登陆注册
15296100000036

第36章

"She left the witch's house just before we did.Perhaps she has gone back to the King's castle," he said.

"I'm pretty sure she started off in a diff'rent direction," declared Trot."I looked over my shoulder, as I ran, to see how close the witches were, and I'm sure Isaw Gloria walking slowly away toward the north.""Then let us circle around that way," proposed Pon, "and perhaps we shall meet her."Trot agreed to this and they left the grove and began to circle around toward the north, thus drawing nearer and nearer to old Blinkie's house again.The Wicked Witch did not suspect this change of direction, so when she came to the grove she passed through it and continued on.

Pon and Trot had reached a place less than half a mile from the witch's house when they saw Gloria walking toward them.The Princess moved with great dignity and with no show of haste whatever, holding her head high and looking neither to right nor left.

Pon rushed forward, holding out his arms as if to embrace her and calling her sweet names.But Gloria gazed upon him coldly and repelled him with a haughty gesture.

At this the poor gardener's boy sank upon his knees and hid his face in his arms, weeping bitter tears; but the Princess was not at all moved by his distress.Passing him by, she drew her skirts aside, as if unwilling they should touch him, and then she walked up the path a way and hesitated, as if uncertain where to go next.

Trot was grieved by Pon's sobs and indignant because Gloria treated him so badly.But she remembered why.

"I guess your heart is frozen, all right," she said to the Princess.Gloria nodded gravely, in reply, and then turned her back upon the little girl."Can't you like even me?" asked Trot, half pleadingly.

"No," said Gloria.

"Your voice sounds like a refrig'rator," sighed the little girl."I'm awful sorry for you, 'cause you were sweet an' nice to me before this happened.You can't help it, of course; but it's a dreadful thing, jus' the same.""My heart is frozen to all mortal loves," announced Gloria, calmly."I do not love even myself.""That's too bad," said Trot, "for, if you can't love anybody, you can't expect anybody to love you.""I do!" cried Pon."I shall always love her.""Well, you're just a gardener's boy," replied Trot, "and I didn't think you 'mounted to much, from the first.

I can love the old Princess Gloria, with a warm heart an'

nice manners, but this one gives me the shivers.""It's her icy heart, that's all," said Pon.

"That's enough," insisted Trot."Seeing her heart isn't big enough to skate on, I can't see that she's of any use to anyone.For my part, I'm goin' to try to find Button-Bright an' Cap'n Bill."

"I will go with you," decided Pon."It is evident that Gloria no longer loves me and that her heart is frozen too stiff for me to melt it with my own love; therefore Imay as well help you to find your friends."As Trot started off, Pon cast one more imploring look at the Princess, who returned it with a chilly stare.So he followed after the little girl.

As for the Princess, she hesitated a moment and then turned in the same direction the others had taken, but going far more slowly.Soon she heard footsteps pattering behind her, and up came Googly-Goo.a little out of breath with running.

"Stop, Gloria!" he cried."I have come to take you back to my mansion, where we are to be married."She looked at him wonderingly a moment, then tossed her head disdainfully and walked on.But Googly-Goo kept beside her.

"What does this mean?" he demanded."Haven't you discovered that you no longer love that gardener's boy, who stood in my way?""Yes; I have discovered it," she replied."My heart is frozen to all mortal loves.I cannot love you, or Pon, or the cruel King my uncle, or even myself.Go your way, Googly-Goo, for I will wed no one at all."He stopped in dismay when he heard this, but in another minute he exclaimed angrily:

"You must wed me, Princess Gloria, whether you want to or not! I paid to have your heart frozen; I also paid the King to permit our marriage.If you now refuse me it will mean that I have been robbed -- robbed -- robbed of my precious money and jewels!"He almost wept with despair, but she laughed a cold, bitter laugh and passed on.Googly-Goo caught at her arm, as if to restrain her, but she whirled and dealt him a blow that sent him reeling into a ditch beside the path.

Here he lay for a long time, half covered by muddy water, dazed with surprise.

Finally the old courtier arose, dripping, and climbed from the ditch.The Princess had gone; so, muttering threats of vengeance upon her, upon the King and upon Blinkie, old Googly-Goo hobbled back to his mansion to have the mud removed from his costly velvet clothes.

同类推荐
  • 断肠词

    断肠词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • A JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR

    A JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Latter-Day Pamphlets

    Latter-Day Pamphlets

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 遗山集

    遗山集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 霏雪录

    霏雪录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 逆修归元

    逆修归元

    这是一个没有宗门没有国度的世界,只有着一些志同道合之人聚在了一起,组成一个个的社团,每一个团体都有着各自的绝技战!战!战!挥手之间敌人烟消云散,谈笑之时通往巅峰之路兄弟,朋友,爱人,且待我功成时,造化一个天地!!!
  • 异能与吞噬

    异能与吞噬

    一个平凡的少年做出一系列不平凡的事情,一切都是为了他的挚爱。
  • 魔为苍生

    魔为苍生

    修魔者刑远,重生于云齐大陆,原本只想过过清闲日子的他因为一件杀人夺宝的事情被人栽赃嫁祸从而惨遭追杀。从此踏上了为妖魔正名,为苍生请命的道路。在这条路上,刑远渐渐揭开了云齐大陆长达几个衍纪的阴谋。
  • 黄河出版传媒集团简史

    黄河出版传媒集团简史

    本书分上中下三篇,上篇主要浓缩50年来宁夏人民出版社的历史。中篇主要反映黄河出版传媒集团改制的历史,比较详尽地叙述了集团成立后的组织结构、为建立现代企业制度而做的努力以及转企改制之后的初步效果。下篇从各个子分公司的角度分别叙述了它们各自的发展情况。
  • 只要你说爱我

    只要你说爱我

    小时候,他处处闯祸,她总是为他求情;他有好吃的、好玩的,都分给她一半,她对他芳心暗许,他却只把他当妹妹……
  • 来自冥界的手机

    来自冥界的手机

    当乔布斯把他在冥界的延续之作-苹果10地狱版,送到柳不凡手上后,于是,柳不凡那单调乏味的人生,便注定精彩纷呈起来。
  • EXO之生如夏花之绚烂

    EXO之生如夏花之绚烂

    一场重生,她以为她是来弥补他。一场重生,他以为她不会骗他。一场重生,他以为她可以回到他身边。
  • 三时伏气外感篇

    三时伏气外感篇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 暗能时代

    暗能时代

    一百年前人类进入了暗能时代,林城作为一名华夏国著名大学的暗能阵法博士,因为自己的研究方向卷入了在大次元空间游荡了无数年的虚空领主对于地球的入侵计划,从而被国家安全局选中,同一起被选中的幻梦者落婵,暗能武者周豹,还有超级黑客莉娜一起经历的一次次的历险与斗争,最终为人类争取到了进入大虚空时代之前的缓冲时间。使人类在大虚空时代下的宇宙中立足成为可能。
  • 绝品狂少混花都

    绝品狂少混花都

    一个绝世高手的灵魂,上了一个少年的身。从此以后,少年的生活轨迹全变了。校花想要倒追他,御姐想要勾引他,什么高富帅,什么官二代,在他的面前,都是一堆渣。他是谁?他就是绝品狂少—高原