the golden road-第13节

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We　all　stopped　and　huddled　together　in　a　miserable　group。　　Fear　filled　our　hearts。　　It　seemed　ages　ago　that　we　had　been　snug　and　safe　and　warm　at　Cousin　Mattie's。　　Cecily　began　to　cry　with　cold。　　Dan；　in　spite　of　her　protests；　dragged　off　his　overcoat　and　made　her　put　it　on。

〃We　can't　stay　here；〃　he　said。　　〃We'll　all　freeze　to　death　if　we　do。　　Come　onwe've　got　to　keep　moving。　　The　snow　ain't　so　deep　yet。　　Take　hold　of　my　hand；　Cecily。　　We　must　all　hold　together。　　Come；　now。〃

〃It　won't　be　nice　to　be　frozen　to　death；　but　if　we　get　through　alive　think　what　a　story　we'll　have　to　tell；〃　said　the　Story　Girl　between　her　chattering　teeth。

In　my　heart　I　did　not　believe　we　would　ever　get　through　alive。　　It　was　almost　pitch　dark　now；　and　the　snow　grew　deeper　every　moment。　　We　were　chilled　to　the　heart。　　I　thought　how　nice　it　would　be　to　lie　down　and　rest；　but　I　remembered　hearing　that　that　was　fatal；　and　I　endeavoured　to　stumble　on　with　the　others。　　It　was　wonderful　how　the　girls　kept　up；　even　Cecily。　　It　occurred　to　me　to　be　thankful　that　Sara　Ray　was　not　with　us。

But　we　were　wholly　lost　now。　　All　around　us　was　a　horror　of　great　darkness。　　Suddenly　Felicity　fell。　　We　dragged　her　up；　but　she　declared　she　could　not　go　onshe　was　done　out。

〃Have　you　any　idea　where　we　are？〃　shouted　Dan　to　Peter。

〃No；〃　Peter　shouted　back；　〃the　wind　is　blowing　every　which　way。　　I　haven't　any　idea　where　home　is。〃

Home！　　Would　we　ever　see　it　again？　　We　tried　to　urge　Felicity　on；　but　she　only　repeated　drowsily　that　she　must　lie　down　and　rest。　　Cecily；　too；　was　reeling　against　me。　　The　Story　Girl　still　stood　up　staunchly　and　counselled　struggling　on；　but　she　was　numb　with　cold　and　her　words　were　hardly　distinguishable。　　Some　wild　idea　was　in　my　mind　that　we　must　dig　a　hole　in　the　snow　and　all　creep　into　it。　　I　had　read　somewhere　that　people　had　thus　saved　their　lives　in　snowstorms。　　Suddenly　Felix　gave　a　shout。

〃I　see　a　light；〃　he　cried。

〃Where？　　Where？〃　　We　all　looked　but　could　see　nothing。

〃I　don't　see　it　now　but　I　saw　it　a　moment　ago；〃　shouted　Felix。　　〃I'm　sure　I　did。　　Come　onover　in　this　direction。〃

Inspired　with　fresh　hope　we　hurried　after　him。　　Soon　we　all　saw　the　lightand　never　shone　a　fairer　beacon。　　A　few　more　steps　and；　coming　into　the　shelter　of　the　woodland　on　the　further　side；　we　realized　where　we　were。

〃That's　Peg　Bowen's　house；〃　exclaimed　Peter；　stopping　short　in　dismay。

〃I　don't　care　whose　house　it　is；〃　declared　Dan。　　〃We've　got　to　go　to　it。〃

〃I　s'pose　so；〃　acquiesced　Peter　ruefully。　　〃We　can't　freeze　to　death　even　if　she　is　a　witch。〃

〃For　goodness'　sake　don't　say　anything　about　witches　so　close　to　her　house；〃　gasped　Felicity。　　〃I'll　be　thankful　to　get　in　anywhere。〃

We　reached　the　house；　climbed　the　flight　of　steps　that　led　to　that　mysterious　second　story　door；　and　Dan　rapped。　　The　door　opened　promptly　and　Peg　Bowen　stood　before　us；　in　what　seemed　exactly　the　same　costume　she　had　worn　on　the　memorable　day　when　we　had　come；　bearing　gifts；　to　propitiate　her　in　the　matter　of　Paddy。

〃Behind　her　was　a　dim　room　scantly　illumined　by　the　one　small　candle　that　had　guided　us　through　the　storm；　but　the　old　Waterloo　stove　was　colouring　the　gloom　with　tremulous；　rose…red　whorls　of　light；　and　warm　and　cosy　indeed　seemed　Peg's　retreat　to　us　snow…　covered；　frost…chilled；　benighted　wanderers。

〃Gracious　goodness；　where　did　yez　all　come　from？〃　exclaimed　Peg。　　〃Did　they　turn　yez　out？〃

〃We've　been　over　to　Baywater；　and　we　got　lost　in　the　storm　coming　back；〃　explained　Dan。　　〃We　didn't　know　where　we　were　till　we　saw　your　light。　　I　guess　we'll　have　to　stay　here　till　the　storm　is　overif　you　don't　mind。〃

〃And　if　it　won't　inconvenience　you；〃　said　Cecily　timidly。

〃Oh；　it's　no　inconvenience　to　speak　of。　　Come　in。　　Well；　yez　HAVE　got　some　snow　on　yez。　　Let　me　get　a　broom。　　You　boys　stomp　your　feet　well　and　shake　your　coats。　　You　girls　give　me　your　things　and　I'll　hang　them　up。　　Guess　yez　are　most　froze。　　Well；　sit　up　to　the　stove　and　git　het　up。〃

Peg　bustled　away　to　gather　up　a　dubious　assortment　of　chairs；　with　backs　and　rungs　missing；　and　in　a　few　minutes　we　were　in　a　circle　around　her　roaring　stove；　getting　dried　and　thawed　out。　　In　our　wildest　flights　of　fancy　we　had　never　pictured　ourselves　as　guests　at　the　witch's　hearth…stone。　　Yet　here　we　were；　and　the　witch　herself　was　actually　brewing　a　jorum　of　ginger　tea　for　Cecily；　who　continued　to　shiver　long　after　the　rest　of　us　were　roasted　to　the　marrow。　　Poor　Sis　drank　that　scalding　draught；　being　in　too　great　awe　of　Peg　to　do　aught　else。

〃That'll　soon　fix　your　shivers；〃　said　our　hostess　kindly。　　〃And　now　I'll　get　yez　all　some　tea。〃

〃Oh；　please　don't　trouble；〃　said　the　Story　Girl　hastily。

〃'Tain't　any　trouble；〃　said　Peg　briskly；　then；　with　one　of　the　sudden　changes　to　fierceness　which　made　her　such　a　terrifying　personage；　〃Do　yez　think　my　vittels　ain't　clean？〃

〃Oh；　no；　no；〃　cried　Felicity　quickly；　before　the　Story　Girl　could　speak；　〃none　of　us　would　ever　think　THAT。　　Sara　only　meant　she　didn't　want　you　to　go　to　any　bother　on　our　account。〃

〃It　ain't　any　bother；〃　said　Peg；　mollified。　　〃I'm　spry　as　a　cricket　this　winter；　though　I　have　the　realagy　sometimes。　　Many　a　good　bite　I've　had　in　your　ma's　kitchen。　　I　owe　yez　a　meal。〃

No　more　protests　were　made。　　We　sat　in　awed　silence；　gazing　with　timid　curiosity　about　the　room；　the　stained；　plastered　walls　of　which　were　well…nigh　covered　with　a　motley　assortment　of　pictures；　chromos；　and　advertisements；　pasted　on　without　much　regard　for　order　or　character。

We　had　heard　much　of　Peg's　pets　and　now　we　saw　them。　　Six　cats　occupied　various　cosy　corners；　one　of　them；　the　black　goblin　which　had　so　terrified　us　in　the　summer；　blinked　satirically　at　us　from　the　centre　of　Peg's　bed。　　Another；　a　dilapidated；　striped　beastie；　with　both　ears　and　one　eye　gone；　glared　at　us　from　the　sofa　in　the　corner。　　A　dog；　with　only　three　legs；　lay　behind　the　stove；　a　crow　sat　on　a　roost　above　our　heads；　in　company　with　a　matronly　old　hen；　and　on　the　clock　shelf　were　a　stuffed　monkey　and　a　grinning　skull。　　We　had　heard　that　a　sailor　had　given　Peg　the　monkey。　　But　where　had　she　got　the　skull？　　And　whose　was　it？　　I　could　not　help　puzzling　over　these　gruesome　questions。

Presently　tea　was　ready　and　we　gathered　around　the　festal　boarda　board　literally　as　well　as　figuratively；　for　Peg's　table　was　the　work　of　her　own　unskilled　hands。　　The　less　said　about　the　viands　of　that　meal；　and　the　dishes　they　were　served　in；　the　better。　　But　we　ate　thembless　you；　yes！as　we　would　have　eaten　any　witch's　banquet　set　before　us。　　Peg　might　or　might　not　be　a　witchcommon　sense　said　not；　but　we　knew　she　was　quite　capable　of　turning　every　one　of　us　out　of　doors　in　one　of　her　sudden　fierce　fits　if　we　offended　her；　and　we　had　no　mind　to　trust　ourselves　again　to　that　wild　forest　where　we　had　fought　a　losing　fight　with　the　demon　forces　of　night　and　storm。

But　it　was　not　an　agreeable　meal　in　more　ways　than　one。　　Peg　was　not　at　all　careful　of　anybody's　feelings。　　She　hurt　Felix's　cruelly　as　she　passed　him　his　cup　of　tea。

〃You've　gone　too　much　to　flesh；　boy。　　So　the　magic　seed　didn't　work；　hey？〃

How　in　the　world　had　Peg　found　out　about　that　magic　seed？　　Felix　looked　uncommonly　foolish。

〃If　you'd　come　to　me　in　the　first　place　I'd　soon　have　told　you　how　to　get　thin；〃　said　Peg；　nodding　wisely。

〃Won't　you　tell　me　now？〃　asked　Felix　eagerly；　his　desire　to　melt　his　too　solid　flesh　overcoming　his　dread　and　shame。

〃No；　I　don't　like　being　second　fiddle；〃　answered　Peg　with　a　crafty　smile。　　〃Sara；　you're　too　scrawny　and　palenot　much　like　your　ma。　　I　knew　her　well。　　She　was　counted　a　beauty；　but　she　made　no　great　things　of　a　match。　　Your　father　had　some　money　but　he　was　a　tramp　like　meself。　　Where　is　he　now？〃

〃In　Rome；〃　said　the　Story　Girl　rather　shortly。

〃People　thought　your　ma　was　crazy　when　she　took　him。　　But　she'd　a　right　to　please　herself。　　Folks　is　too　ready　to　call　other　folks　crazy。　　There's　people　who　say　I'M　not　in　my　right　mind。　　Did　yez　ever〃Peg　fixed　Felicity　with　a　piercing　glance〃hear　anything　so　ridiculous？〃

〃Never；〃　said　Felicity；　white　to　the　lips。

〃I　wish　everybody　was　as　sane　as　I　am；〃　said　Peg　scornfully。　　Then　she　looked　poor　Felicity　over　critically。　　〃You're　good…looking　but　proud。　　And　your　complexion　won't　wear。　　It'll　be　like　your　ma's　yettoo　much　red　in　it。〃

〃Well；　that's　better　than　being　the　colour　of　mud；〃　muttered　Peter；　who　wasn't　going　to　hear　his　lady　traduced；　even　by　a　witch。　　All　the　thanks　he　got　was　a　furious　look　from　Felicity；　but　Peg　had　not　heard　him　and　now　she　turned　her　attention　to　Cecily。

〃You　look　delicate。　　I　daresay　you'll　never　live　to　grow　up。〃

Cecily's　lip　trembled　and　Dan's　face　turned　crimson。

〃Shut　up；〃　he　said　to　Peg。　　〃You've　no　business　to　say　such　things　to　people。〃

I　think　my　jaw　dropped。　　I　know　Peter's　and　Felix's　did。　　Felicity　broke　in　wildly。

〃Oh；　don't　mind　him；　Miss　Bowen。　　He's　got　SUCH　a　temperthat's　just　the　way　he　talks　to　us　all　at　home。　　PLEASE　excuse　him。〃

〃Bless　you；　I　don't　mind　him；〃　said　Peg；　from　whom　the　unexpected　seemed　to　be　the　thing　to　expect。　　〃I　like　a　lad　of　spurrit。　　And　so　your　father　run　away；　did　he；　Peter？　　He　used　to　be　a　beau　of　minehe