按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and the glory were entirely the dragon's。 But they didn't mind that； being
good fellows； and the dragon was not in the least proud or forgetful。 On
the contrary； every ten minutes or so he leant over towards the Boy and
said impressively： 〃Look here！ you WILL see me home afterwards；
won't you？〃 And the Boy always nodded； though he had promised his
mother not to be out late。
At last the banquet was over； the guests had dropped away with many
good…nights and congratulations and invitations； and the dragon； who had
seen the last of them off the premises； emerged into the street followed by
the Boy； wiped his brow； sighed； sat down in the road and gazed at the
stars。 〃Jolly night it's been！〃 he murmured。 〃Jolly stars！ Jolly little
place this！ Think I shall just stop here。 Don't feel like climbing up any
beastly hill。 Boy's promised to see me home。 Boy had better do it then！
No responsibility on my part。 Responsibility all Boy's！〃 And his chin
sank on his broad chest and he slumbered peacefully。
〃Oh； GET up； dragon；〃 cried the Boy； piteously。 〃You KNEW my
mother's sitting up； and I'm so tired； and you made me promise to see you
home； and I never knew what it meant or I wouldn't have done it！〃 And
the Boy sat down in the road by the side of the sleeping dragon； and cried。
The door behind them opened； a stream of light illumined the road；
and St。 George； who had come out for a stroll in the cool night…air； caught
sight of the two figures sitting therethe great motionless dragon and the
88
… Page 89…
DREAM DAYS
tearful little Boy。
〃What's the matter； Boy？〃 he inquired kindly； stepping to his side。
〃Oh； it's this great lumbering PIG of a dragon！〃 sobbed the Boy。
〃First he makes me promise to see him home； and then he says I'd better
do it； and goes to sleep！ Might as well try to see a HAYSTACK home！
And I'm so tired； and mother's〃 here he broke down again。
〃Now don't take on；〃 said St。 George。 〃I'll stand by you； and we'll
BOTH see him home。 Wake up； dragon！〃 he said sharply； shaking the
beast by the elbow。
The dragon looked up sleepily。 〃What a night； George！〃 he
murmured； 〃what a〃
〃Now look here； dragon；〃 said the Saint； firmly。 〃Here's this little
fellow waiting to see you home； and you KNOW he ought to have been in
bed these two hours； and what his mother'll say _I_ don't know； and
anybody but a selfish pig would have MADE him go to bed long ago〃
〃And he SHALL go to bed！〃 cried the dragon； starting up。 〃Poor
little chap； only fancy his being up at this hour！ It's a shame； that's what
it is； and I don't think； St。 George； you've been very consideratebut come
along at once； and don't let us have any more arguing or shilly…shallying。
You give me hold of your hand； Boythank you； George； an arm up the
hill is just what I wanted！〃
So they set off up the hill arm…in…arm； the Saint； the Dragon； and the
Boy。 The lights in the little village began to go out； but there were stars；
and a late moon； as they climbed to the Downs together。 And； as they
turned the last corner and disappeared from view； snatches of an old song
were borne back on the night…breeze。 I can't be certain which of them
was singing； but I THINK it was the Dragon！
〃Here we are at your gate；〃 said the man； abruptly； laying his hand on
it。 〃Good…night。 Cut along in sharp； or you'll catch it！〃
Could it really be our own gate？ Yes； there it was； sure enough； with
the familiar marks on its bottom bar made by our feet when we swung on
it。
〃Oh； but wait a minute！〃 cried Charlotte。 〃I want to know a heap of
things。 Did the dragon really settle down？ And did〃
89
… Page 90…
DREAM DAYS
〃There isn't any more of that story；〃 said the man； kindly but firmly。
〃At least； not to…night。 Now be off！ Good…bye！〃
〃Wonder if it's all true？〃 said Charlotte； as we hurried up the path。
〃Sounded dreadfully like nonsense； in parts！〃
〃P'raps its true for all that；〃 I replied encouragingly。
Charlotte bolted in like a rabbit； out of the cold and the dark； but I
lingered a moment in the still； frosty air； for a backward glance at the
silent white world without； ere I changed it for the land of firelight and
cushions and laughter。 It was the day for choir…practice； and carol…time
was at hand； and a belated member was passing homewards down the road；
singing as he went：
〃Then St。 George： ee made rev'rence： in the stable so dim； Oo
vanquished the dragon： so fearful and grim。 So…o grim： and so…o fierce：
that now may we say All peaceful is our wakin'： on Chri…istmas Day！〃
The singer receded； the carol died away。 But I wondered； with my
hand on the door…latch； whether that was the song； or something like it；
that the dragon sang as he toddled contentedly up the hill。
90
… Page 91…
DREAM DAYS
A DEPARTURE
It is a very fine thing to be a real Prince。 There are points about a
Pirate Chief； and to succeed to the Captaincy of a Robber Band is a truly
magnificent thing。 But to be an Heir has also about it something
extremely captivating。 Not only a long…lost heiran heir of the
melodrama； strutting into your hitherto unsuspected kingdom at just the
right moment； loaded up with the consciousness of unguessed merit and of
rights so long feloniously withheldbut even to be a common humdrum
domestic heir is a profession to which few would refuse to be apprenticed。
To step from leading…strings and restrictions and one glass of port after
dinner； into property and liberty and due appreciation； saved up； polished
and varnished； dusted and laid in lavender； all expressly for youwhy；
even the Princedom and the Robber Captaincy； when their anxieties and
responsibilities are considered； have hardly more to offer。 And so it will
continue to be a problem； to the youth in whom ambition struggles with a
certain sensuous appreciation of life's side…dishes； whether the career he is
called upon to select out of the glittering knick…knacks that strew the
counter had better be that of an heir or an engine…driver。
In the case of eldest sons； this problem has a way of solving itself。 In
childhood； however； the actual heirship is apt to work on the principle of
the 〃Borough…English〃 of our happier ancestors； and in most cases of
inheritance it is the youngest that succeeds。 Where the 〃res〃 is 〃angusta；〃
and the weekly books are simply a series of stiff hurdles at each of which
in succession the paternal legs falter with growing suspicion of their
powers to clear the flight； it is in the affair of CLOTHES that the right of
succession tells； and 〃the hard heir strides about the land〃 in trousers long
ago framed for fraternal limbsfrondes novas et non sua poma。 A bitter
thing indeed！ Of those pretty silken threads that knit humanity together；
high and low； past and present； none is tougher； more pervading； or more
iridescent； than the honest； simple pleasure of new clothes。
It tugs at the man as it tugs at the woman； the smirk of the well…fitted
prince is no different from the smirk of the Sunday… clad peasant； and the
91
… Page 92…
DREAM DAYS
veins of the elders tingle with the same thrill that sets their fresh…frocked
grandchildren skipping。 Never trust people who pretend that they have
no joy in their new clothes。
Let not our souls be wrung； however； at contemplation of the luckless
urchin cut off by parental penury from the rapture of new clothes。 Just as
the heroes o