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are going to get married？〃 He only laughed； after the Fairy fashion。
〃Because if you aren't；〃 I added； 〃you really ought to〃： meaning only that
a man who discovered a Princess； living in the right sort of Palace like this；
and didn't marry her there and then； was false to all recognised tradition。
They laughed again； and my friend suggested I should go down to the
pond and look at the gold…fish； while they went for a stroll。
I was sleepy； and assented； but before they left me； the grown…up man
put two half…crowns in my hand； for the purpose； he explained； of treating
the other water…babies。 I was so touched by this crowning mark of
friendship that I nearly cried； and thought much more of his generosity
than of the fact that the Princess； ere she moved away； stooped down and
kissed me。
I watched them disappear down the pathhow naturally arms seem to
go round waists in Fairyland！and then； my cheek on the cool marble；
lulled by the trickle of water； I slipped into dreamland out of real and
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The Golden Age
magic world alike。 When I woke； the sun had gone in； a chill wind set all
the leaves a…whispering； and the peacock on the lawn was harshly calling
up the rain。 A wild unreasoning panic possessed me； and I sped out of
the garden like a guilty thing； wriggled through the rabbit…run； and
threaded my doubtful way homewards； hounded by nameless terrors。
The half… crowns happily remained solid and real to the touch； but could I
hope to bear such treasure safely through the brigand…haunted wood？ It
was a dirty； weary little object that entered its home； at nightfall； by the
unassuming aid of the scullery…window： and only to be sent tealess to bed
seemed infinite mercy to him。 Officially tealess； that is； for； as was usual
after such escapades； a sympathetic housemaid； coming delicately by
backstairs； stayed him with chunks of cold pudding and condolence； till
his small skin was tight as any drum。 Then； nature asserting herself； I
passed into the comforting kingdom of sleep； where； a golden carp of
fattest build； I oared it in translucent waters with a new half…crown snug
under right fin and left； and thrust up a nose through water…lily leaves to
be kissed by a rose…flushed Princess。
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The Golden Age
SAWDUST AND SIN
A belt of rhododendrons grew close down to one side of our pond； and
along the edge of it many things flourished rankly。 If you crept through
the undergrowth and crouched by the water's rim； it was easyif your
imagination were in healthy working orderto transport yourself in a trice
to the heart of a tropical forest。 Overhead the monkeys chattered； parrots
flashed from bough to bough； strange large blossoms shone around you；
and the push and rustle of great beasts moving unseen thrilled you
deliciously。 And if you lay down with your nose an inch or two from the
water； it was not long ere the old sense of proportion vanished clean away。
The glittering insects that darted to and fro on its surface became sea…
monsters dire； the gnats that hung above them swelled to albatrosses； and
the pond itself stretched out into a vast inland sea； whereon a navy might
ride secure； and whence at any moment the hairy scalp of a sea serpent
might be seen to emerge。
It is impossible； however； to play at tropical forests properly； when
homely accents of the human voice intrude； and all my hopes of seeing a
tiger seized by a crocodile while drinking （vide picture…books； passim）
vanished abruptly； and earth resumed her old dimensions； when the sound
of Charlotte's prattle somewhere hard by broke in on my primeval
seclusion。 Looking out from the bushes； I saw her trotting towards an
open space of lawn the other side the pond； chattering to herself in her
accustomed fashion； a doll tucked under either arm； and her brow knit
with care。 Propping up her double burden against a friendly stump； she
sat down in front of them； as full of worry and anxiety as a Chancellor on
a Budget night。
Her victims； who stared resignedly in front of them； were recognisable
as Jerry and Rosa。 Jerry hailed from far Japan： his hair was straight and
black； his one garment cotton； of a simple blue； and his reputation was
distinctly bad。 Jerome was his proper name； from his supposed likeness
to the holy man who hung in a print on the staircase； though a shaven
crown was the only thing in common 'twixt Western saint and Eastern
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The Golden Age
sinner。 Rosa was typical British； from her flaxen poll to the stout calves
she displayed so liberally； and in character she was of the blameless order
of those who have not yet been found out。
I suspected Jerry from the first； there was a latent devilry in his slant
eyes as he sat there moodily； and knowing what he was capable of I
scented trouble in store for Charlotte。 Rosa I was not so sure about； she
sat demurely and upright； and looked far away into the tree…tops in a
visionary； world…forgetting sort of way； yet the prim purse of her mouth
was somewhat overdone； and her eyes glittered unnaturally。
〃Now； I'm going to begin where I left off；〃 said Charlotte； regardless
of stops； and thumping the turf with her fist excitedly： 〃and you must pay
attention； 'cos this is a treat； to have a story told you before you're put to
bed。 Well； so the White Rabbit scuttled off down the passage and Alice
hoped he'd come back 'cos he had a waistcoat on and her flamingo flew up
a treebut we haven't got to that part yetyou must wait a minute； and
where had I got to？〃
Jerry only remained passive until Charlotte had got well under way；
and then began to heel over quietly in Rosa's direction。 His head fell on
her plump shoulder； causing her to start nervously。
Charlotte seized and shook him with vigour； 〃O Jerry；〃 she crie