the great big treasury of beatrix potter-第5节

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And　then　Lucie　asked　Cock　Robin　sitting　on　a　twig。　Cock　Robin　looked　sideways　at　Lucie　with　his　bright　black　eye；　and　he　flew　over　a　stile　and　away。

Lucie　climbed　upon　the　stile　and　looked　up　at　the　hill　behind　Little…　towna　hill　that　goes　upupinto　the　clouds　as　though　it　had　no　top！

And　a　great　way　up　the　hillside　she　thought　she　saw　some　white　things　spread　upon　the　grass。


Lucie　scrambled　up　the　hill　as　fast　as　her　short　legs　would　carry　her；　she　ran　along　a　steep　path…wayup　and　upuntil　Little…town　was　right　away　down　belowshe　could　have　dropped　a　pebble　down　the　chimney！

Presently　she　came　to　a　spring；　bubbling　out　from　the　hillside。

Some　one　had　stood　a　tin　can　upon　a　stone　to　catch　the　waterbut　the　water　was　already　running　over；　for　the　can　was　no　bigger　than　an　egg…　cup！　And　where　the　sand　upon　the　path　was　wetthere　were　footmarks　of　a　VERY　small　person。

Lucie　ran　on；　and　on。

The　path　ended　under　a　big　rock。　The　grass　was　short　and　green；　and　there　were　clothes…props　cut　from　bracken　stems；　with　lines　of　plaited　rushes；　and　a　heap　of　tiny　clothes　pinsbut　no　pocket…handkerchiefs！

But　there　was　something　elsea　door！　straight　into　the　hill；　and　inside　it　some　one　was　singing

　　　　　〃Lily…white　and　clean；　oh！　　　　　　With　little　frills　between；　oh！　　　　　　Smooth　and　hot…red　rusty　spot　　　　　　Never　here　be　seen；　oh！〃



Lucie　knocked…once…twice；　and　interrupted　the　song。　A　little　frightened　voice　called　out　〃Who's　that？〃

Lucie　opened　the　door：　and　what　do　you　think　there　was　inside　the　hill？a　nice　clean　kitchen　with　a　flagged　floor　and　wooden　beams　just　like　any　other　farm　kitchen。　Only　the　ceiling　was　so　low　that　Lucie's　head　nearly　touched　it；　and　the　pots　and　pans　were　small；　and　so　was　everything　there。

There　was　a　nice　hot　singey　smell；　and　at　the　table；　with　an　iron　in　her　hand；　stood　a　very　stout　short　person　staring　anxiously　at　Lucie。

Her　print　gown　was　tucked　up；　and　she　was　wearing　a　large　apron　over　her　striped　petticoat。　Her　little　black　nose　went　sniffle；　sniffle；　snuffle；　and　her　eyes　went　twinkle；　twinkle；　and　underneath　her　cap…where　Lucie　had　yellow　curls…that　little　person　had　PRICKLES！

〃Who　are　you？〃　said　Lucie。　〃Have　you　seen　my　pocket…handkins？〃


The　little　person　made　a　bob…　curtsey〃Oh　yes；　if　you　please'm；　my　name　is　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle；　oh　yes　if　you　please'm；　I'm　an　excellent　clear…　starcher！〃　And　she　took　something　out　of　the　clothesbasket；　and　spread　it　on　the　ironing…blanket。

〃What's　that　thing？〃　said　Lucie…　〃that's　not　my　pocket…handkin？〃

〃Oh　no；　if　you　please'm；　that's　a　little　scarlet　waist…coat　belonging　to　Cock　Robin！〃

And　she　ironed　it　and　folded　it；　and　put　it　on　one　side。

Then　she　took　something　else　off　a　clothes…horse〃That　isn't　my　pinny？〃　said　Lucie。

〃Oh　no；　if　you　please'm；　that's　a　damask　table…cloth　belonging　to　Jenny　Wren；　look　how　it's　stained　with　currant　wine！　It's　very　bad　to　wash！〃　said　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle。

Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle's　nose　went　sniffle　sniffle　snuffle；　and　her　eyes　went　twinkle　twinkle；　and　she　fetched　another　hot　iron　from　the　fire。


