CHAPTER IV THE SEARCH IN THE CUPBOARD

 Now, presently, a very strange thing happened. The Twins, Lulu and Zuzu, stood at the edge of the table grieving very much that the Banjo was broken. Each put out a hand, Lulu touching¹ the neck of the instrument, where, in her opinion, the music was, and Zuzu the round part or head, where he thought that the music was situated². To their great surprise, as they did this the Banjo again began to play, the two parts joining themselves together as good as new. So long as they held it in this way, it played the most beautiful and 13wonderful music. Stranger still, after it had finished playing, it began also to talk.

 

"I am the Enchanted³ Banjo of the King of Gee-Whiz," it said in a small, distinct, and quite unmistakable voice. "I only take myself apart to rest myself; but if you put me together again, of course I feel obliged to play for you, as that is only common politeness on my part."

 

"Is that indeed the truth, sir?" asked the Widow Pickle⁴ of the little dark man.

 

"It is," said he; "and I myself am the Court Musician, as I have said. It is my duty to furnish music for the King every day at half-past two in the afternoon, and I find a self-playing instrument a great convenience. Now, I am sorry to disturb you, but, by the way, it is nearly time for us to be returning."

 

"Excuse me, my children," remarked the Enchanted Banjo, "but you are holding my neck very tight."

 

At this, Lulu and Zuzu released their hold, and with a sigh of relief the Banjo again lay in two pieces on the table.

 

"Now, children, see what you have done!" exclaimed the Widow Pickle. "The Banjo is broken again."

 

"Never mind," said the Private Secretary, "it will always play when the two hold it together. Besides, 14it can not resist the Royal Hereditary⁵ Colors, madam, for these are very powerful in our Island."

 

"In truth," said the Widow Pickle, "I am of a mind myself to go to this wonderful place of which you talk. I would like to seek my fortune and that of my Twins. Have you credibly⁶ informed me that Twins with malazite-and corazine-colored hair would have a good chance in that country?"

 

"I have told you the truth," said the little dark man; "but I must say it is very far from here to the Island of Gee-Whiz, some hundreds of thousands of miles across the seas."

 

"Then, sir, how did you come here yourself?"

 

"I came by the Gee-Whiz Submarine Express," replied the Private Secretary. "How else should I come?"

 

"Alas⁷! I don't know what you mean," said the Widow Pickle at this.

 

"Not know, madam? Why, you have all the means for summoning the Submarine Express directly at your command."

 

"Where? where?" asked the Widow excitedly.

 

The little man pointed⁸ at the cupboard where the late Aurelius Pickle had been accustomed to keep his Chemical Substances.

 

15"Why, to be sure," said the Widow Pickle, "it must be in the cupboard, for it was there I found the two strange powders which went off with a flash."

 

By this time, the Twins were dancing around the room in excitement, running toward the cupboard, which had never seemed so full of interest before, even in their hungriest moments.

 

"Are you ready for your journey, madam?" asked the Private Secretary.

 

"I declare, I've more than half a mind to learn what all this means," said the Widow Pickle.

 

"Get us ready for the journey, mamma," cried the Twins, as though it were all settled.

 

"Very well," said the Widow, "we may as well be prepared for anything that may happen. First let me comb your Royal Hereditary Hair. Lulu, go fetch me the blue comb, and you, Zuzu, get the pale-green one, on top of the dresser, at the right hand as you go in. I can not help feeling," said the Widow Pickle, as she combed the long, wavy⁹ hair of her two children, "as though something was going to happen."

 

At that moment the Enchanted Banjo, held once more by the joyful¹⁰ Twins, began this remarkable¹¹ song:

 

SOMETHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN

 

16

 

Such a squidgy feeling in my bones!

Such a tingling¹² tangling¹³ of my hair!

Something whispers now in warning tones

That it will be best if I take care.

I keep looking out on either side,

Watching for just what I do not know—

Will it sit, or stand, or walk, or ride?

Wonder will it come, or will it go?

Something's sure to happen—

Oh, what can it be?

Something, something, something

Keeps on warning me.

I shiver and I quiver,

I tremble and I bow—

Something's sure to happen!

When? And where? And how?

Don't know how I know it! But I know

By the creepy feeling of my skin,

By my eyes that keep on winking¹⁴ so,

By the shaky shiver of my chin.

Something tells me to be looking out;

Something will not tell me what to do—

Something's sure to happen; there's no doubt!

Wonder will it be to me, or you?

Something's sure to happen—

Oh, what will it be?

Something, something, something

Keeps on warning me.

I quiver and I shiver,17

I shake and shake again—

Something's sure to happen!

What? And how? And when?

 

1 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

2 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

3 enchanted   

adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• She was enchanted by the flowers you sent her. 她非常喜欢你送给她的花。
• He was enchanted by the idea. 他为这个主意而欣喜若狂。

4 pickle   

n.腌汁，泡菜；v.腌，泡

参考例句：

• Mother used to pickle onions.妈妈过去常腌制洋葱。
• Meat can be preserved in pickle.肉可以保存在卤水里。

5 hereditary   

adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的

参考例句：

• The Queen of England is a hereditary ruler.英国女王是世袭的统治者。
• In men,hair loss is hereditary.男性脱发属于遗传。

6 credibly   

ad.可信地；可靠地

参考例句：

• I am credibly informed that. 由可靠方面听说。
• An effective management software ensures network to run credibly. 一个高效的网管软件是网络运行的可靠保证。

7 alas   

int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)

参考例句：

• Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
• Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。

8 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

9 wavy   

adj.有波浪的，多浪的，波浪状的，波动的，不稳定的

参考例句：

• She drew a wavy line under the word.她在这个词的下面画了一条波纹线。
• His wavy hair was too long and flopped just beneath his brow.他的波浪式头发太长了，正好垂在他的眉毛下。

10 joyful   

adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的

参考例句：

• She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
• They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。

11 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

12 tingling   

v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• My ears are tingling [humming; ringing; singing]. 我耳鸣。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• My tongue is tingling. 舌头发麻。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

13 tangling   

（使）缠结， （使）乱作一团( tangle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• During match with football, sportsman is like tangling on the football field. 足球比赛时，运动员似在足球场上混战。
• Furthermore the built in cable rewind prevents tangling and prolongs cable life. 此外，在防止缠绕电缆退建，延长电缆使用寿命。

14 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：

• Anyone can do it; it's as easy as winking. 这谁都办得到，简直易如反掌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The stars were winking in the clear sky. 星星在明亮的天空中闪烁。 来自《简明英汉词典》