登陆注册
15329800000001

第1章 TROUBLE N1(1)

Whether you happen to be four or five, or six, or seven, or even older than that, no doubt you know by this time that a great many things need to be learned in this world, everything, in fact, and never more things than at seven.At least, so thought little Tattine, and what troubled her the most was that some of the things seemed quite wrong, and yet no one was able to right them.All her little life Tattine's Mother had been setting things straight for her, drying every tear, and unravelling every tangle, so that Tattine was pretty downhearted the day she discovered that there were some things that were quite beyond even her Mother's power to alter.It was on a lovely June morning that Tattine made the first of her unwelcome discoveries.She was feeling particularly happy too, until she made it.She was sitting up in an apple-tree, sketching, and doing it very well.She had taken only a few drawing-lessons but had taken to them immensely, and now with one limb of the tree for a seat and another one for an easel, she was working away at a pretty chime tower, that stood on a neighbor's land.

Down on the grass beneath her Betsy and Doctor were lying.Betsy was a dear, homely red-and-white Laverack setter, and Doctor, black-and-white and better looking, was her son.Doctor's beautiful grandmother Tadjie was lying, alas!

under the grass instead of on it, not very far away.It was a sad day for the dog world when Tadjie left it, for although she was very old, she was very beautiful up to the last with a glossy silky coat, a superbly feathered tail, and with brown eyes so soft and entreating, they fairly made you love her, whether you were fond of dogs or no.

Well, Tattine was sketching away and was quite absorbed in it, but Doctor, who was little more than a puppy, thought it very dull.He lay with his head between his paws, and, without moving a muscle, rolled his eyes round and round, now gazing up at Tattine, and then at his mother, trying to be happy though quiet.Finally he stretched himself, got on his feet, cocked up his ears, and came and stood in front of Betsy, and although not a sound was heard, he said, so that Betsy perfectly understood him, "I can't stand this any longer.If you have any love for me do please come for a run."Then Betsy took one long stretch and with motherly self-sacrifice reluctantly got up, prepared to humor this lively boy of hers.Suddenly Doctor craned his head high in the air, and gave a little sniff, and then Betsy craned her head and sniffed.Then they stole as stealthily away as though stepping upon eggs, and Tattine never knew that they had gone.It was no stealthy treading very long, however.No sooner had they crossed the roadway than they made sure of the scent they thought they had discovered, and made one wild rush down through the sumach and sweet-fern to the ravine.In a few moments it was one wild rush up again right to the foot of Tattine's apple-tree, and Tattine looked down to see Doctor--oh, could she believe her two blue eyes!--with a dear little rabbit clinched firmly between his teeth, and his mother (think of it, his mother!) actually standing proudly by and wildly waving her tail from side to side, in the most delighted manner possible.As for Tattine, she simply gave one horrified little scream and was down from the tree in a flash, while the scream fortunately brought Maggie hurrying from the house, and as Maggie was Doctor's confidential friend (owing to certain choice little morsels, dispensed from the butler's pantry window with great regularity three times a day), he at once, at her command, relaxed his hold on the little jack-rabbit.The poor little thing was still breathing, breathing indeed with all his might and main, so that his heart thumped against his little brown sides with all the regularity of a Rider Engine.Tattine's first thought was for the rabbit, and she held it close to her, stroking it with one little brown trembling hand and saying, "There! there! Hush, you little dear; you're safe now, don't be frightened! Tattine wouldn't hurt you for the world." Her next thought was for Doctor, and she turned on him with a torrent of abuse, that ought to have made the hair of that young M.D.stand on end."Oh, you cruel, CRUEL dog! whatever made you do such a thing as this? I never dreamt it of you, never." At this Betsy's tail dropped between her legs, for she was a coward at heart, but Doctor held his ground, his tail standing on end, as his hair should have done, and his eyes all the while fairly devouring the little rabbit."And the worst of it," continued Tattine, "is that no matter how sorry you may feel" (Betsy was the only one who showed any signs of sorrow, and she was more scared than sorry), "no matter how sorry you may feel, that will not mend things.You do not know where this baby lived, and who are its father and mother, and like as not it is too young to live at all away from them and will die," and Tattine raised one plump little hand and gave Doctor a slap that at least made him "turn tail," and slink rather doggedly away to his own particular hole under the laundry steps.And now it was time to find Mamma--high time, for it seemed to Tattine she would choke with all the feelings, sorrowful and angry, welling up within her.Mamma was not far afield--that is, she was very near, at her desk in the cosy little alcove of the upstairs hall-way, and Tattine soon found her.

