dream days-第5部分

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it　seemed。　　Made　it　all　himself；　melted　the　lead　and　everything！　

I　examined　the　instrument　critically；　and　pronounced　it

absolutely　magnificent。　　As　we　passed　in　at　our　gate　the　girls

were　distantly　visible；　gardening　with　a　zeal　in　cheerful

contrast　to　their　heartsick　lassitude　of　the　morning。　　〃There's

bin　another　letter　come　to…day；〃　Harold　explained；　〃and　the

hamper　got　joggled　about　on　the　journey；　and　the　presents　worked

down　into　the　straw　and　all　over　the　place。　　One　of　'em　turned

up　inside　the　cold　duck。　　And　that's　why　they　weren't　found　at

first。　　And　Edward　said；　Thanks　AWFULLY〃

I　did　not　see　Martha　again　until　we　were　all　re…assembled　at　tea…

time；　when　she　seemed　red…eyed　and　strangely　silent；　neither

scolding　nor　finding　fault　with　anything。　　Instead；　she　was　very

kind　and　thoughtful　with　jams　and　things；　feverishly　pressing

unwonted　delicacies　on　us；　who　wanted　little　pressing　enough。　

Then　suddenly；　when　I　was　busiest；　she　disappeared；　and　Charlotte

whispered　me　presently　that　she　had　heard　her　go　to　her　room　and

lock　herself　in。　　This　struck　me　as　a　funny　sort　of

proceeding。









MUTABILE　SEMPER



She　stood　on　the　other　side　of　the　garden　fence；　and　regarded　me

gravely　as　I　came　down　the　road。　　Then　she　said；　〃Hi…o！〃　and　I

responded；　〃Hullo！〃　and　pulled　up　somewhat　nervously。



To　tell　the　truth；　the　encounter　was　not　entirely　unexpected　on

my　part。　　The　previous　Sunday　I　had　seen　her　in　church；　and　after

service　it　had　transpired　who　she　was；　this　new…comer；　and　what

aunt　she　was　staying　with。　　That　morning　a　volunteer　had　been

called　for；　to　take　a　note　to　the　Parsonage；　and　rather　to　my　own

surprise　I　had　found　myself　stepping　forward　with　alacrity；　while

the　others　had　become　suddenly　absorbed　in　various　pursuits；

or　had　sneaked　unobtrusively　out　of　view。　　Certainly　I　had　not

yet　formed　any　deliberate　plan　of　action；　yet　I　suppose　I

recollected　that　the　road　to　the　Parsonage　led　past　her　aunt's

garden。



She　began　the　conversation；　while　I　hopped　backwards　and　forwards

over　the　ditch；　feigning　a　careless　ease。



〃Saw　you　in　church　on　Sunday；〃　she　said；　〃only　you　looked

different　then。　　All　dressed　up；　and　your　hair　quite　smooth；　and

brushed　up　at　the　sides；　and　oh；　so　shiny！　　What　do　they　put　on

it　to　make　it　shine　like　that？　　Don't　you　hate　having　your　hair

brushed？〃　she　ran　on；　without　waiting　for　an　answer。　　〃How　your

boots　squeaked　when　you　came　down　the　aisle！　　When　mine　squeak；　I

walk　in　all　the　puddles　till　they　stop。　　Think　I'll　get　over　the

fence。〃



This　she　proceeded　to　do　in　a　businesslike　way；　while；　with

my　hands　deep　in　my　pockets；　I　regarded　her　movements　with　silent

interest；　as　those　of　some　strange　new　animal。



〃I've　been　gardening；〃　she　explained；　when　she　had　joined　me；

〃but　I　didn't　like　it。　　There's　so　many　worms　about　to…day。　　I

hate　worms。　　Wish　they'd　keep　out　of　the　way　when　I'm　digging。〃



〃Oh；　I　like　worms　when　I'm　digging；〃　I　replied　heartily；　〃seem　to

make　things　more　lively；　don't　they？〃



She　reflected。　　〃Shouldn't　mind　'em　so　much　if　they　were　warm　and

DRY；〃　she　said；　〃but〃　here　she　shivered；　and　somehow　I　liked

her　for　it；　though　if　it　had　been　my　own　flesh　and　blood　hoots　of

