voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第6节
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running in front and Polynesia still perched on the Doctor's shoulder。 The
bird chattered incessantly； mostly about Africa； but now she spoke in
English； out of politeness to me。
〃How is Prince Bumpo getting on？〃 asked the Doctor。
〃Oh； I'm glad you asked me；〃 said Polynesia。 〃I almost forgot to tell
you。 What do you think？BUMPO IS IN ENGLAND！〃
〃In England！You don't say！〃 cried the Doctor。 〃What on earth is he
doing here？〃
〃His father； the king； sent him here to a place callederBullford； I
think it wasto study lessons。〃
〃Bullford！Bullford！〃 muttered the Doctor。 〃I never heard of the
placeOh； you mean Oxford。〃
〃Yes； that's the placeOxford；〃 said Polynesia 〃I knew it had cattle in
it somewhere。 Oxfordthat's the place he's gone to。〃
〃Well； well；〃 murmured the Doctor。 〃Fancy Bumpo studying at
OxfordWell； well！〃
〃There were great doings in Jolliginki when he left。 He was scared to
death to come。 He was the first man from that country to go abroad。 He
thought he was going to be eaten by white cannibals or something。 You
know what those niggers arethat ignorant！ Well！But his father made
him come。 He said that all the black kings were sending their sons to
Oxford now。 It was the fashion； and he would have to go。 Bumpo wanted
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to bring his six wives with him。 But the king wouldn't let him do that
either。 Poor Bumpo went off in tearsand everybody in the palace was
crying too。 You never heard such a hullabaloo。〃
〃Do you know if he ever went back in search of The Sleeping
Beauty？〃 asked the Doctor。
〃Oh yes；〃 said Polynesia〃the day after you left。 And a good thing for
him he did： the king got to know about his helping you to escape； and he
was dreadfully wild about it。〃
〃And The Sleeping Beauty？did he ever find her？〃
〃Well； he brought back something which he SAID was The Sleeping
Beauty。 Myself； I think it was an albino niggeress。 She had red hair and
the biggest feet you ever saw。 But Bumpo was no end pleased with her and
finally married her amid great rejoicings。 The feastings lasted seven days。
She became his chief wife and is now known out there as the Crown…
Princess BumPAHyou accent the last syllable。〃
〃And tell me； did he remain white？〃
〃Only for about three months；〃 said the parrot。 〃After that his face
slowly returned to its natural color。 It was just as well。 He was so
conspicuous in his bathing…suit the way he was； with his face white and
the rest of him black。〃
〃And how is Chee…Chee getting on？Chee…Chee；〃 added the Doctor in
explanation to me； 〃was a pet monkey I had years ago。 I left him too in
Africa when I came away。〃
〃Well；〃 said Polynesia frowning；〃Chee…Chee is not entirely happy。 I
saw a good deal of him the last few years。 He got dreadfully homesick for
you and the house and the garden。 It's funny； but I was just the same way
myself。 You remember how crazy I was to get back to the dear old land？
And Africa IS a wonderful countryI don't care what anybody says。 Well；
I thought I was going to have a perfectly grand time。 But somehowI
don't knowafter a few weeks it seemed to get tiresome。 I just couldn't
seem to settle down。 Well； to make a long story short； one night I made up
my mind that I'd come back here and find you。 So I hunted up old Chee…
Chee and told him about it。 He said he didn't blame me a bitfelt exactly
the same way himself。 Africa was so deadly quiet after the life we had led
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with you。 He missed the stories you used to tell us out of your animal
books and the chats we used to have sitting round the kitchen…fire on
winter nights。 The； animals out there were very nice to us and all that。 But
somehow the dear kind creatures seemed a bit stupid。 Chee…Chee said he
had noticed it too。 But I suppose it wasn't they who had changed； it was
we who were different。 When I left； poor old Chee…Chee broke down and
cried。 He said he felt as though his only friend were leaving him though；
as you know； he has simply millions of relatives there。 He said it didn't
seem fair that I should have wings to fly over here any time I liked； and
him with no way to follow me。 But mark my words； I wouldn't be a bit
surprised if he found a way to comesome day。 He's a smart lad； is Chee…
Chee。〃
At this point we arrived at my home。 My father's shop was closed and
the shutters were up； but my mother was standing at the door looking
down the street。
〃Good evening； Mrs。 Stubbins；〃 said the Doctor。 〃It is my fault your
son is so late。 I made him stay to supper while his clothes were drying。 He
was soaked to the skin； and so was I。 We ran into one another in the storm
and I insisted on his coming into my house for shelter。〃
〃I was beginning to get worried about him；〃 said my mother。 〃I am
thankful to you； Sir； for looking after him so well and bringing him home。〃
〃Don't mention itdon't mention it；〃 said the Doctor。 〃We have had a
very interesting chat。〃
〃Who might it be that I have the honor of addressing？〃 asked my
mother staring at the gray parrot perched on the Doctor's shoulder。
〃Oh； I'm John Dolittle。 I dare say your husband will remember me。 He
made me some very excellent boots about four years ago。 They really are
splendid；〃 added the Doctor； gazing down at his feet with great
satisfaction。
〃The Doctor has come to cure my squirrel； Mother；〃 said I。 〃He knows
all about animals。〃
〃Oh； no；〃 said the Doctor； 〃not all； Stubbins； not all about them by any
means。〃
〃It is very kind of you to come so far to look after his pet；〃 said my
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mother。 〃Tom is always bringing home strange creatures from the woods
and the fields。〃
〃Is he？〃 said the Doctor。 〃Perhaps he will grow up to be a naturalist
some day。 Who knows？〃
〃Won't you come in？〃 asked my mother。 〃The place is a little untidy
because I haven't finished the spring cleaning yet。 But there's a nice fire
burning in the parlor。〃
〃Thank you！〃 said the Doctor。 〃What a charming home you have！〃
And after wiping his enormous boots very； very carefully on the mat；
the great man passed into the house。
THE SIXTH CHAPTER
THE WOUNDED SQUIRREL
INSIDE we found my father busy practising on the flute beside the fire。
This he always did； every evening； after his work was over。
The Doctor immediately began talking to him about flutes and
piccolos and bassoons； and presently my father said；
〃Perhaps you perform upon the flute yourself； Sir。 Won't you play us a
tune？〃
〃Well；〃 said the Doctor； 〃it is a long time since I touched the
instrument。 But I would like to try。 May I？〃
Then the Doctor took the flute from my father and played and played
and played。 It was wonderful。 My mother and father sat as still as statues；
staring up at the ceiling as though they were in church； and even I； who
didn't bother much about music except on the mouth…organ even I felt all
sad and cold and creepy and wished I had been a better boy。
〃Oh I think that was just beautiful！〃 sighed my mother when at length
the Doctor stopped。
〃You are a great musician； Sir；〃 said my father； 〃a very great musician。
Won't you please play us something else？〃
〃Why certainly；〃 said the Doctor〃Oh； but look here； I've forgotten all
about the squirrel。〃
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〃I'll show him to you；〃 I said。 〃He is upstairs in my room。〃
So I led the Doctor to my bedroom at the top of the house and showed
him the squirrel in the packing…case filled with straw。
The animal； who had always seemed very much afraid of me though
I had tried hard to make him feel at home； sat up at once when the Doctor
came into the room and started to chatter。 The Doctor chattered back in the
same wa