"Now, Mamma," she asked excitedly, "did you know that Betsy or Doctor would do such a thing as this?"The trembling little rabbit in Tattine's hands showed what was meant by THIS.

Mrs.Gerald paused a moment, then she said reluctantly, "Yes, Tattine, I did.""Have they done it before, Mamma?"

"I am sorry to say they have."

"Have you seen them bring struggling rabbits dangling in their mouths right up to the house here, Mamma?"Mrs.Gerald merely shook her head.She felt so sorry to have to own to such a sight.

"Why did I never know it, Mamma?"

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 逆斩轮回

    逆斩轮回

    逆斩轮回,兄弟你我再战天地、速该命运一起杀破那道貌岸然的天罡正道
  • 请给我一根烟

    请给我一根烟

    这是一个科技与修真并存的世界,古老神话中的个个种族纷纷现世。然而,人类的前景并不乐观,妖族,魔域,黄泉,亡灵还有那些高高在上的神佛都将人类看成了自己的盘中餐,虚伪丑陋,种族混战。终于有一天,地球上也出现了妖魔。
  • 步履巅峰

    步履巅峰

    步生死,控轮回,携侣共舞傲凌践天。履艰辛,踏险阻,谱写世间唯美绝恋。巅顶醉,空无影,泪断柔肠残笑苍生。峰回路,宁身死,仅为伊人泠韵悠悠。人?杀之!魔?灭之!神?诛之!天?践之!一切皆无法拆散吾等!《步履巅峰》给你不一样的感受!如果您觉得本书还可以,请投出【推荐票】,点击【加入书架】收藏,谢谢大家!
  • 邪魅王爷太无赖王妃快逃

    邪魅王爷太无赖王妃快逃

    他是摄政王也是让人闻风丧胆六王爷,所有人靠近他不得在一丈内,而她在某天不仅靠近了,还摸了抱了亲了,还大言不惭笑嘻嘻的说“美人下次再来找你。”万年的冰山王爷终于变脸了“女人,别再让我碰到你”
  • 堕落之翼地狱变

    堕落之翼地狱变

    末世过后的人类世界,几个出身卑微的热血少年却要在这人吃人的世界中纵横闯荡,书写一份只属于他们的爱恨情仇。异能,异兽,和未来世界神奇的科学技术将会碰撞出怎样璀璨的火花,一切尽在《堕落天使》。片段:湿润污秽的柏油路面,反射着红色或是绿色的霓虹灯光。雨还在奋力的锤击着地面,在铅黑色天空的映衬下,仿佛连雨水都被染成了浅灰色。
  • 仙煮

    仙煮

    世人修仙,何其艰辛,且不论生死,尘缘足以令众生望而却步。
  • 口袋妖怪之盛放的火焰

    口袋妖怪之盛放的火焰

    一本特别篇的同人,非穿越,不走升级打怪路线,神兽会有但是不会有一级神。PS自认为写得比较渣,慎入!
  • 不甘平庸只为见君

    不甘平庸只为见君

    每个人心中都有份执念,有份坚守,有颗追寻梦想的心。而她因为这一份执念,竟踏进了一个不见光明的深渊......
  • 随身武帝

    随身武帝

    现代普通的青年程飞,在一个雨夜被天打雷劈到程家的练武废材身上。资质不给力?有了武帝系统,只要随随便便的一个穿越,逆袭什么的完全不是什么问题。来吧丹药们,符文装备们,宝物们...乖乖的到我碗里来吧。就算你是神,只要给我看重的,我明的的抢不到,暗中的也要偷偷的出手...