〃There's　one　of　my　pocket…　handkins！〃　cried　Lucie〃and　there's　my　pinny！〃

Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle　ironed　it；　and　goffered　it；　and　shook　out　the　frills。

〃Oh　that　IS　lovely！〃　said　Lucie。

〃And　what　are　those　long　yellow　things　with　fingers　like　gloves？〃

〃Oh　that's　a　pair　of　stockings　belonging　to　Sally　Henny…pennylook　how　she's　worn　the　heels　out　with　scratching　in　the　yard！　She'll　very　soon　go　barefoot！〃　said　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle。

〃Why；　there's　another　hankersniff　but　it　isn't　mine；　it's　red？〃

〃Oh　no；　if　you　please'm；　that　one　belongs　to　old　Mrs。　Rabbit；　and　it　DID　so　smell　of　onions！　I've　had　to　wash　it　separately；　I　can't　get　out　that　smell。〃

〃There's　another　one　of　mine；〃　said　Lucie。


〃What　are　those　funny　little　white　things？〃

〃That's　a　pair　of　mittens　belonging　to　Tabby　Kitten；　I　only　have　to　iron　them；　she　washes　them　herself。〃

〃There's　my　last　pocket…handkin！〃　said　Lucie。

〃And　what　are　you　dipping　into　the　basin　of　starch？〃

〃They're　little　dicky　shirt…fronts　belonging　to　Tom　Titmousemost　terrible　particular！〃　said　Mrs。　Tiggy…　winkle。　〃Now　I've　finished　my　ironing；　I'm　going　to　air　some　clothes。〃

〃What　are　these　dear　soft　fluffy　things？〃　said　Lucie。

〃Oh　those　are　woolly　coats　belonging　to　the　little　lambs　at　Skelghyl。〃

〃Will　their　jackets　take　off？〃　asked　Lucie。

〃Oh　yes；　if　you　please'm；　look　at　the　sheep…mark　on　the　shoulder。　And　here's　one　marked　for　Gatesgarth；　and　three　that　come　from　Little…town。　They're　ALWAYS　marked　at　washing！〃　said　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle。


And　she　hung　up　all　sorts　and　sizes　of　clothessmall　brown　coats　of　mice；　and　one　velvety　black　moleskin　waist…coat；　and　a　red　tail…coat　with　no　tail　belonging　to　Squirrel　Nutkin；　and　a　very　much　shrunk　blue　jacket　belonging　to　Peter　Rabbit；　and　a　petticoat；　not　marked；　that　had　gone　lost　in　the　washingand　at　last　the　basket　was　empty！

Then　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle　made　teaa　cup　for　herself　and　a　cup　for　Lucie。　They　sat　before　the　fire　on　a　bench　and　looked　sideways　at　one　another。　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle's　hand；　holding　the　tea…cup；　was　very　very　brown；　and　very　very　wrinkly　with　the　soap…suds；　and　all　through　her　gown　and　her　cap；　there　were　HAIRPINS　sticking　wrong　end　out；　so　that　Lucie　didn't　like　to　sit　too　near　her。

When　they　had　finished　tea；　they　tied　up　the　clothes　in　bundles；　and　Lucie's　pocket…handkerchiefs　were　folded　up　inside　her　clean　pinny；　and　fastened　with　a　silver　safety…pin。


And　then　they　made　up　the　fire　with　turf；　and　came　out　and　locked　the　door；　and　hid　the　key　under　the　door…sill。

Then　away　down　the　hill　trotted　Lucie　and　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle　with　the　bundles　of　clothes！

All　the　way　down　the　path　little　animals　came　out　of　the　fern　to　meet　them；　the　very　first　that　they　met　were　Peter　Rabbit　and　Benjamin　Bunny！

And　she　gave　them　their　nice　clean　clothes；　and　all　the　little　animals　and　birds　were　so　very　much　obliged　to　dear　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle。

So　that　at　the　bottom　of　the　hill　when　they　came　to　the　stile；　there　was　nothing　left　to　carry　except　Lucie's　one　little　bundle。


