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a collection of beatrix potter stories-第15部分
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lower oven; the door was very stiff。
〃The top oven bakes too quickly;〃
said Ribby to herself。 〃It is a
pie of the most delicate and tender
mouse minced up with bacon。 And
I have taken out all the bones;
because Duchess did nearly choke
herself with a fish…bone last time I
gave a party。 She eats a little fast
rather big mouthfuls。 But a
most genteel and elegant little dog
infinitely superior company to
Cousin Tabitha Twitchit。〃
Ribby put on some coal and
swept up the hearth。 Then she
went out with a can to the well;
for water to fill up the kettle。
Then she began to set the room
in order; for it was the sitting…room
as well as the kitchen。 She shook
the mats out at the front…door and
put them straight; the hearth…rug
was a rabbit…skin。 She dusted the
clock and the ornaments on the
mantelpiece; and she polished and
rubbed the tables and chairs。
Then she spread a very clean
white table…cloth; and set out her
best china tea…set; which she took
out of a wall…cupboard near the
fireplace。 The tea…cups were white with
a pattern of pink roses; and the
dinner…plates were white and blue。
When Ribby had laid the table
she took a jug and a blue and white
dish; and went out down the field to
the farm; to fetch milk and butter。
When she came back; she peeped
into the bottom oven; the pie looked
very comfortable。
Ribby put on her shawl and
bonnet and went out again with a
basket; to the village shop to buy a
packet of tea; a pound of lump
sugar; and a pot of marmalade。
And just at the same time;
Duchess came out of HER house; at
the other end of the village。
Ribby met Duchess half…way
own the street; also carrying a
basket; covered with a cloth。 They
only bowed to one another; they
did not speak; because they were
going to have a party。
As soon as Duchess had got
round the corner out of sightshe
simply ran! Straight away to
Ribby's house!
Ribby went into the shop and
bought what she required; and
came out; after a pleasant gossip
with Cousin Tabitha Twitchit。
Cousin Tabitha was disdainful
afterwards in conversation
〃A little DOG indeed! Just as if
there were no CATS in Sawrey!
And a PIE for afternoon tea! The
very idea!〃 said Cousin Tabitha
Twitchit。
Ribby went on to Timothy
Baker's and bought the muffins。
Then she went home。
There seemed to be a sort of
scuffling noise in the back passage;
as she was coming in at the front
door。
〃I trust that is not that Pie: the
spoons are locked up; however;〃
said Ribby。
But there was nobody there
Ribby opened the bottom oven door
with some difficulty; and turned the
pie。 There began to be a pleasing
smell of baked mouse!
Duchess in the meantime; had
slipped out at the back door。
〃It is a very odd thing that
Ribby's pie was NOT in the oven
when I put mine in! And I can t
find it anywhere; I have looked all
over the house。 I put MY pie into
a nice hot oven at the top。 I could
not turn any of the other handles;
I think that they are all shams;〃
said Duchess; 〃but I wish I could
have removed the pie made of
mouse! I cannot think what she
has done with it? I heard Ribby
coming and I had to run out by the
back door!〃
Duchess went home and brushed
her beautiful black coat; and then
she picked a bunch of flowers in
her garden as a present for Ribby;
and passed the time until the clock
struck four。
Ribbyhaving assured herself
by careful search that there was
really no one hiding in the cupboard
or in the larderwent
upstairs to change her dress。
She put on a lilac silk gown; for
the party; and an embroidered
muslin apron and tippet。
〃It is very strange;〃 said Ribby;
〃I did not THINK I left that drawer
pulled out; has somebody been
trying on my mittens?〃
She came downstairs again; and
made the tea; and put the teapot on
the hob。 She peeped again into
the BOTTOM oven; the pie had become
a lovely brown; and it was
steaming hot。
She sat down before the fire to
wait for the little dog。 〃I am glad
I used the BOTTOM oven;〃 said Ribby;
〃the top one would certainly
have been very much too hot。 I
wonder why that cupboard door
was open? Can there really have
been some one in the house?〃
Very punctually at four o'clock;
Duchess started to go to the party。
She ran so fast through the village
that she was too early; and she had
to wait a little while in the lane
that leads down to Ribby's house。
〃I wonder if Ribby has taken
MY pie out of the oven yet?〃 said
Duchess; 〃and whatever can have
become of the other pie made of
mouse?〃
At a quarter past four to the
minute; there came a most genteel
little tap…tappity。 〃Is Mrs。 Ribston
at home?〃 inquired Duchess in
the porch。
〃Come in! and how do you do;
my dear Duchess?〃 cried Ribby。
〃I hope I see you well?〃
〃Quite well; I thank you; and
how do YOU do; my dear Ribby?〃
said Duchess。 〃I've brought you
some flowers; what a delicious
smell of pie!〃
〃Oh; what lovely flowers! Yes;
it is mouse and bacon!〃
〃Do not talk about food; my
dear Ribby;〃 said Duchess; 〃what
a lovely white tea…cloth! 。 。 。 。 Is it
done to a turn? Is it still in the
oven?〃
〃I think it wants another five
minutes;〃 said Ribby。 〃Just a
shade longer; I will pour out the
tea; while we wait。 Do you take
sugar; my dear Duchess?〃
〃Oh yes; please! my dear
Ribby; and may I have a lump
upon my nose?〃
〃With pleasure; my dear Duchess;
how beautifully you beg! Oh;
how sweetly pretty!〃
Duchess sat up with the sugar
on her nose and sniffed
〃How good that pie smells! I
do love veal and hamI mean to
say mouse and bacon〃
She dropped the sugar in
confusion; and had to go hunting under
the tea…table; so did not see which
oven Ribby opened in order to get
out the pie。
Ribby set the pie upon the table;
there was a very savoury smell。
Duchess came out from under
the table…cloth munching sugar;
and sat up on a chair。
〃I will first cut the pie for you;
I am going to have muffin and
marmalade;〃 said Ribby。
〃Do you really prefer muffin?
Mind the patty…pan!〃
〃 I beg your pardon?〃 said Ribby。
〃May I pass you the marmalade?〃
said Duchess hurriedly。
The pie proved extremely toothsome;
and the muffins light and
hot。 They disappeared rapidly;
especially the pie!
〃I think〃(thought the Duchess
to herself)〃I THINK it would
be wiser if I helped myself to pie;
though Ribby did not seem to notice
anything when she was cutting it。
What very small fine pieces it has
cooked into! I did not remember that
I had minced it up so fine; I suppose
this is a quicker oven than my own。〃
〃How fast
Du
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