“Oh no, your Majesty1, only just past the Crocodile’s lodge2 there,” replied the Wallypug, when they turned the corner.
“Oh, I know the Crocodile and I remember where we are, now,” said Girlie, when the Lodge came in sight. “I wonder whether that disagreeable Porter is still at the Station,” she thought; “and whatever shall I do, if he remembers about the ticket?”
However, she decided3 not to worry about it till it was necessary, and hurried along with the Wallypug till they 136reached the Lodge, at one of the upper windows of which Girlie could see the three Seals. They flapped their fins4 at her, and one of them called out, “We are coming, too, by-and-by.”
The great iron gates leading into the Station yard were wide open, and the courtyard was crowded with all kinds of animals, each carrying either a little basket or a bag, which, Girlie concluded, must contain their luncheon5.
The Husher was bustling6 about amongst them, calling out “Silence! silence!” but no one was paying the slightest attention to him.
Inside the Station, the doors of which were closed, Girlie could see through the window the Porter excitedly arguing with a very fat Rhinoceros7 in a uniform, who, Girlie decided, was the Station-master. She could not hear what they were saying, but the Porter seemed to be very angry about something or other and was gesticulating violently.
It turned out afterwards that they were quarrelling as to the meaning of 10 a.m., which was the time fixed8 for the train to start; the Station-master arguing that a.m. stood for any morning, and the Porter declaring that it meant after meals. While waiting for them to 137decide, Girlie, who had lost sight of the Wallypug in the crowd, saw the Crocodile standing9 a little way in front of her, looking very sad indeed.
“THE PORTER SEEMED TO BE VERY ANGRY ABOUT SOMETHING.”
“I wonder what’s the matter with him,” she thought, trying to get nearer to him. “How do you do, Mr. Crocodile?” she called out, when she had got within speaking distance.
The Crocodile started and turned around nervously10. “Oh! how do you do?” he said, when he saw her. “Stop a minute and I’ll come over to you”; and, pushing his way through the crowd, he was soon by Girlie’s side.
“How is your tea getting on?” she asked, after they had shaken hands.
“No,” said Girlie. “What’s the matter?”
The Crocodile shook his head sadly.” I had a dreadful accident with him on the day that I last saw you,” he said. “After I left you, I was wheeling him down the road, and had just got to the corner, when I stumbled against a stone and turned the perambulator right over.”
“Dear me!” exclaimed Girlie. “And what happened to your tea?”
“He was so upset, poor little thing! that he never got over it,” said the Crocodile, sobbing convulsively.
“Oh! don’t cry,” said Girlie. “It’s positively12 absurd to cry about a cup of tea, you know.”
“Is it?” said the Crocodile. “I’ve never thought about it in that light before; perhaps it is”; and he dried his eyes and began to smile. “Crocodiles,” he said, “are very easily moved to tears. Why, I remember a friend of mine, who lives in the River Nile, once telling me that just because a little black baby, whose mother left it alone on the bank near to where my friend lived, disappeared, he wept bitterly.”
“Where did the baby disappear to?” asked Girlie.
139
“‘OH! DON’T CRY,’ SAID GIRLIE.”
The Crocodile only winked13 and said in a curious way, “My friend said it was a most delicious baby,” which didn’t help Girlie to understand in the least what he meant.
While she was still puzzling about it, the Porter came to the door and began ringing a great hand-bell, and every one hurried into the Station and down the 140steps on to the platform, where a train was waiting for them.
A great scrambling14 took place to secure seats, and Girlie was just comfortably settling herself in the same carriage with the Wallypug (who beckoned15 to her from one of the windows), and a family of five Hippopotami, when the Porter came to the door and, after glaring at her for a moment in silence, walked rapidly away.
“He means mischief16, your Majesty,” said the Wallypug; “I can tell it by his eye. Here he comes again,” he continued, as the Porter returned, followed by the Station-master.
“There!” he cried, pointing to Girlie scornfully, “that’s it. The Crow says it’s a Pig, and the Doctor-in-law says it’s a Noun without a Case, and I’m bothered if I can tell what it is. If it’s a Pig, it ought to go in the cattle-truck; and, if it’s the other thing, it ought to ride with the Alphabet.”
The Station-master scratched his head thoughtfully and looked much puzzled. “Let’s go and see whether there’s room in the Alphabet’s carriage for her,” he said after a pause; and they both walked off again.
“If you are going to ride with the Alphabet, your 141Majesty,” said the Wallypug hurriedly, when they had gone, “let me give you a little piece of advice. Sit perfectly17 still and don’t say a word and you will hear them talk. It’s most amusing, for, you see, they can only do or say such things as begin with the letter they represent. But you must be sure not to speak, or they will cease talking directly.”
