书城童书GONE IS GONE
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第9章

"Na,na!What can this mean?"cried Liesi.She did not know (but we do-yes?)that when she saved the cow outside,something happened to Fritzl inside.Yes,yes,as soon as the cow's rope was cut,Fritzl,poor man,he dropped down the chimney and crash!Splash!fell right into the kettle of soup in the fireplace.

Liesi lost no time.She pulled at the two arms and tugged at the two legs-and there,dripping and spluttering,with a cabbage-leaf in his hair,celery in his pocket,and a sprig of parsley over one ear,was her Fritzl.

"Na,na,my man!"said Liesi."Is that the way you keep house-yes?"

"Oh Liesi,Liesi!"sputtered Fritzl."You're right-that work of yours,'tis none too easy."

"'Tis a little hard at first,"said Liesi,"but tomorrow,maybe,you'll do better."

"Nay,nay!"cried Fritzl."What's gone is gone,and so is my housework from this day on.Please,please,my Liesi—let me go back to my work in the fields,and never more will I say that my work is harder than yours."

"Well then,"said Liesi,"if that's how it is,we surely can live in peace and happiness for ever and ever."

And that they did.