pp.thegoldencompass-第10部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


up　there。　Uranium　mines　for　atomcraft。　I　bet　that's　what　it　is。　And　if　they　sent　grownups　down　the　mine；　they'd　be　dead；　so　they　use　kids　instead　because　they　cost　less。　That's　what　they've　done　with　him。〃
　　〃I　think…〃
　　But　what　Pantalaimon　thought　had　to　wait；　because　someone　began　to　shout　from　below。
　　〃Lyra！　Lyra！　You　e　in　this　instant！〃
　　There　was　a　banging　on　the　window　frame。　Lyra　knew　the　voice　and　the　impatience：　it　was　Mrs。　Lonsdale；　the　Housekeeper。　There　was　no　hiding　from　her。
　　Tight…faced；　Lyra　slid　down　the　roof　and　into　the　gutter；　and　then　climbed　in　through　the　window　again。　Mrs。　Lonsdale　was　running　some　water　into　the　little　chipped　basin；　to　the　acpaniment　of　a　great　groaning　and　hammering　from　the　pipes。
　　〃The　number　of　times　you　been　told　about　going　out　there…Look　at　you！　Just　look　at　your　skirt…it's　filthy！　Take　it　off　at　once　and　wash　yourself　while　I　look　for　something　decent　that　en't　torn。　Why　you　can't　keep　yourself　clean　and　tidy　。　。　。　〃
　　Lyra　was　too　sulky　even　to　ask　why　she　was　having　to　wash　and　dress；　and　no　grownup　ever　gave　reasons　of　their　own　accord。　She　dragged　the　dress　over　her　head　and　dropped　it　on　the　narrow　bed；　and　began　to　wash　desultorily　while　Pantalaimon；　a　canary　now；　hopped　closer　and　closer　to　Mrs。　Lonsdale's　daemon；　a　stolid　retriever；　trying　in　vain　to　annoy　him。
　　〃Look　at　the　state　of　this　wardrobe！　You　en't　hung　nothing　up　for　weeks！　Look　at　the　creases　in　this…〃
　　Look　at　this；　look　at　that　。　。　。　Lyra　didn't　want　to　look。　She　shut　her　eyes　as　she　rubbed　at　her　face　with　the　thin　towel。
　　〃You'll　just　have　to　wear　it　as　it　is。　There　en't　time　to　take　an　iron　to　it。　God　bless　me；　girl；　your　knees…look　at　the　state　of　them　。　。　。　。〃
　　〃Don't　want　to　look　at　nothing；〃　Lyra　muttered。
　　Mrs。　Lonsdale　smacked　her　leg。　〃Wash；〃　she　said　ferociously。　〃You　get　all　that　dirt　off。〃
　　〃Why？〃　Lyra　said　at　last。　〃I　never　wash　my　knees　usually。　No　one's　going　to　look　at　my　knees。　What've　I　got　to　do　all　this　for？　You　don't　care　about　Roger　neither；　any　more　than　Chef　does。　I'm　the　only　one　that…〃　Another　smack；　on　the　other　leg。
　　〃None　of　that　nonsense。　I'm　a　Parslow；　same　as　Roger's　father。　He's　my　second　cousin。　I　bet　you　didn't　know　that；　'cause　I　bet　you　never　asked；　Miss　Lyra。　I　bet　it　never　occurred　to　you。　Don't　you　chide　me　with　not　caring　about　the　boy。　God　knows；　I　even　care　about　you；　and　you　give　me　little　enough　reason　and　no　thanks。〃
　　She　seized　the　flannel　and　rubbed　Lyra's　knees　so　hard　she　left　the　skin　bright　pink　and　sore；　but　clean。
　　〃The　reason　for　this　is　you're　going　to　have　dinner　with　the　Master　and　his　guests。　I　hope　to　God　you　behave。　Speak　when　you're　spoken　to；　be　quiet　and　polite；　smile　nicely　and　don't　you　ever　say　Dunno　when　someone　asks　you　a　question。〃
　　She　dragged　the　best　dress　onto　Lyra's　skinny　frame；　tugged　it　straight；　fished　a　bit　of　red　ribbon　out　of　the　tangle　in　a　drawer；　and　brushed　Lyra's　hair　with　a　coarse　brush。
　　〃If　they'd　let　me　know　earlier；　I　could've　given　your　hair　a　proper　wash。　Well；　that's　too　bad。　As　long　as　they　don't　look　too　close　。　。　。　There。　Now　stand　up　straight。　Where's　those　best　patent…leather　shoes？〃
　　Five　minutes　later　Lyra　was　knocking　on　the　door　of　the　Master's　lodging；　the　grand　and　slightly　gloomy　house　that　opened　into　the　Yaxley　Quadrangle　and　backed　onto　the　Library　Garden。　Pantalaimon；　an　ermine　now　for　politeness；　rubbed　himself　against　her　leg。　The　door　was　opened　by　the　Master's　manservant　Cousins；　an　old　enemy　of　Lyra's；　but　both　knew　that　this　was　a　state　of　truce。
　　〃Mrs。　Lonsdale　said　I　was　to　e；〃　said　Lyra。
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Cousins；　stepping　aside。　〃The　Master's　in　the　drawing　room。〃
