novel notes-第15章

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Apart　from　these　drawbacks；　however；　the　house　was　one　that　any　doll　agent　would　have　been　justified　in　describing　as　a　〃most　desirable　family　residence〃；　and　it　had　been　furnished　with　a　lavishness　that　bordered　on　positive　ostentation。　　In　the　bedroom　there　was　a　washing…stand；　and　on　the　washing…stand　there　stood　a　jug　and　basin；　and　in　the　jug　there　was　real　water。　　But　all　this　was　as　nothing。　I　have　known　mere　ordinary；　middle…class　dolls'　houses　in　which　you　might　find　washing…stands　and　jugs　and　basins　and　real　wateray；　and　even　soap。　　But　in　this　abode　of　luxury　there　was　a　real　towel；　so　that　a　body　could　not　only　wash　himself；　but　wipe　himself　afterwards；　and　that　is　a　sensation　that；　as　all　dolls　know；　can　be　enjoyed　only　in　the　very　first…class　establishments。

Then；　in　the　drawing…room；　there　was　a　clock；　which　would　tick　just　so　long　as　you　continued　to　shake　it　（it　never　seemed　to　get　tired）；　also　a　picture　and　a　piano；　and　a　book　upon　the　table；　and　a　vase　of　flowers　that　would　upset　the　moment　you　touched　it；　just　like　a　real　vase　of　flowers。　　Oh；　there　was　style　about　this　room；　I　can　tell　you。

But　the　glory　of　the　house　was　its　kitchen。　　There　were　all　things　that　heart　could　desire　in　this　kitchen；　saucepans　with　lids　that　took　on　and　off；　a　flat…iron　and　a　rolling…pin。　　A　dinner　service　for　three　occupied　about　half　the　room；　and　what　space　was　left　was　filled　up　by　the　stovea　REAL　stove！　　Think　of　it；　oh　ye　owners　of　dolls'　houses；　a　stove　in　which　you　could　burn　real　bits　of　coal；　and　on　which　you　could　boil　real　bits　of　potato　for　dinnerexcept　when　people　said　you　mustn't；　because　it　was　dangerous；　and　took　the　grate　away　from　you；　and　blew　out　the　fire；　a　thing　that　hampers　a　cook。

I　never　saw　a　house　more　complete　in　all　its　details。　　Nothing　had　been　overlooked；　not　even　the　family。　　It　lay　on　its　back；　just　outside　the　front　door；　proud　but　calm；　waiting　to　be　put　into　possession。　　It　was　not　an　extensive　family。　　It　consisted　of　four　papa；　and　mamma；　and　baby；　and　the　hired　girl；　just　the　family　for　a　beginner。

It　was　a　well…dressed　family　toonot　merely　with　grand　clothes　outside；　covering　a　shameful　condition　of　things　beneath；　such　as；　alas！　is　too　often　the　case　in　doll　society；　but　with　every　article　necessary　and　proper　to　a　lady　or　gentleman；　down　to　items　that　I　could　not　mention。　　And　all　these　garments；　you　must　know；　could　be　unfastened　and　taken　off。　　I　have　known　dollsstylish　enough　dolls；　to　look　at；　some　of　themwho　have　been　content　to　go　about　with　their　clothes　gummed　on　to　them；　and；　in　some　cases；　nailed　on　with　tacks；　which　I　take　to　be　a　slovenly　and　unhealthy　habit。　　But　this　family　could　be　undressed　in　five　minutes；　without　the　aid　of　either　hot　water　or　a　chisel。

Not　that　it　was　advisable　from　an　artistic　point　of　view　that　any　of　them　should。　　They　had　not　the　figure　that　looks　well　in　its　natural　statenone　of　them。　　There　was　a　want　of　fulness　about　them　all。　Besides；　without　their　clothes；　it　might　have　been　difficult　to　distinguish　the　baby　from　the　papa；　or　the　maid　from　the　mistress；　and　thus　domestic　complications　might　have　arisen。

When　all　was　ready　for　their　reception　we　established　them　in　their　home。　　We　put　as　much　of　the　baby　to　bed　as　the　cot　would　hold；　and　made　the　papa　and　mamma　comfortable　in　the　drawing…room；　where　they　sat　on　the　floor　and　stared　thoughtfully　at　each　other　across　the　table。　　（They　had　to　sit　on　the　floor　because　the　chairs　were　not　big　enough。）　　The　girl　we　placed　in　the　kitchen；　where　she　leant　against　the　dresser　in　an　attitude　suggestive　of　drink；　embracing　the　broom　we　had　given　her　with　maudlin　affection。　　Then　we　lifted　up　the　house　with　care；　and　carried　it　cautiously　into　another　room；　and　with　the　deftness　of　experienced　conspirators　placed　it　at　the　foot　of　a　small　bed；　on　the　south…west　corner　of　which　an　absurdly　small　somebody　had　hung　an　absurdly　small　stocking。

