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Charlotte seized and shook him with vigour； 〃O Jerry；〃 she cried
piteously； 〃if you're not going to be good； how ever shall I tell you my
story？〃
Jerry's face was injured innocence itself。 〃Blame if you like；
Madam；〃 he seemed to say； 〃the eternal laws of gravitation； but not a
helpless puppet； who is also an orphan and a stranger in the land。〃
〃Now we'll go on；〃 began Charlotte once more。 〃So she got into the
garden at lastI've left out a lot； but you won't care； I'll tell you some other
timeand they were all playing croquet； and that's where the flamingo
comes in； and the Queen shouted out； ‘Off with her head！'〃
At this point Jerry collapsed forward； suddenly and completely； his
bald pate between his knees。 Charlotte was not very angry this time。
The sudden development of tragedy in the story had evidently been too
much for the poor fellow。 She straightened him out； wiped his nose； and；
after trying him in various positions； to which he refused to adapt himself；
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she propped him against the shoulder of the （apparently） unconscious
Rosa。 Then my eyes were opened； and the full measure of Jerry's infamy
became apparent。 This； then； was what he had been playing up for。 The
fellow had designs。 I resolved to keep him under close observation。
〃If you'd been in the garden；〃 went on Charlotte； reproachfully； 〃and
flopped down like that when the Queen said ‘Off with his head！' she'd
have offed with your head； but Alice wasn't that sort of girl at all。 She
just said； ‘I'm not afraid of you； you're nothing but a pack of cards'oh；
dear！ I've got to the end already； and I hadn't begun hardly！ I never can
make my stories last out！ Never mind； I'll tell you another one。〃
Jerry didn't seem to care； now he had gained his end； whether the
stories lasted out or not。 He was nestling against Rosa's plump form with
a look of satisfaction that was simply idiotic； and one arm had disappeared
from viewwas it round her waist？ Rosa's natural blush seemed deeper
than usual； her head inclined shyly it must have been round her waist。
〃If it wasn't so near your bedtime；〃 continued Charlotte； reflectively；
〃I'd tell you a nice story with a bogy in it。 But you'd be frightened； and
you'd dream of bogies all night。 So I'll tell you one about a White Bear；
only you mustn't scream when the bear says ‘Wow；' like I used to； 'cos he's
a good bear really〃
Here Rosa fell flat on her back in the deadest of faints。 Her limbs
were rigid； her eyes glassy； what had Jerry been doing？ It must have
been something very bad； for her to take on like that。 I scrutinised him
carefully； while Charlotte ran to comfort the damsel。 He appeared to be
whistling a tune and regarding the scenery。 If I only possessed Jerry's
command of feature； I thought to myself； half regretfully； I would never be
found out in anything。
〃It's all your fault； Jerry；〃 said Charlotte； reproachfully； when the lady
had been restored to consciousness： 〃Rosa's as good as gold； except
when you make her wicked。 I'd put you in the corner； only a stump
hasn't got a cornerwonder why that is？ Thought everything had corners。
Never mind； you'll have to sit with your face to the wallSO。 Now you
can sulk if you like！〃
Jerry seemed to hesitate a moment between the bliss of indulgence in
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The Golden Age
sulks with a sense of injury； and the imperious summons of beauty waiting
to be wooed at his elbow； then； carried away by his passion； he fell
sideways across Rosa's lap。 One arm stuck stiffly upwards； as in
passionate protestation； his amorous countenance was full of entreaty。
Rosa hesitatedwaveredand yielded； crushing his slight frame under the
weight of her full… bodied surrender。
Charlotte had stood a good deal； but it was possible to abuse even her
patience。 Snatching Jerry from his lawless embraces； she reversed him
across her knee； and thenthe outrage offered to the whole superior sex in
Jerry's hapless person was too painful to witness； but though I turned my
head away； the sound of brisk slaps continued to reach my tingling ears。
When I looked again； Jerry was sitting up as before； his garment；
somewhat crumpled； was restored to its original position； but his pallid
countenance was set hard。 Knowing as I did； only too well； what a
volcano of passion and shame must be seething under that impassive
exterior； for the moment I felt sorry for him。
Rosa's face was still buried in her frock； it might have been shame； it
might have been grief for Jerry's sufferings。 But the callous Japanese
never even looked her way。 His heart was exceeding bitter within him。
In merely following up his natural impulses he had run his head against
convention； and learnt how hard a thing it was； and the sunshiny world
was all black to him。
Even Charlotte softened somewhat at the sight of his rigid misery。 〃If
you'll say you're sorry。 Jerome；〃 she said； 〃I'll say I'm sorry； too。〃
Jerry only dropped his shoulders against the stump and stared out in
the direction of his dear native Japan； where love was no sin； and
smacking had not been introduced。 Why had he ever left it？ He would
go back to…morrowand yet there were obstacles： another grievance。
Nature； in endowing Jerry with every grace of form and feature； along
with a sensitive soul； had somehow forgotten the gift of locomotion。
There was a crackling in the bushes behind me； with sharp short pants
as of a small steam…engine； and Rollo； the black retriever； just released
from his chain by some friendly hand； burst through the underwood；
seeking congenial company。 I joyfully hailed him to s