Before he could say any more, the Porter returned, and, motioning Girlie to follow him, he showed her into another carriage, where she found the whole of the Alphabet sitting.
It was rather a squeeze to find a seat at all, but Girlie at last managed to settle herself in the corner against the window, and, as soon as she had done so, the Porter slammed the door to and, blowing his whistle, called out, “Right away”; and the train slowly steamed out of the Station.
Girlie determined18 to sit quite still, as the Wallypug had advised her, and, after a little while, this is what happened.
“She seems strangely silent,” said S, staring solemnly. “Supposing she’s stuffed!” she suggested stupidly.
“Ridiculous!” remarked R, rearranging railway rug.
142
“IT WAS RATHER A SQUEEZE TO FIND A SEAT AT ALL.”
“Well, well! we’ll wait, won’t we?” whispered W.
“Cautious creature!” cried C cheekily.
T tittered.
“Suppose someone sings something,” suggested S suddenly.
“Yes, you!” yelled Y.
“Do, dear,” demanded D delightedly.
S smilingly started singing.
“Somebody seems sad,” said S sarcastically23.
“What wonder!” whispered W.
“He hates hearing her howl,” hinted H, hastily hiding his head.
L laughed loudly,
While W winked warningly.
“Pray proceed,” pleaded P persuasively24.
“Certainly,” cried C.
So S softly sang,—
Sixteen spun so strong.
She’s satisfied surely;
So sing ‘Spider’s Song.’”
“Chorus! chorus!” cried C.
144S smilingly started,—
“Spin, spiders, spin;
Sing, spiders, sing;
Spinning spiders, singing spiders,
Spinning spiders, sing.”
“Ridiculous rubbish!” remarked R rudely.
S stopped singing. She seemed sadly surprised. “Some said she should sing, some said she shouldn’t”; she said sorrowfully, “Should she?”
“Certainly; continue,” cried C, clapping clamorously.
“Encore! encore!” echoed E encouragingly.
A also applauded.
S seemed satisfied; so she smilingly started singing same song. Soon she sang slower, slower still; she stopped, sighing sleepily.
H had hit her head hard, hurting her horribly.
F flew frantically34 forward, fearfully frightened.
“Good gracious!” groaned G, greatly grieved.
“Camphor! castor-oil! chloroform!” cried C confusedly.
E energetically employed eau-de-Cologne.
A afterwards advised arnica.
“An apology,” answered A angrily.
145“Immediately!” insisted I indignantly.
“Directly!” demanded D.
H hung his head. He “hoped he hadn’t hurt her.”
“Delightful disposition,” declared D.
“Absolutely angelic,” agreed A admiringly.
“MADE THE BEST OF THEIR WAY TO THE SEA.”
Presently P proposed playing picquet.
“Refreshments required!” roared R roughly.
“Ah! an admirable arrangement,” admitted A.
“Excellent,” echoed E enthusiastically.
S smilingly suggested something substantial; she said she should supply sandwiches.
“Ham,” H hoped.
N nodded.
146C considerately contributed currant cake.
B, blushing bashfully, brought Bath buns.
G generously gave greengages.
O offered oranges.
T told them to take two.
P presently produced preserved peaches,
While W wanted wine, which
V vigorously vetoed.
While this feast was still going on, the train, which had been simply flying along, suddenly stopped, and they all hurried out of the carriages and made the best of their way to the sea.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
majesty
|
|
| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
lodge
|
|
| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
fins
|
|
| [医]散热片；鱼鳍；飞边；鸭掌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
luncheon
|
|
| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
bustling
|
|
| adj.喧闹的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
rhinoceros
|
|
| n.犀牛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
nervously
|
|
| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
sobbing
|
|
| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
positively
|
|
| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
winked
|
|
| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
scrambling
|
|
| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
beckoned
|
|
| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
mischief
|
|
| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
pouted
|
|
| v.撅（嘴）( pout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
petulantly
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
bawled
|
|
| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
groaned
|
|
| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
sarcastically
|
|
| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
persuasively
|
|
| adv.口才好地；令人信服地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
shreds
|
|
| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
strands
|
|
| n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
spun
|
|
| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
idiotic
|
|
| adj.白痴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
vowed
|
|
| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
winking
|
|
| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
sonorously
|
|
| adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；堂皇地；朗朗地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
shrieking
|
|
| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
shrilly
|
|
| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
frantically
|
|
| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
wailed
|
|
| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
soothing
|
|
| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
faltered
|
|
| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |