第4部分(第5/8 頁)

rest　deeper　than　what　I　found　in　fairy　tales：　for　as　to　the　elves；　having　sought　them　in　vain　among　foxglove　leaves　and　bells；　under　mushrooms　and　beneath　the　ground…ivy　mantling　old　wall…nooks；　I　had　at　length　made　up　my　mind　to　the　sad　truth；　that　they　were　all　gone　out　of　England　to　some　savage　country　where　the　woods　were　wilder　and　thicker；　and　the　population　more　scant；　whereas；　Lilliput　and　Brobdignag　being；　in　my　creed；　solid　parts　of　the　earth’s　surface；　I　doubted　not　that　I　might　one　day；　by　taking　a　long　voyage；　see　with　my　own　eyes　the　little　fields；　houses；　and　trees；　the　diminutive　people；　the　tiny　cows；　sheep；　and　birds　of　the　one　realm；　and　the　corn…fields　forest…high；　the　mighty　mastiffs；　the　monster　cats；　the　tower…like　men　and　women；　of　the　other。　Yet；　when　this　cherished　volume　was　now　placed　in　my　hand—when　I　turned　over　its　leaves；　and　sought　in　its　marvellous　pictures　the　charm　I　had；　till　now；　never　failed　to　find—all　was　eerie　and　dreary；　the　giants　were　gaunt　goblins；　the　pigmies　malevolent　and　fearful　imps；　Gulliver　a　most　desolate　wanderer　in　most　dread　and　dangerous　regions。　I　closed　the　book；　which　I　dared　no　longer　peruse；　and　put　it　on　the　table；　beside　the　untasted　tart。

Bessie　had　now　finished　dusting　and　tidying　the　room；　and　having　washed　her　hands；　she　opened　a　certain　little　drawer；　full　of　splendid　shreds　of　silk　and　satin；　and　began　making　a　new　bon　for　Georgiana’s　doll。　Meantime　she　sang：　her　song　was—

“In　the　days　when　w