第29章 THE TALE OF PIGLING BLAND PIG(4)
"Come away Pig-wig; we can see when we get used to it.Come! I can hear them clucking!"Pigling had never said shuh! to a hen in his life, being peaceable; also he remembered the hamper.
He opened the house door quietly and shut it after them.There was no garden; the neighbourhood of Mr.Piperson's was all scratched up by fowls.They slipped away hand in hand across an untidy field to the road.
The sun rose while they were crossing the moor, a dazzle of light over the tops of the hills.The sunshine crept down the slopes into the peaceful green valleys, where little white cottages nestled in gardens and orchards.
"That's Westmorland," said Pig-wig.She dropped Pigling's hand and commenced to dance, singing--"Tom, Tom, the piper's son, stole a pig and away he ran!
"But all the tune that he could play, was 'Over the hills and far away!'
"
"Come, Pig-wig, we must get to the bridge before folks are stirring.""Why do you want to go to market, Pigling?" inquired Pig-wig presently."I don't want; I want to grow potatoes." "Have a peppermint?" said Pig- wig.Pigling Bland refused quite crossly."Does your poor toothy hurt?" inquired Pig-wig.Pigling Bland grunted.
Pig-wig ate the peppermint herself and followed the opposite side of the road."Pig-wig! keep under the wall, there's a man ploughing." Pig-wig crossed over, they hurried down hill towards the county boundary.
Suddenly Pigling stopped; he heard wheels.
Slowly jogging up the road below them came a tradesman's cart.The reins flapped on the horse's back, the grocer was reading a newspaper.
"Take that peppermint out of your mouth, Pig-wig, we may have to run.Don't say one word.Leave it to me.And in sight of the bridge!" said poor Pigling, nearly crying.He began to walk frightfully lame, holding Pig-wig's arm.
The grocer, intent upon his news- paper, might have passed them, if his horse had not shied and snorted.He pulled the cart crossways, and helddown his whip."Hallo! Where are YOU going to?"--Pigling Bland stared at him vacantly.
"Are you deaf? Are you going to market?" Pigling nodded slowly."I thought as much.It was yesterday.Show me your licence?"Pigling stared at the off hind shoe of the grocer's horse which had picked up a stone.
The grocer flicked his whip-- "Papers? Pig licence?" Pigling fumbled in all his pockets, and handed up the papers.The grocer read them, but still seemed dissatisfied."This here pig is a young lady; is her name Alexander?" Pig-wig opened her mouth and shut it again; Pigling coughed asthmatically.
The grocer ran his finger down the advertisement column of his newspaper--"Lost, stolen or strayed, 10s.reward." He looked suspiciously at Pig-wig.Then he stood up in the trap, and whistled for the ploughman.
"You wait here while I drive on and speak to him," said the grocer, gathering up the reins.He knew that pigs are slippery; but surely, such a VERY lame pig could never run!
"Not yet, Pig-wig, he will look back." The grocer did so; he saw the two pigs stock-still in the middle of the road.Then he looked over at his horse's heels; it was lame also; the stone took some time to knock out, after he got to the ploughman.
"Now, Pig-wig, NOW!" said Pigling Bland.
Never did any pigs run as these pigs ran! They raced and squealed and pelted down the long white hill towards the bridge.Little fat Pig- wig's petticoats fluttered, and her feet went pitter, patter, pitter, as she bounded and jumped.
They ran, and they ran, and they ran down the hill, and across a short cut on level green turf at the bottom, between pebble beds and rushes.
They came to the river, they came to the bridge--they crossed it hand in hand- then over the hills and far away she danced with Pigling Bland!
THE END