CHAPTER 5. A BEGGAR'S PALACE.

I lost the rest of the sentence, for my mind had recurred¹, with a great shock of 

 

surprise, to Lady Muriel Orme, who had so lately uttered these very words of 

 

Sylvie's—yes, and in Sylvie's own voice, and with Sylvie's gentle pleading eyes!

 

“Follow me!” were the next words I heard, as the old man waved his hand, with a 

 

dignified² grace that ill suited his ragged³ dress, over a bush, that stood by the 

 

road side, which began instantly to sink into the earth. At another time I might 

 

have doubted the evidence of my eyes, or at least have felt some astonishment⁴: but, 

 

in this strange scene, my whole being seemed absorbed in strong curiosity as to 

 

what would happen next.

 

When the bush had sunk quite out of our sight, marble steps were seen, leading 

 

downwards⁵ into darkness. The old man led the way, and we eagerly followed.

 

The staircase was so dark, at first, that I could only just see the forms of the 

 

children, as, hand-in-hand, they groped their way down after their guide: but it 

 

got lighter⁶ every moment, with a strange silvery brightness, that seemed to exist 

 

in the air, as there were no lamps visible; and, when at last we reached a level 

 

floor, the room, in which we found ourselves, was almost as light as day.

 

It was eight-sided, having in each angle a slender pillar, round which silken 

 

draperies were twined. The wall between the pillars was entirely⁷ covered, to the 

 

height of six or seven feet, with creepers, from which hung quantities of ripe 

 

fruit and of brilliant flowers, that almost hid the leaves. In another place, 

 

perchance, I might have wondered to see fruit and flowers growing together: here, 

 

my chief wonder was that neither fruit nor flowers were such as I had ever seen 

 

before. Higher up, each wall contained a circular window of coloured glass; and 

 

over all was an arched roof, that seemed to be spangled all over with jewels.

 

With hardly less wonder, I turned this way and that, trying to make out how in the 

 

world we had come in: for there was no door: and all the walls were thickly covered 

 

with the lovely creepers.

 

“We are safe here, my darlings!” said the old man, laying a hand on Sylvie's 

 

shoulder, and bending down to kiss her. Sylvie drew back hastily, with an offended 

 

air: but in another moment, with a glad cry of “Why, it's Father!”, she had run 

 

into his arms.

 

{Image...A beggar's palace}

 

“Father! Father!” Bruno repeated: and, while the happy children were being hugged 

 

and kissed, I could but rub my eyes and say “Where, then, are the rags gone to?”; 

 

for the old man was now dressed in royal robes that glittered with jewels and gold 

 

embroidery⁸, and wore a circlet of gold around his head.

1 recurred   

再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈

参考例句：

• Old memories constantly recurred to him. 往事经常浮现在他的脑海里。
• She always winced when he recurred to the subject of his poems. 每逢他一提到他的诗作的时候，她总是有点畏缩。

2 dignified   

a.可敬的，高贵的

参考例句：

• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
• He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。

3 ragged   

adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的

参考例句：

• A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
• Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。

4 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

5 downwards   

adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地）

参考例句：

• He lay face downwards on his bed.他脸向下伏在床上。
• As the river flows downwards,it widens.这条河愈到下游愈宽。

6 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

7 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

8 embroidery   

n.绣花，刺绣；绣制品

参考例句：

• This exquisite embroidery won people's great admiration.这件精美的绣品，使人惊叹不已。
• This is Jane's first attempt at embroidery.这是简第一次试着绣花。