggest story…tellers in all the country round。  It's a

known fact。  You're a stranger in these parts; or else you'd have

heard it already。  All they want is a FIGHT。  They're the most

awful beggars for getting up fightsit's meat and drink to them。



Dogs; bulls; dragonsanything so long as it's a fight。  Why;

they've got a poor innocent badger in the stable behind here; at

this moment。  They were going to have some fun with him to…day;

but they're saving him up now till YOUR little affair's over。 

And I've no doubt they've been telling you what a hero you were;

and how you were bound to win; in the cause of right and justice;

and so on; but let me tell you; I came down the street just now;

and they were betting six to four on the dragon freely!〃



〃Six to four on the dragon!〃 murmured St。 George sadly; resting

his cheek on his hand。  〃This is an evil world; and

sometimes I begin to think that all the wickedness in it is not

entirely bottled up inside the dragons。  And yetmay not this

wily beast have misled you as to his real character; in order

that your good report of him may serve as a cloak for his evil

deeds?  Nay; may there not be; at this very moment; some hapless

Princess immured within yonder gloomy cavern?〃



The moment he had spoken; St。 George was sorry for what he had

said; the Boy looked so genuinely distressed。



〃I assure you; St。 George;〃 he said earnestly; 〃there's nothing

of the sort in the cave at all。  The dragon's a real gentleman;

every inch of him; and I may say that no one would be more

shocked and grieved than he would; at hearing you talk in that

that LOOSE way about matters on which he has very strong

views!〃



〃Well; perhaps I've been over…credulous;〃 said St。 George。 

〃Perhaps I've misjudged the animal。  But what are we to do?  Here

are the dragon and I; almost face to face; each supposed to be

thirsting for each other's blood。  I don't see any way out of it;

exactly。  What do you suggest?  Can't you arrange things;

somehow?〃



〃That's just what the dragon said;〃 replied the Boy; rather

nettled。  〃Really; the way you two seem to leave everything to

meI suppose you couldn't be persuaded to go away quietly; could

you?〃



〃Impossible; I fear;〃 said the Saint。  〃Quite against the rules。 

YOU know that as well as I do。〃



〃Well; then; look here;〃 said the Boy; 〃it's early yetwould you

mind strolling up with me and seeing the dragon and talking it

over?  It's not far; and any friend of mine will be most

welcome。〃



〃Well; it's IRREGULAR;〃 said St。 George; rising; 〃but

really it seems about the most sensible thing to do。  You're

taking a lot of trouble on your friend's account;〃 he added;

good…naturedly; as they passed out through the door together。 

〃But cheer up!  Perhaps there won't have to be any fight after

all。〃



〃Oh; but _I_ hope there will; though!〃 replied the little

fellow; wistfully。





〃I've brought a friend to see you; dragon;〃 said the Boy; rather

loud。



The dragon woke up with a start。  〃I was justerthinking about

things;〃 he said in his simple way。  〃Very pleased to make your

acquaintance; sir。  Charming weather we're having!〃



〃This is St George;〃 said the Boy; shortly。  〃St。 George; let me

introduce you to the dragon。  We've come up to talk things over

quietly; dragon; and now for goodness' sake do let us have a

little straight common…sense; and come to some practical

business…like arrangement; for I'm sick of views and theories of

life and personal tendencies; and all that sort of thing。  I may

perhaps add that my mother's sitting up。〃



〃So glad to meet you; St。 George;〃 began the dragon rather

nervously; 〃because you've been a great traveller; I hear; and

I've always been rather a stay…at…home。  But I can show you many

antiquities; many interesting features of our country…side; if

you're stopping here any time〃



〃I think;〃 said St。 George; in his frank; pleasant way; 〃that

we'd really better take the advice of our young friend here; and

try to come to some understanding; on a business footing; about

this little affair of ours。  Now don't you think that after all

the simplest plan would be just to fight it out; according to the

rules; and let the best man win?  They're betting on you; I

may tell you; down in the village; but I don't mind that!〃



〃Oh; yes; DO; dragon;〃 said the Boy; delightedly; 〃it'll save

such a lot of bother!〃



〃My young friend; you shut up;〃 said the dragon severely。 

〃Believe me; St。 George;〃 he went on; 〃there's nobody in the

world I'd sooner oblige than you and this young gentleman here。 

But the whole thing's nonsense; and conventionality; and popular

thick…headedness。  There's absolutely nothing to fight about;

from beginning to end。  And anyhow I'm not going to; so that

settles it!〃



〃But supposing I make you?〃 said St。 George; rather nettled。



〃You can't;〃 said the dragon; triumphantly。  〃I should only go

into my cave and retire for a time down the hole I came up。 

You'd soon get heartily sick of sitting outside and waiting

for me to come out and fight you。  And as soon as you'd really

gone away; why; I'd come up again gaily; for I tell you frankly;

I like this place; and I'm going to stay here!〃



St。 George gazed for a while on the fair landscape around them。 

〃But this would be a beautiful place for a fight;〃 he began again

persuasively。  〃These great bare rolling Downs for the arena;

and me in my golden armour showing up against your big blue scaly

coils!  Think what a picture it would make!〃



〃Now you're trying to get at me through my artistic

sensibilities;〃 said the dragon。  〃But it won't work。  Not but

what it would make a very pretty picture; as you say;〃 he added;

wavering a little。



〃We seem to be getting rather nearer to BUSINESS;〃 put in the

Boy。  〃You must see; dragon; that there's got to be a fight

of some sort; 'cos you can't want to have to go down that dirty

old hole again and stop there till goodness knows when。〃



〃It might be arranged;〃 said St。 George; thoughtfully。  〃I

MUST spear you somewhere; of course; but I'm not bound to hurt

you very much。  There's such a lot of you that there must be a

few SPARE places somewhere。  Here; for instance; just behind

your foreleg。  It couldn't hurt you much; just here!〃



〃Now you're tickling; George;〃 said the dragon; coyly。  〃No; that

place won't do at all。  Even if it didn't hurt;and I'm sure it

would; awfully;it would make me laugh; and that would spoil

everything。〃



〃Let's try somewhere else; then;〃 said St。 George; patiently。 

〃Under your neck; for instance;all these folds of thick skin;

if I speared you here you'd never even know I'd done it!〃



〃Yes; but are you sure you can hit off the right place?〃

asked the dragon; anxiously。



〃Of course I am;〃 said St。 George; with confidence。  〃You leave

that to me!〃



〃It's just because I've GOT to leave it to you that I'm

asking;〃 replied the dragon; rather testily。  〃No doubt you would

deeply regret any error you might make in the hurry of the

moment; but you wouldn't regret it half as much as I should! 

However; I suppose we've got to trust somebody; as we go through

life; and your plan seems; on the whole; as good a one as any。〃



〃Look here; dragon;〃 interrupted the Boy; a little jealous on

behalf of his friend; who seemed to be getting all the worst of

the bargain: 〃I don't quite see where YOU come in!  There's to

be a fight; apparently; and you're to be licked; and what I want

to know is; what are YOU going to get out of it?〃



〃St。 George;〃 said the dragon; 〃Just tell him; please;what will

happen after I'm vanquished in the deadly combat?〃



〃Well; according to the rules I suppose I shall lead you in

triumph down to the market…place or whatever answers to it;〃 said

St。 George。



〃Precisely;〃 said the dragon。  〃And then〃



〃And then there'll be shoutings and speeches and things;〃

continued St。 George。  〃And I shall explain that you're

converted; and see the error of your ways; and so on。〃



〃Quite so;〃 said the dragon。  〃And then?〃



〃Oh; and then〃 said St。 George; 〃why; and then there will be

the usual banquet; I suppose。〃



〃Exactly;〃 said the dragon; 〃and that's where _I_ come in。  Look

here;〃 he continued; addressing the Boy; 〃I'm bored to death

up here; and no one really appreciates me。  I'm going into

Society; I am; through the k

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