derision　would　have　instantly　assailed　her。



From　worms　we　passed；　naturally　enough；　to　frogs；　and　thence　to

pigs；　aunts；　gardeners；　rocking…horses；　and　other　fellow…citizens

of　our　common　kingdom。　　In　five　minutes　we　had　each　other's

confidences；　and　I　seemed　to　have　known　her　for　a　lifetime。　

Somehow；　on　the　subject　of　one's　self　it　was　easier　to　be　frank

and　communicative　with　her　than　with　one's　female　kin。　　It　must

be；　I　supposed；　because　she　was　less　familiar　with　one's　faulty；

tattered　past。



〃I　was　watching　you　as　you　came　along　the　road；〃　she　said

presently；　〃and　you　had　your　head　down　and　your　hands　in　your

pockets；　and　you　weren't　throwing　stones　at　anything；　or

whistling；　or　jumping　over　things；　and　I　thought　perhaps　you'd

bin　scolded；　or　got　a　stomach…ache。〃



〃No；〃　I　answered　shyly；　〃it　wasn't　that。　　Fact　is；　I　wasI

oftenbut　it's　a　secret。〃



There　I　made　an　error　in　tactics。　　That　enkindling　word　set　her

dancing　round　me；　half　beseeching；　half　imperious。　　〃Oh；　do

tell　it　me！〃　she　cried。　　〃You　must！　　I'll　never　tell　anyone　else

at　all；　I　vow　and　declare　I　won't！〃



Her　small　frame　wriggled　with　emotion；　and　with　imploring　eyes

she　jigged　impatiently　just　in　front　of　me。　　Her　hair　was　tumbled

bewitchingly　on　her　shoulders；　and　even　the　loss　of　a　front

tootha　loss　incidental　to　her　ageseemed　but　to　add　a　piquancy

to　her　face。



〃You　won't　care　to　hear　about　it；〃　I　said；　wavering。　　〃Besides；　I

can't　explain　exactly。　　I　think　I　won't　tell　you。〃　　But　all　the

time　I　knew　I　should　have　to。



〃But　I　DO　care；〃　she　wailed　plaintively。　　〃I　didn't　think

you'd　be　so　unkind！〃



This　would　never　do。　　That　little　downward　tug　at　either　corner

of　the　mouthI　knew　the　symptom　only　too　well！



〃It's　like　this；〃　I　began　stammeringly。　　〃This　bit　of　road　here

up　as　far　as　that　corneryou　know　it's　a　horrid　dull　bit　of

road。　　I'm　always　having　to　go　up　and　down　it；　and　I　know　it　so

well；　and　I'm　so　sick　of　it。　　So　whenever　I　get　to　that　corner；　I

justwell；　I　go　right　off　to　another　place！〃



〃What　sort　of　a　place？〃　she　asked；　looking　round　her　gravely。



〃Of　course　it's　just　a　place　I　imagine；〃　I　went　on　hurriedly　and

rather　shamefacedly：　〃but　it's　an　awfully　nice　placethe　nicest

place　you　ever　saw。　　And　I　always　go　off　there　in　church；　or

during　joggraphy　lessons。〃



〃I'm　sure　it's　not　nicer　than　my　home；〃　she　cried　patriotically。　

〃Oh；　you　ought　to　see　my　homeit's　lovely！　　We've　got〃



〃Yes　it　is；　ever　so　much　nicer；〃　I　interrupted。　　〃I　mean〃I　went

on　apologetically〃of　course　I　know　your　home's　beautiful　and

all　that。　　But　this　MUST　be　nicer；　'cos　if　you　want

anything　at　all；　you've　only　GOT　to　want　it；　and　you　can

have　it！〃



〃That　sounds　jolly；〃　she　murmured。　　〃Tell　me　more　about　it；

please。　　Tell　me　how　you　get　there；　first。〃



〃Idon'tquiteknowexactly；〃　I　replied。　　〃I　just　go。　　But

generally　it　begins　bywell；　you're　going　up　a　broad；　clear

river　in　a　sort　of　a　boat。　　You're　not　rowing　or　anythingyou're

just　moving　along。　　And　there's　beautiful　grass　meadows　on　both

sides；　and　the　river's　very　full；　quite　up　to　the　level　of　the

grass。　　And　you　glide　along　by　the　edge。　　And　the　people　are

haymaking　there；　and　playing　games；　and　walking　about；　and　they

shout　to　you；　and　you　shout　back　to　them；　and　they　bring　you

things　to　eat　out　of　their　baskets；　and　let　you　drink　out　of

their　bottles；　and　some　of　'em　are　the　nice　people　you　read　about

in　books。　　And　so　at　last　you　come　to　the　Palace　stepsgreat

broad　marble　steps；　reaching　right　down　to　the　water。　　And　there

at　the　steps　you　find　every　sort　of　boat　you　can　imagine

schooners；　and　punts；　and　row…boats；　and　little　men…of…war。　　And

you　have　any　sort　of　boating　you　want　torowing；　or　sailing；　or

shoving　about　in　a　punt！〃



〃I'd　go　sailing；〃　she　said　decidedly：　〃and　I'd　steer。　　No；

YOU'D　have　to　steer；　and　I'd　sit　about　on　the　deck。　　No；　I

wouldn't　though；　I'd　rowat　least　I'd　make　you　row；　and　I'd

steer。　　And　then　we'dOh；　no！　　I'll　tell　you　what　we'd　do！　　We'd

just　sit　in　a　punt　and　dabble！〃



〃Of　course　we'll　do　just　what　you　like；〃　I　said　hospitably；　but

already　I　was　beginning　to　feel　my　liberty　of　action　somewhat

curtailed　by　this　exigent　visitor　I　had　so　rashly　admitted　into

my　sanctum。



〃I　don't　think　we'd　boat　at　all；〃　she　finally　decided。　　〃It's

always　so　WOBBLY。　　Where　do　you　come　to　next？〃



〃You　go　up　the　steps；〃　I　continued；　〃and　in　at　the　door；　and　the

very　first　place　you　come　to　is　the　Chocolate…room！〃



She　brightened　up　at　this；　and　I　heard　her　murmur　with　gusto；

〃Chocolate…room！〃



〃It's　got　every　sort　of　chocolate　you　can　think　of；〃　I　went　on：

〃soft　chocolate；　with　sticky　stuff　inside；　white　and　pink；　what

girls　like；　and　hard　shiny　chocolate；　that　cracks　when　you　bite

it；　and　takes　such　a　nice　long　time　to　suck！〃



〃I　like　the　soft　stuff　best；〃　she　said：　〃'cos　you　can　eat　such　a

lot　more　of　it！〃



This　was　to　me　a　new　aspect　of　the　chocolate　question；　and　I

regarded　her　with　interest　and　some　respect。　　With　us；　chocolate

was　none　too　common　a　thing；　and；　whenever　we　happened　to　come

by　any；　we　resorted　to　the　quaintest　devices　in　order　to　make

it　last　out。　　Still；　legends　had　reached　us　of　children　who

actually　had；　from　time　to　time；　as　much　chocolate　as　they　could

possibly　eat；　and　here；　apparently；　was　one　of　them。



〃You　can　have　all　the　creams；〃　I　said　magnanimously；　〃and　I'll

eat　the　hard　sticks；　'cos　I　like　'em　best。〃



〃Oh；　but　you　mustn't！〃　she　cried　impetuously。　　〃You　must　eat　the

same　as　I　do！　　It　isn't　nice　to　want　to　eat　different。　　I'll　tell

you　whatyou　must　give　ME　all　the　chocolate；　and　then　I'll

give　YOUI'll　give　you　what　you　ought　to　have！〃



〃Oh；　all　right；〃　I　said；　in　a　subdued　sort　of　way。　　It　seemed　a

little　hard　to　be　put　under　a　sentimental　restriction　like　this

in　one's　own　Chocolate…room。



〃In　the　next　room　you　come　to；〃　I　proceeded；　〃there's　fizzy

drinks！　　There's　a　marble…slab　business　all　round　the　room；

and　little　silver　taps；　and　you　just　turn　the　right　tap；　and　have

any　kind　of　fizzy　drink　you　want。〃



〃What　fizzy　drinks　are　there？〃　she　inquired。



〃Oh；　all　sorts；〃　I　answered　hastily；　hurrying　on。　　（She　might

restrict　my　eatables；　but　I'd　be　hanged　if　I　was　going　to　have

her　meddle　with　my　drinks。）〃　　Then　you　go　down　the　corridor；　and

at　the　back　of　the　palace　there's　a　great　big　parkthe　finest

park　you　ever　saw。　　And　there's　ponies　to　ride　on；　and　carriages

and　carts；　and　a　little　railway；　all　complete；　engine　and　guard's

van　and　all；　and　you　work　it　yourself；　and　you　can　go　first…

class；　or　in　the　van；　or　on　the　engine；　just　whichev