　　He　showed　her　into　the　large　room　that　overlooked　the　Library　Garden。　The　last　of　the　sun　shone　into　it；　through　the　gap　between　the　library　and　Palmer's　Tower；　and　lit　up　the　heavy　pictures　and　the　glum　silver　the　Master　collected。　It　also　lit　up　the　guests；　and　Lyra　realized　why　they　weren't　going　to　dine　in　Hall：　three　of　the　guests　were　women。
　　〃Ah；　Lyra；〃　said　the　Master。　〃I'm　so　glad　you　could　e。　Cousins；　could　you　find　some　sort　of　soft　drink？　Dame　Hannah；　I　don't　think　you've　met　Lyra　。　。　。　Lord　Asriel's　niece；　you　know。〃
　　Dame　Hannah　Relf　was　the　head　of　one　of　the　women's　colleges；　an　elderly　gray…haired　lady　whose　daemon　was　a　marmoset。　Lyra　shook　hands　as　politely　as　she　could；　and　was　then　introduced　to　the　other　guests；　who　were；　like　Dame　Hannah；　Scholars　from　other　colleges　and　quite　uninteresting。　Then　the　Master　came　to　the　final　guest。
　　〃Mrs。　Coulter；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　our　Lyra。　Lyra；　e　and　say　hello　to　Mrs。　Coulter。〃
　　〃Hello；　Lyra；〃　said　Mrs。　Coulter。
　　She　was　beautiful　and　young。　Her　sleek　black　hair　framed　her　cheeks；　and　her　daemon　was　a　golden　monkey。
　　
　　
　　FOUR
　　THE　ALETHIOMETER
　　
　　〃I　hope　you'll　sit　next　to　me　at　dinner；〃　said　Mrs。　Coulter；　making　room　for　Lyra　on　the　sofa。　〃I'm　not　used　to　the　grandeur　of　a　Master's　lodging。　You'll　have　to　show　me　which　knife　and　fork　to　use。〃
　　〃Are　you　a　female　Scholar？〃　said　Lyra。　She　regarded　female　Scholars　with　a　proper　Jordan　disdain：　there　were　such　people；　but；　poor　things；　they　could　never　be　taken　more　seriously　than　animals　dressed　up　and　acting　a　play。　Mrs。　Coulter；　on　the　other　hand；　was　not　like　any　female　Scholar　Lyra　had　seen；　and　certainly　not　like　the　two　serious　elderly　ladies　who　were　the　other　female　guests。　Lyra　had　asked　the　question　expecting　the　answer　No；　in　fact；　for　Mrs。　Coulter　had　such　an　air　of　glamour　that　Lyra　was　entranced。　She　could　hardly　take　her　eyes　off　her。
　　〃Not　really；〃　Mrs。　Coulter　said。　〃I'm　a　member　of　Dame　Hannah's　college；　but　most　of　my　work　takes　place　outside　Oxford　。　。　。　。Tell　me　about　yourself；　Lyra。　Have　you　always　lived　at　Jordan　College？〃
　　Within　five　minutes　Lyra　had　told　her　everything　about　her　half…wild　life：　her　favorite　routes　over　the　rooftops；　the　battle　of　the　claybeds；　the　time　she　and　Roger　had　caught　and　roasted　a　rook；　her　intention　to　capture　a　narrowboat　from　the　gyptians　and　sail　it　to　Abingdon；　and　so　on。　She　even　（looking　around　and　lowering　her　voice）　told　her　about　the　trick　she　and　Roger　had　played　on　the　skulls　in　the　crypt。
　　〃And　these　ghosts　came；　right；　they　came　to　my　bedroom
　　without　their　heads！　They　couldn't　talk　except　for　making　sort　of　gurgling　noises；　but　I　knew　what　they　wanted　all　right。　So　I　went　down　next　day　and　put　their　coins　back。　They'd　probably　have　killed　me　else。〃
　　〃You're　not　afraid　of　danger；　then？〃　said　Mrs。　Coulter　admiringly。　They　were　at　dinner　by　this　time；　and　as　Lyra　had　hoped；　sitting　next　to　each　other。　Lyra　ignored　pletely　the　Librarian　on　her　other　side　and　spent　the　whole　meal　talking　to　Mrs。　Coulter。
　　When　the　ladies　withdrew　for　coffee；　Dame　Hannah　said；　〃Tell　me；　Lyra…are　they　going　to　send　you　to　school？〃
　　Lyra　looked　blank。　〃I　dun…I　don't　know；〃　she　said。　〃Probably　not；〃　she　added　for　safety。　〃I　wouldn't　want　to　put　them　to　any　trouble；〃　she　went　on　piously。　〃Or　expense。　It's　probably　better　if　I　just　go　on　living　at　Jordan　and　getting　educated　by　the　Scholars　here　when　they've　got　a　bit　of　spare　time。　Being　as　they're　here　already；　they're　probably　free。〃
　　〃And　does　your　uncle　Lord　Asriel　have　any　plans　for　you？〃　said　the　other　lady；　who　was　a　Scholar　at　the　other　women's　college。
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Lyra。　〃I　expect　so。　Not　school；　though。　He's　going　to　take　me　to　the　North　next　time　he　goes。〃
