While the child-larks were finishing their breakfast Policeman Bluejay came to them, his feathers looking fresh and glossy5 and all his gorgeous colorings appearing especially beautiful in the sunshine.
"Today will be a rare day to visit the Paradise," he said; "so I have come to escort you to the Guardian6 of the Entrance, who I am sure will arrange for you to enter that wonderful country."
"It is very kind of you to remember our wish," said Twinkle. "We are all ready."
So they flew above the tree-tops and began their journey toward the center of the forest.
"Where's your p'liceman's hat and club?" Chubbins asked the bluejay.
"Why, I left them at home," was the reply. "I'm not on official duty today, you know, and the Guardian does not like to see anything that looks like a weapon. In his country there are no such things as quarrels or fighting, or naughtiness of any sort; for as they have everything they want there is nothing to quarrel over or fight for. The Birds of Paradise have laws, I understand; but they obey them because they are told to, and not because they are forced to. It would be a bad country for a policeman to live in."
"But a good place for everyone else," said Twinkle.
"Perhaps so," agreed the policeman, reluctantly. "But I sometimes think the goody-goody places would get awful tiresome7 to live in, after a time. Here in our part of the forest there is a little excitement, for the biggest birds only obey our laws through fear of punishment, and I understand it is just the same in the world of men. But in the Birds' Paradise there lives but one race, every member of which is quite particular not to annoy any of his fellows in any way. That is why they will admit no disturbing element into their country. If you are admitted, my dears, you must be very careful not to offend any one that you meet."
"We'll try to be good," promised Chubbins.
"I would not dare to take any of my own people there," continued the bluejay, flying swiftly along as they talked together; "but you two are different, and more like the fairy Birds of Paradise themselves than like our forest birds. That is the reason I feel sure the Guardian will admit you."
"I'm naughty sometimes, and so is Chubbins," said Twinkle, honestly. "But we try not to be any naughtier than we can help."
"I am sure you will behave very nicely," replied the bluejay.
After a time the rosy8 glow appeared reflected in the blue sky, and as they flew toward it the soft and delightful9 radiance seemed to grow and deepen in intensity10. It did not dazzle their eyes in the least, but as the light penetrated11 the forest and its furthest rays fell upon the group, they experienced a queer sense of elation12 and light-hearted joy.
But now the breeze freshened and grew more strong, pressing against their feathered breasts so gently yet powerfully that they soon discovered they were not advancing at all, but simply fluttering in the air.
"drop down to the ground," whispered the bluejay; and they obeyed his injunction and found that close to the earth the wind was not so strong.
"That is a secret I learned some time ago," said their friend. "Most birds who seek to enter the Paradise try to beat against the wind, and are therefore always driven back; but there is just one way to approach the Guardian near enough to converse13 with him. After that it depends entirely14 upon his good-will whether you get any farther."
The wind still blew so strongly that it nearly took their breath away, but by creeping steadily15 over the ground they were able to proceed slowly, and after a time the pressure of the wind grew less and less, until it suddenly ceased altogether.
Then they stopped to rest and to catch their breaths, but before this happened Twinkle and Chubbins both uttered exclamations16 of amazement17 at the sight that met their eyes.
Before them was a grove18 composed of stately trees not made of wood, but having trunks of polished gold and silver and leaves of exquisite19 metallic20 colorings. Beneath the trees was a mass of brilliant flowers, exceedingly rare and curious in form, and as our little friends looked upon them these flowers suddenly began a chant of greeting and then sang a song so sweet and musical that the lark-children were entranced and listened in rapt delight.
When the song ended the flowers all nodded their heads in a pretty way, and Twinkle drew a long breath and murmured:
"Isn't it odd to hear flowers sing? I'm sure the birds themselves cannot beat that music."
"They won't try," replied the policeman, "for Birds of Paradise do not sing."
"How strange!" exclaimed the girl.