To　return　to　our　own　doll's　house；　Ethelbertha　and　I；　discussing　the　subject　during　our　return　journey　in　the　train；　resolved　that；　next　year；　we　ourselves　would　possess　a　houseboat；　a　smaller　houseboat；　if　possible；　than　even　the　one　we　had　just　seen。　　It　should　have　art…muslin　curtains　and　a　flag；　and　the　flowers　about　it　should　be　wild　roses　and　forget…me…nots。　　I　could　work　all　the　morning　on　the　roof；　with　an　awning　over　me　to　keep　off　the　sun；　while　Ethelbertha　trimmed　the　roses　and　made　cakes　for　tea；　and　in　the　evenings　we　would　sit　out　on　the　little　deck；　and　Ethelbertha　would　play　the　guitar　（she　would　begin　learning　it　at　once）；　or　we　could　sit　quiet　and　listen　to　the　nightingales。

For；　when　you　are　very；　very　young　you　dream　that　the　summer　is　all　sunny　days　and　moonlight　nights；　that　the　wind　blows　always　softly　from　the　west；　and　that　roses　will　thrive　anywhere。　　But；　as　you　grow　older；　you　grow　tired　of　waiting　for　the　gray　sky　to　break。　　So　you　close　the　door　and　come　in；　and　crouch　over　the　fire；　wondering　why　the　winds　blow　ever　from　the　east：　　and　you　have　given　up　trying　to　rear　roses。

I　knew　a　little　cottage　girl　who　saved　up　her　money　for　months　and　months　so　as　to　buy　a　new　frock　in　which　to　go　to　a　flower…show。　But　the　day　of　the　flower…show　was　a　wet　day；　so　she　wore　an　old　frock　instead。　　And　all　the　fete　days　for　quite　a　long　while　were　wet　days；　and　she　feared　she　would　never　have　a　chance　of　wearing　her　pretty　white　dress。　　But　at　last　there　came　a　fete　day　morning　that　was　bright　and　sunny；　and　then　the　little　girl　clapped　her　hands　and　ran　upstairs；　and　took　her　new　frock　（which　had　been　her　〃new　frock〃　for　so　long　a　time　that　it　was　now　the　oldest　frock　she　had）　from　the　box　where　it　lay　neatly　folded　between　lavender　and　thyme；　and　held　it　up；　and　laughed　to　think　how　nice　she　would　look　in　it。

But　when　she　went　to　put　it　on；　she　found　that　she　had　out…grown　it；　and　that　it　was　too　small　for　her　every　way。　　So　she　had　to　wear　a　common　old　frock　after　all。

Things　happen　that　way；　you　know；　in　this　world。　　There　were　a　boy　and　girl　once　who　loved　each　other　very　dearly。　　But　they　were　both　poor；　so　they　agreed　to　wait　till　he　had　made　enough　money　for　them　to　live　comfortably　upon；　and　then　they　would　marry　and　be　happy。　It　took　him　a　long　while　to　make；　because　making　money　is　very　slow　work；　and　he　wanted；　while　he　was　about　it；　to　make　enough　for　them　to　be　very　happy　upon　indeed。　　He　accomplished　the　task　eventually；　however；　and　came　back　home　a　wealthy　man。

Then　they　met　again　in　the　poorly…furnished　parlour　where　they　had　parted。　　But　they　did　not　sit　as　near　to　each　other　as　of　old。　　For　she　had　lived　alone　so　long　that　she　had　grown　old…maidish；　and　she　was　feeling　vexed　with　him　for　having　dirtied　the　carpet　with　his　muddy　boots。　　And　he　had　worked　so　long　earning　money　that　he　had　grown　hard　and　cold　like　the　money　itself；　and　was　trying　to　think　of　something　affectionate　to　say　to　her。

So　for　a　while　they　sat；　one　each　side　of　the　paper　〃fire…stove　ornament；〃　both　wondering　why　they　had　shed　such　scalding　tears　on　that　day　they　had　kissed　each　other　good…bye；　then　said　〃good…bye〃　again；　and　were　glad。

There　is　another　tale　with　much　the　same　moral　that　I　learnt　at　school　out　of　a　copy…book。　　If　I　remember　rightly；　it　runs　somewhat　like　this：…

Once　upon　a　time　there　lived　a　wise　grasshopper　and　a　foolish　ant。　All　through　the　pleasant　summer　weather　the　grasshopper　sported　and　played；　gambolling　with　his　fellows　in　and　out　among　the　sun…beams；　dining　sumptuously　each　day　on　leaves　and　dew…drops；　never　troubling　about　the　morrow；　singing　ever　his　one　peaceful；　droning　song。

But　there　came　the　cruel　winter；　and　the　grass…hopper；　looking　around；　saw　that　his　friends；　the　flowers；　lay　dead；　and　knew　thereby　that　his　own　little　span　was　drawing　near　its　close。

Then　he　felt　glad　that　he　had　been　so　happy；　and　had　not　wasted　his　life。　　〃It　has　been　very　short；〃　said　he　to　himself；　〃but　it　has　been　very　pleasant；　and　I　think　I　have　made　the　best　use　of　it。　　I　have　drunk　in　the　sunshine；　I　have　lain　on　the　soft；　warm　air；　I　have　played　merry　games　in　the　waving　grass；　I　have　tasted　the　juice　of　the　sweet　green　leaves。　　I　have　done　what　I　could。　　I　have　spread　my　wings；　I　have　sung　my　song。