　　〃I　remember　him　telling　me；〃　said　Mrs。　Coulter。
　　Lyra　blinked。　The　two　female　Scholars　sat　up　very　slightly；　though　their　demons；　either　well　behaved　or　torpid；　did　no　more　than　flick　their　eyes　at　each　other。
　　〃I　met　him　at　the　Royal　Arctic　Institute；〃　Mrs。　Coulter　went　on。　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　it's　partly　because　of　that　meeting　that　I'm　here　today。〃
　　〃Are　you　an　explorer　too？〃　said　Lyra。
　　〃In　a　kind　of　way。　I've　been　to　the　North　several　times。　Last　year　I　spent　three　months　in　Greenland　making　observations　of　the　Aurora。〃
　　That　was　it；　nothing　and　no　one　else　existed　now　for　Lyra。　She　gazed　at　Mrs。　Coulter　with　awe；　and　listened　rapt　and　silent　to　her　tales　of　igloo　building；　of　seal　hunting；　of　negotiating　with　the　Lapland　witches。　The　two　female　Scholars　had　nothing　so　exciting　to　tell；　and　sat　in　silence　until　the　men　came　in。
　　Later；　when　the　guests　were　preparing　to　leave；　the　Master　said；　〃Stay　behind；　Lyra。　I'd　like　to　talk　to　you　for　a　minute　or　two。　Go　to　my　study；　child；　sit　down　there　and　wait　for　me。〃
　　Puzzled；　tired；　exhilarated；　Lyra　did　as　he　told　her。　Cousins　the　manservant　showed　her　in；　and　pointedly　left　the　door　open　so　that　he　could　see　what　she　was　up　to　from　the　hall；　where　he　was　helping　people　on　with　their　coats。　Lyra　watched　for　Mrs。　Coulter；　but　she　didn't　see　her；　and　then　the　Master　came　into　the　study　and　shut　the　door。
　　He　sat　down　heavily　in　the　armchair　by　the　fireplace。　His　daemon　flapped　up　to　the　chair　back　and　sat　by　his　head；　her　old　hooded　eyes　on　Lyra。　The　lamp　hissed　gently　as　the　Master　said：
　　〃So；　Lyra。　You've　been　talking　to　Mrs。　Coulter。　Did　you　enjoy　hearing　what　she　said？〃
　　〃Yes！〃
　　〃She　is　a　remarkable　lady。〃
　　〃She's　wonderful。　She's　the　most　wonderful　person　I've　ever　met。〃
　　The　Master　sighed。　In　his　black　suit　and　black　tie　he　looked　as　much　like　his　daemon　as　anyone　could；　and　suddenly　Lyra　thought　that　one　day；　quite　soon；　he　would　be　buried　in　the　crypt　under　the　oratory；　and　an　artist　would　engrave　a　picture　of　his　daemon　on　the　brass　plate　for　his　coffin；　and　her　name　would　share　the　space　with　his。
　　〃I　should　have　made　time　before　now　for　a　talk　with　you；　Lyra；〃　he　said　after　a　few　moments。　〃I　was　intending　to　do　so　in　any　case；　but　it　seems　that　time　is　further　on　than　I　thought。　You　have　been　safe　here　in　Jordan；　my　dear。　I　think　you've　been　happy。　You　haven't　found　it　easy　to　obey　us；　but　we　are　very　fond　of　you；　and　you've　never　been　a　bad　child。　There's　a　lot　of　goodness　and　sweetness　in　your　nature；　and　a　lot　of　determination。　You're　going　to　need　all　of　that。　Things　are　going　on　in　the　wide　world　I　would　have　liked　to　protect　you　from…by　keeping　you　here　in　Jordan；　I　mean…but　that's　no　longer　possible。〃
　　She　merely　stared。　Were　they　going　to　send　her　away？
　　〃You　knew　that　sometime　you'd　have　to　go　to　school；〃　the　Master　went　on。　〃We　have　taught　you　some　things　here；　but　not　well　or　systematically。　Our　knowledge　is　of　a　different　kind。　You　need　to　know　things　that　elderly　men　are　not　able　to　teach　you；　especially　at　the　age　you　are　now。　You　must　have　been　aware　of　that。　You're　not　a　servant's　child　either；　we　couldn't　put　you　out　to　be　fostered　by　a　town　family。　They　might　have　cared　for　you　in　some　ways；　but　your　needs　are　different。　You　see；　what　I'm　saying　to　you；　Lyra；　is　that　the　part　of　your　life　that　belongs　to　Jordan　College　is　ing　to　an　end。〃
　　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃no；　I　don't　want　to　leave　Jordan。　I　like　it　here。　I　want　to　stay　here　forever。〃
　　〃When　you're　young；　you　do　think　that　things　last　forever。　Unfortunately；　they　don't。　Lyra；　it　won't　be　long…a　couple　of　years　at　most…before　you　will　be　a　young　woman；　and　not　a　child　anymore。　A　young　lady。　And　believe　me；　you'll　find　Jo