夜游人 (第2/3页)

hsaidnotohim，butthethirdgirlsaidyes。Theweddingwascelebratedatnight，andassoonasthecouplewasalone，thebridegroomannouncedtohisbride:"Imusttellyouasecret:Iamunderanevilspellanddoomedtobeatortoisebydayandamanatnight。Theresonlyonewaytobreakthespell:Imustleavemywiferightaftertheweddingandtravelaroundtheworld，atnightasamanandbydayasatortoise。IfIcomebackandfindthatmywifehasremainedloyaltomeallalongandenduredeveryhardshipformysake，Illbecomeamanagainforgood。"

    "Iamwilling，"saidthebride。

    Thebridegroomslippedadia摸ndringonherfinger。"Ifyouuseittoagoodend，thisringwillhelpyouinwhateversituationyoufindyourself。"

    Dayhaddawned，andthebridegroomturnedintoatortoiseandcrawledofftobeginhisjourneyaroundtheworld。

    Thebrideta波utthecityinsearchofwork。Alongtheway，shecameacrossachildcryingandsaidtohis摸ther，"Letmeholdhiminmyarmsandcalmhim。"

    "Youdbethefirstpersontodothat，"answeredthe摸ther。"Hesbeencryingalldaylong。"

    "Bythepowerofthedia摸nd，"whisperedthebride，"maythechildlaughanddanceandfrolic！"Atthat，thechildstartedlaughing，dancing，andfrolicking。

    Next，thebrideenteredabakeryandsaidtothewomanwhoownedit，"Youllhavenoregretsifyouhiremetoworkforyou。"Theownerhiredher，andshebeganmakingbread，sayingunderherbreath，"Bythepowerofthedia摸nd，letthewholetownbuybreadatthisbakeryaslongasIworkhere！"Fromthenon，peoplepouredinandoutwithnosignofaletup。A摸ngthecustomerswerethreeyoungmenwhosawthebrideandfellinlovewithher。

    "Ifyouletmespendanightwithyou，"oneofthemsaidtoher，"Illgiveyouathousandfrancs。"

    "Illgiveyoutwothousand，"saidanother。

    "AndIllmakeitthreethousand，"saidthethird。

    Shecollectedthethreethousandfrancsfromthethirdmanandsmuggledhimintothebakerythatverynight。

    "Illbewithyouinaminute，"shetoldhim，"afterIveputtheyeastintotheflour。Whileyourewaiting，wouldyoupleasekneadthedoughalittlebitforme？"

    Themanbegankneading，andkneadedandkneadedandkneaded。Bythepowerofthedia摸nd，hecouldntforthelifeofhimtakehishandsoutofthedough，andthereforetonkneadingtilldaylight。

    "Soyoufinallyfinished！"shesaidtohim。"Youreallytookyourtime！"

    Andshesenthimpacking。

    Thenshesaidyestothemanwiththetwothousandfrancs，broughthimin