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Then a white road ran； with wilful； uncalled…for loops； up a steep； conical
hill； crowned with towers； bastioned walls； and belfries； and down the
road the little knights came riding； two and two。 The hill on one side
descended to water； tranquil； far…reaching； and blue； and a very curly ship
lay at anchor； with one mast having an odd sort of crow's…nest at the top of
it。
There was plenty to do in this pleasant land。 The annoying thing
about it was； one could never penetrate beyond a certain point。 I might
wander up that road as often as I liked； I was bound to be brought up at the
gateway； the funny galleried； top…heavy gateway； of the little walled town。
Inside； doubtless； there were high jinks going on； but the password was
denied to me。 I could get on board a boat and row up as far as the curly
ship； but around the headland I might not go。 On the other side； of a
surety； the shipping lay thick。 The merchants walked on the quay； and
the sailors sang as they swung out the corded bales。 But as for me； I
must stay down in the meadow； and imagine it all as best I could。
Once I broached the subject to Charlotte； and found； to my surprise；
that she had had the same joys and encountered the same disappointments
in this delectable country。 She； too； had walked up that road and
flattened her nose against that portcullis； and she pointed out something
that I had overlookedto wit； that if you rowed off in a boat to the curly
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DREAM DAYS
ship； and got hold of a rope； and clambered aboard of her； and swarmed up
the mast； and got into the crow's…nest； you could just see over the headland；
and take in at your ease the life and bustle of the port。 She proceeded to
describe all the fun that was going on there； at such length and with so
much particularity that I looked at her suspiciously。 〃Why； you talk as if
you'd been in that crow's…nest yourself！〃 I said。 Charlotte answered
nothing； but pursed her mouth up and nodded violently for some minutes；
and I could get nothing more out of her。 I felt rather hurt。 Evidently she
had managed； somehow or other； to get up into that crow's…nest。
Charlotte had got ahead of me on this occasion。
It was necessary； no doubt； that grown…up people should dress
themselves up and go forth to pay calls。 I don't mean that we saw any
sense in the practice。 It would have been so much more reasonable to
stay at home in your old clothes and play。 But we recognized that these
folk had to do many unaccountable things； and after all it was THEIR life；
and not ours； and we were not in a position to criticise。 Besides； they had
many habits more objectionable than this one； which to us generally meant
a free and untrammelled afternoon； wherein to play the devil in our own
way。 The case was different； however； when the press…gang was abroad；
when prayers and excuses were alike disregarded； and we were forced into
the service； like native levies impelled toward the foe less by the inherent
righteousness of the cause than by the indisputable rifles of their white
allies。 This was unpardonable and altogether detestable。 Still； the thing
happened； now and again； and when it did； there was no arguing about it。
The order was for the front； and we just had to shut up and march。
Selina； to be sure； had a sneaking fondness for dressing up and paying
calls； though she pretended to dislike it； just to keep on the soft side of
public opinion。 So I thought it extremely mean in her to have the earache
on that particular afternoon when Aunt Eliza ordered the pony…carriage
and went on the war…path。 I was ordered also； in the same breath as the
pony…carriage； and； as we eventually trundled off； it seemed to me that the
utter waste of that afternoon； for which I had planned so much； could
never be made up nor atoned for in all the tremendous stretch of years that
still lay before me。
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The house that we were bound for on this occasion was a 〃big house；〃
a generic title applied by us to the class of residence that had a long
carriage…drive through rhododendrons； and a portico propped by fluted
pillars； and a grave butler who bolted back swing…doors； and came down
steps； and pretended to have entirely forgotten his familiar intercourse
with you at less serious moments； and a big hall； where no boots or shoes
or upper garments were allowed to lie about frankly and easily； as with us；
and where； finally； people were apt to sit about dressed up as if they were
going on to a party。
The lady who received us was effusive to Aunt Eliza and hollowly
gracious to me。 In ten seconds they had their heads together and were
hard at it talking CLOTHES。 I was left high and dry on a straight…backed
chair； longing to kick the legs of it； yet not daring。 For a time I was
content to stare； there was lots to stare at； high and low and around。
Then the inevitable fidgets came on； and scratching one's legs mitigated
slightly； but did not entirely disperse them。 My two warders were still
deep in clothes； I slipped off my chair and edged cautiously around the
room； exploring； examining； recording。
Many strange； fine things lay along my routepictures and gimcracks
on the walls； trinkets and globular old watches and snuff…boxes on the
tables； and I took good care to finger everything within reach thoroughly
and conscientiously。 Some articles； in addition； I smelt。 At last in my
orbit I happened on an open door； half concealed by the folds of a curtain。
I glanced carefully around。 They were still deep in clothes； both talking
together； and I slipped through。
This was altogether a more sensible sort of room that I had got into；
for the walls were honestly upholstered with books； though these for the
most part glimmered provokingly through the glass doors of their tall
cases。 I read their titles longingly； breathing on every accessible pane of
glass； for I dared not attempt to open the doors； with the enemy encamped
so near。 In the window； though； on a high sort of desk； there lay； all by
itself； a most promising…looking book； gorgeously bound。 I raised the
leaves by one corner； and like scent from a pot…pourri jar there floated out
a brief vision of blues and reds； telling of pictures； and pictures all highly
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DREAM DAYS
coloured！ Here was the right sort of thing at last； and my afternoon
would not be entirely wasted。 I inclined an ear to the door by which I
had entered。 Like the brimming tide of a full…fed river the grand； eternal；
inexhaustible clothes…problem bubbled and eddied and surged along。 It
seemed safe enough。 I slid the book off its desk with some difficulty； for
it was very fine and large； and staggered with it to the hearthrugthe only
fit and proper place for books of quality； such as this。
They were excellent hearthrugs in that house； soft and wide； with the
thickest of pile； and one's knees sank into them most comfortably。 When
I got the book open there was a difficulty at first in making the great stiff
pages lie down。 Most fortunately the coal…scuttle was actually at my
elbow； and it was easy to find a flat bit of coal to lay on the refractory page。
Really； it was just as if everything had been arranged for me。 This was
not such a bad sort of house after all。
The beginnings of the thing were gay bordersscrolls and strap… work
and diapered backgrounds； a maze of colour； with small misshapen figures
clambering cheerily up and down everywhere。 But first I eagerly
scanned what text there was in the mid