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The crisis was past； and Edward was saved！ 。 。 。 And yet 。 。 。 sunt
lachrymae rerem 。 。 。 to me watching the cigar… stump alternately pale and
glow against the dark background of laurel； a vision of a tip…tilted nose； of
a small head poised scornfully； seemed to hover on the gathering gloom
seemed to grow and fade and grow again； like the grin of the Cheshire cat…
… pathetically； reproachfully even； and the charms of the baker's wife
slipped from my memory like snow…wreaths in thaw。 After all； Sabina
was nowise to blame： why should the child be punished？ To…morrow I
would give them the slip； and stroll round by her garden promiscuous…like；
at a time when the farmer was safe in the rick…yard。 If nothing came of it；
there was no harm done； and if on the contrary。 。 。 ！
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The Golden Age
THE BURGLARS
It was much too fine a night to think of going to bed at once； and so；
although the witching hour of nine P。M。 had struck； Edward and I were
still leaning out of the open window in our nightshirts； watching the play
of the cedar…branch shadows on the moonlit lawn； and planning schemes
of fresh devilry for the sunshiny morrow。 From below； strains of the
jocund piano declared that the Olympians were enjoying themselves in
their listless； impotent way； for the new curate had been bidden to dinner
that night； and was at the moment unclerically proclaiming to all the world
that he feared no foe。 His discordant vociferations doubtless started a
train of thought in Edward's mind； for the youth presently remarked； a
propos of nothing that had been said before； 〃I believe the new curate's
rather gone on Aunt Maria。〃
I scouted the notion。 〃Why； she's quite old；〃 I said。 （She must have
seen some five…and…twenty summers。）
〃Of course she is；〃 replied Edward； scornfully。 〃It's not her； it's her
money he's after； you bet！〃
〃Didn't know she had any money；〃 I observed timidly。
〃Sure to have；〃 said my brother； with confidence。 〃Heaps and
heaps。〃
Silence ensued； both our minds being busy with the new situation thus
presented；mine； in wonderment at this flaw that so often declared itself
in enviable natures of fullest endowment；in a grown…up man and a good
cricketer； for instance； even as this curate； Edward's （apparently）； in the
consideration of how such a state of things； supposing it existed； could be
best turned to his own advantage。
〃Bobby Ferris told me；〃 began Edward in due course； 〃that there was a
fellow spooning his sister once〃
〃What's spooning？〃 I asked meekly。
〃Oh； _I_ dunno；〃 said Edward； indifferently。 It'sit'sit's just a thing
they do； you know。 And he used to carry notes and messages and things
between 'em； and he got a shilling almost every time。〃
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The Golden Age
〃What； from each of 'em？〃 I innocently inquired。
Edward looked at me with scornful pity。 〃Girls never have any
money；〃 he briefly explained。 〃But she did his exercises and got him out
of rows； and told stories for him when he needed itand much better ones
than he could have made up for himself。 Girls are useful in some ways。
So he was living in clover； when unfortunately they went and quarrelled
about something。〃
〃Don't see what that's got to do with it；〃 I said。 〃Nor don't I；〃
rejoined Edward。 〃But anyhow the notes and things stopped； and so did
the shillings。 Bobby was fairly cornered； for he had bought two ferrets
on tick； and promised to pay a shilling a week； thinking the shillings were
going on for ever； the silly young ass。 So when the week was up； and he
was being dunned for the shilling； he went off to the fellow and said；
‘Your broken…hearted Bella implores you to meet her at sundown； by the
hollow oak； as of old； be it only for a moment。 Do not fail！' He got all
that out of some rotten book； of course。 The fellow looked puzzled and
said；
〃‘What hollow oak？ I don't know any hollow oak。'
〃‘Perhaps it was the Royal Oak？' said Bobby promptly； 'cos he saw he
had made a slip； through trusting too much to the rotten book； but this
didn't seem to make the fellow any happier。〃
〃Should think not；〃 I said； 〃the Royal Oak's an awful low sort of pub。〃
〃I know；〃 said Edward。 〃Well； at last the fellow said； ‘I think I know
what she means： the hollow tree in your father's paddock。 It happens to
be an elm； but she wouldn't know the difference。 All right： say I'll be
there。' Bobby hung about a bit； for he hadn't got his money。 ‘She was
crying awfully；' he said。 Then he got his shilling。〃
〃And wasn't the fellow riled；〃 I inquired； 〃when he got to the place and
found nothing？〃
〃He found Bobby；〃 said Edward； indignantly。 〃Young Ferris was a
gentleman； every inch of him。 He brought the fellow another message
from Bella： ‘I dare not leave the house。 My cruel parents immure me
closely If you only knew what I suffer。 Your broken…hearted Bella。' Out
of the same rotten book。 This made the fellow a little suspicious；'cos it
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The Golden Age
was the old Ferrises who had been keen about the thing all through： the
fellow； you see； had tin。〃
〃But what's that got to〃 I began again。
〃Oh； _I_ dunno；〃 said Edward； impatiently。 ‘I'm telling you just what
Bobby told me。 He got suspicious； anyhow； but he couldn't exactly call
Bella's brother a liar； so Bobby escaped for the time。 But when he was in
a hole next week； over a stiff French exercise； and tried the same sort of
game on his sister； she was too sharp for him； and he got caught out。
Somehow women seem more mistrustful than men。 They're so beastly
suspicious by nature； you know。〃
〃_I_ know；〃 said I。 〃But did the twothe fellow and the sistermake
it up afterwards？〃
〃I don't remember about that；〃 replied Edward； indifferently； 〃but