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The Golden Age
supper； and buried himself in the broad bosom of the cook； his special ally。
The curate faced the laurelshesitatingly。 But Aunt Maria flung herself
on him。 〃O Mr。 Hodgitts！〃 I heard her cry； 〃you are brave！ for my sake
do not be rash！〃 He was not rash。 When I peeped out a second later；
the coast was entirely clear。
By this time there were sounds of a household timidly emerging； and
Edward remarked to me that perhaps we had better be off。 Retreat was
an easy matter。 A stunted laurel gave a leg up on to the garden wall；
which led in its turn to the roof of an out… house； up which； at a dubious
angle； we could crawl to the window of the box…room。 This overland
route had been revealed to us one day by the domestic cat； when hard
pressed in the course of an otter…hunt； in which the catsomewhat
unwillinglywas filling the title role； and it had proved distinctly useful
on occasions like the present。 We were snug in bedminus some cuticle
from knees and elbowsand Harold； sleepily chewing something sticky；
had been carried up in the arms of the friendly cook； ere the clamour of the
burglar…hunters had died away。
The curate's undaunted demeanour； as reported by Aunt Maria； was
generally supposed to have terrified the burglars into flight； and much
kudos accrued to him thereby。 Some days later； however； when he hid
dropped in to afternoon tea； and was making a mild curatorial joke about
the moral courage required for taking the last piece of bread…and…butter； I
felt constrained to remark dreamily； and as it were to the universe at large；
〃Mr。 Hodgitts！ you are brave！ for my sake； do not be rash！〃
Fortunately for me； the vicar was also a caller on that day； and it was
always a comparatively easy matter to dodge my long…coated friend in the
open。
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The Golden Age
A HARVESTING
The year was in its yellowing time； and the face of Nature a study in
old gold。 〃A field or； semee； with garbs of the same：〃 it may be false
HeraldryNature's generally isbut it correctly blazons the display that
Edward and I considered from the rickyard gate； Harold was not on in this
scene； being stretched upon the couch of pain； the special disorder
stomachic； as usual。
The evening before； Edward； in a fit of unwonted amiability； had
deigned to carve me out a turnip lantern； an art…and…craft he was peculiarly
deft in； and Harold； as the interior of the turnip flew out in scented
fragments under the hollowing knife； had eaten largely thereof： regarding
all such jetsam as his special perquisite。 Now he was dreeing his weird；
with such assistance as the chemist could afford。 But Edward and I；
knowing that this particular field was to be carried to…day； were revelling
in the privilege of riding in the empty waggons from the rickyard back to
the sheaves； whence we returned toilfully on foot； to career it again over
the billowy acres in these great galleys of a stubble sea。 It was the
nearest approach to sailing that we inland urchins might compass： and
hence it ensued； that such stirring scenes as Sir Richard Grenville on the
Revenge； the smoke…wreathed Battle of the Nile； and the Death of Nelson；
had all been enacted in turn on these dusty quarter decks； as they swayed
and bumped afield。
Another waggon had shot its load； and was jolting out through the
rickyard gate； as we swung ourselves in； shouting； over its tail。
Edward was the first up； and； as I gained my feet； he clutched me in a
death…grapple。 I was a privateersman； he proclaimed； and he the captain
of the British frigate Terpsichore； ofI forget the precise number of guns。
Edward always collared the best parts to himself； but I was holding my
own gallantly； when I suddenly discovered that the floor we battled on was
swarming with earwigs。 Shrieking； I hurled free of him； and rolled over
the tail…board on to the stubble。 Edward executed a war…dance of
triumph on the deck of the retreating galleon； but I cared little for that。 I
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The Golden Age
knew HE knew that I wasn't afraid of him； but that I wasand terriblyof
earwigs； 〃those mortal bugs o' the field。〃 So I let him disappear； shouting
lustily for all hands to repel boarders； while I strolled inland； down the
village。
There was a touch of adventure in the expedition。 This was not our
own village； but a foreign one； distant at least a mile。 One felt that sense
of mingled distinction and insecurity which is familiar to the traveller：
distinction； in that folk turned the head to note you curiously； insecurity；
by reason of the ever… present possibility of missiles on the part of the
more juvenile inhabitants； a class eternally conservative。 Elated with
isolation； I went even more nose…in…air than usual： and 〃even so；〃 I mused；
〃might Mungo Park have threaded the trackless African forest and。 。 。〃
Here I plumped against a soft； but resisting body。
Recalled to my senses by the shock； I fell back in the attitude every
boy under these circumstances instinctively adoptsboth elbows well up
over the ears。 I found myself facing a tall elderly man； clean…shaven；
clad in well…worn blacka clergyman evidently； and I noted at once a far…
away look in his eyes； as if they were used to another plane of vision； and
could not instantly focus things terrestrial； being suddenly recalled thereto。
His figure was bent in apologetic protest： 〃I ask a thousand pardons； sir；〃
he said； 〃I am really so very absent… minded。 I trust you will forgive
me。〃
Now most boys would have suspected chaff under this courtly style of
address。 I take infinite credit to myself for recognising at once the
natural attitude of a man to whom his fellows were gentlemen all； neither
Jew nor Gentile； clean nor unclean。 Of course； I took the