"The land they live in is so full of music that they do not need to," continued the bluejay. "But before us is the entrance, leading through the limbs of that great golden tree you see at the left. Fly swiftly with me, and perch21 upon the middle branch."
With these words he darted22 toward the tree, and Twinkle and Chubbins followed. In a few seconds they alighted upon the branch and found themselves face to face with the first Bird of Paradise they had yet seen.
He possessed23 a graceful24 carriage and a most attractive form, being in size about as large as a common pigeon. His eyes were shrewd but gentle in expression and his pose as he stood regarding the newcomers was dignified25 and impressive. But the children had little time to note these things because their wondering eyes were riveted26 upon the bird's magnificent plumage. The feathers lay so smoothly27 against his body that they seemed to present a solid surface, and in color they were a glistening28 emerald green upon the neck and wings, shading down on the breast to a softer green and then to a pure white. The main wing-feathers were white, tipped with vivid scarlet29, and the white feathers of his crest30 were also tipped with specks31 of flame. But his tail feathers were the most beautiful of all his gay uniform. They spread out in the shape of a fan, and every other feather was brilliant green and its alternate feather snow white.
"How lovely!" cried Twinkle, and the bird bowed its head and with a merry glance from its eyes responded:
"Your admiration32 highly honors me, little stranger."
"This," said Policeman Bluejay, "is the important official called the Guardian of the Entrance of Paradise. Sir Guardian, permit me to introduce to you two children of men who have been magically transformed into skylarks against their will. They are not quite birds, because their heads retain the human shape; but whatever form they may bear, their natures are sweet and innocent and I deem them worthy33 to associate for a brief time with your splendid and regal race. Therefore I have brought them here to commend them to your hospitality and good-will, and I hope you will receive them as your guests."
"What are your names, little strangers?" asked the Guardian.
"Mama calls me Twinkle," said the girl.
"I'm Chubbins," said the boy.
The Guardian looked attentively34 at the bluejay.
"You know our regulations," said he; "no birds of the forest are admitted to our Paradise."
"I know," replied the policeman. "I will await my little friends here. It is pleasure enough for me to have just this glimpse of your beautiful fairyland."
The Guardian nodded his approval of this speech.
"Very well," he answered, "you shall remain and visit with me. If all forest birds were like you, my friend, there would be little danger in admitting them into our society. But they are not, and the laws must be regarded. As for the child-larks, I will send them first to the King, in charge of the Royal Messenger, whom I will now summon."
He tossed his head upward with an abrupt35 motion, and in the tree-top a chime of golden bells rang musically in the air. The flowers beneath them caught up the refrain, and sang it softly until another bird came darting36 through the air and alighted on the golden limb beside the Guardian.
The newcomer was differently garbed37 from the other. His plumage was orange and white, the crest and wing-feathers being tipped with bright blue. Nor was he so large as the Guardian, nor so dignified in demeanor38. Indeed, his expression was rather merry and roguish, and as he saw the strangers he gave a short, sharp whistle of surprise.
"My dear Ephel," said the Guardian, "oblige me by escorting these child-larks to the presence of his Majesty39 the King."
"I am delighted to obey your request," answered Ephel the Messenger, brightly. Then, turning to Twinkle and Chubbins, he added: "I trust you will find my society agreeable during our flight to the royal monarch40 of Paradise."
Twinkle was too much embarrassed by this politeness to answer at once, but Chubbins said "Sure thing!" in a matter-of-fact voice, and the Messenger nodded gaily41 and continued:
"Then we will go, if it pleases you."
He spread his wings in a flash of color and sped away into the Paradise, and the children eagerly followed him.
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收听单词发音
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1
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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chirped
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| 鸟叫，虫鸣( chirp的过去式 ) | |
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scuttled
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| v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
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glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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elation
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| n.兴高采烈，洋洋得意 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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31
specks
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| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
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32
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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garbed
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| v.（尤指某类人穿的特定）服装，衣服，制服( garb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
demeanor
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| n.行为；风度 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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40
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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41
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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