Lucie　scrambled　up　the　stile　with　the　bundle　in　her　hand；　and　then　she　turned　to　say　〃Good…night；〃　and　to　thank　the　washer…woman。But　what　a　VERY　odd　thing！　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle　had　not　waited　either　for　thanks　or　for　the　washing　bill！

She　was　running　running　running　up　the　hilland　where　was　her　white　frilled　cap？　and　her　shawl？　and　her　gown…and　her　petticoat？

And　HOW　small　she　had　grown　and　HOW　brownand　covered　with　PRICKLES！

Why！　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle　was　nothing　but　a　HEDGEHOG！　　*　*　*　*　*　*

（Now　some　people　say　that　little　Lucie　had　been　asleep　upon　the　stilebut　then　how　could　she　have　found　three　clean　pocket…handkins　and　a　pinny；　pinned　with　a　silver　safety…pin？

And　besidesI　have　seen　that　door　into　the　back　of　the　hill　called　Cat　Bellsand　besides　_I_　am　very　well　acquainted　with　dear　Mrs。　Tiggy…winkle！）




THE　PIE　AND　THE　PATTY…PAN




　　　　　Pussy…cat　sits　by　the　firehow　should　she　be　fair？　　　　　　In　walks　the　little　dogsays　〃Pussy　are　you　there？　　　　　　How　do　you　do　Mistress　Pussy？　Mistress　Pussy；　how　　　　　　　　　　　do　you　do？〃　　　　　　〃I　thank　you　kindly；　little　dog；　I　fare　as　well　as　you！〃　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　_Old　Rhyme＇



Once　upon　a　time　there　was　a　Pussy…cat　called　Ribby；　who　invited　a　little　dog　called　Duchess　to　tea。

〃Come　in　good　time；　my　dear　Duchess；〃　said　Ribby's　letter；　〃and　we　will　have　something　so　very　nice。　I　am　baking　it　in　a　pie…disha　pie…dish　with　a　pink　rim。　You　never　tasted　anything　so　good！　And　YOU　shall　eat　it　all！　_I_　will　eat　muffins；　my　dear　Duchess！〃　wrote　Ribby。

〃I　will　come　very　punctually；　my　dear　Ribby；〃　wrote　Duchess；　and　then　at　the　end　she　added〃I　hope　it　isn't　mouse？〃

And　then　she　thought　that　did　not　look　quite　polite；　so　she　scratched　out　〃isn't　mouse〃　and　changed　it　to　〃I　hope　it　will　be　fine；〃　and　she　gave　her　letter　to　the　postman。

But　she　thought　a　great　deal　about　Ribby's　pie；　and　she　read　Ribby's　letter　over　and　over　again。


〃I　am　dreadfully　afraid　it　WILL　be　mouse！〃　said　Duchess　to　herself〃I　really　couldn't；　COULDN'T　eat　mouse　pie。　And　I　shall　have　to　eat　it；　because　it　is　a　party。　And　MY　pie　was　going　to　be　veal　and　ham。　A　pink　and　white　pie…dish！　and　so　is　mine；　just　like　Ribby's　dishes；　they　were　both　bought　at　Tabitha　Twitchit's。〃

Duchess　went　into　her　larder　and　took　the　pie　off　a　shelf　and　looked　at　it。

〃Oh　what　a　good　idea！　Why　shouldn't　I　rush　along　and　put　my　pie　into　Ribby's　oven　when　Ribby　isn't　there？〃

Ribby　in　the　meantime　had　received　Duchess's　answer；　and　as　soon　as　she　was　sure　that　the　little　dog　would　comeshe　popped　HER　pie　into　the　oven。　There　were　two　ovens；　one　above　the　other；　some　other　knobs　and　handles　were　only　ornamental　and　not　intended　to　open。　Ribby　put　the　pie　into　the　lower　oven；　the　door　was　very　stiff。

〃The　top　oven　bakes　too　quickly；〃　said　Ribby　to　herself。


Ribby　put　on　some　coal　and　swept　up　the　hearth。　Then　she　went　out　with　a　can　to　the　well；　for　water　to　fill　up　the　kettle。

Then　she　began　to　set　the　room　in　order；　for　it　was　the　sitting…room　as　well　as　the　kitchen。

When　Ribby　had　laid　the　table　she　went　out　down　the　field　to　the　far