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moment's break in his descant； and then； 〃You'd better drink it before it
gets cold；〃 she observed again； impassively。 The wretched man cast a
deprecating look at me。 〃Perhaps a little tea would be rather nice；〃 he
observed； feebly； and to my great relief he led the way into the garden。 I
looked about for the little gentleman； but； failing to discover him； I
concluded he was absent…minded too； and attacked the 〃cakes and things〃
with no misgivings。
After a most successful and most learned tea a something happened
which； small as I was； never quite shook itself out of my memory。
To us at parley in an arbour over the high road； there entered；
slouching into view； a dingy tramp； satellited by a frowsy woman and a
pariah dog； and； catching sight of us； he set up his professional whine； and
I looked at my friend with the heartiest compassion； for I knew well from
Marthait was common talkthat at this time of day he was certainly and
surely penniless。 Morn by morn he started forth with pockets lined； and
each returning evening found him with never a sou。 All this he
proceeded to explain at length to the tramp； courteously and even
shamefacedly； as one who was in the wrong； and at last the gentleman of
the road； realising the hopelessness of his case； set to and cursed him with
gusto； vocabulary； and abandonment。 He reviled his eyes； his features；
his limbs； his profession； his relatives and surroundings； and then slouched
off； still oozing malice and filth。 We watched the party to a turn in the
road； where the woman； plainly weary； came to a stop。 Her lord； after
some conventional expletives demanded of him by his position； relieved
her of her bundle； and caused her to hang on his arm with a certain rough
kindness of tone； and in action even a dim approach to tenderness； and the
dingy dog crept up for one lick at her hand。
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The Golden Age
〃See；〃 said my friend； bearing somewhat on my shoulder； 〃how this
strange thing； this love of ours； lives and shines out in the unlikeliest of
places！ You have been in the fields in early morning？ Barren acres； all！
But only stoopcatch the light thwartwiseand all is a silver network of
gossamer！ So the fairy filaments of this strange thing underrun and link
together the whole world。 Yet it is not the old imperious god of the fatal
bow｛3 GREEK｝not thatnor even the placid respectable ｛GREEK｝but
something still unnamed； perhaps more mysterious； more divine！ Only
one must stoop to see it； old fellow； one must stoop！〃
The dew was falling； the dusk closing； as I trotted briskly homewards
down the road。 Lonely spaces everywhere； above and around。 Only
Hesperus hung in the sky； solitary； pure； ineffably far…drawn and remote；
yet infinitely heartening； somehow； in his valorous isolation。
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The Golden Age
SNOWBOUND
Twelfth…night had come and gone； and life next morning seemed a
trifle flat and purposeless。 But yester…eve and the mummers were here！
They had come striding into the old kitchen； powdering the red brick floor
with snow from their barbaric bedizenments； and stamping； and crossing；
and declaiming； till all was whirl and riot and shout。 Harold was frankly
afraid： unabashed； he buried himself in the cook's ample bosom。 Edward
feigned a manly superiority to illusion； and greeted these awful apparitions
familiarly； as Dick and Harry and Joe。 As for me； I was too big to run；
too rapt to resist the magic and surprise。 Whence came these outlanders；
breaking in on us with song and ordered masque and a terrible clashing of
wooden swords？ And after these； what strange visitants might we not
look for any quiet night； when the chestnuts popped in the ashes； and the
old ghost stories drew the awe…stricken circle close？ Old Merlin； perhaps；
〃all furred in black sheep…skins； and a russet gown； with a bow and arrows；
and bearing wild geese in his hand！〃 Or stately Ogier the Dane； recalled
from Faery； asking his way to the land that once had need of him！ Or
even； on some white night； the Snow… Queen herself； with a chime of
sleigh…bells and the patter of reindeers' feet； with sudden halt at the door
flung wide； while aloft the Northern Lights went shaking attendant spears
among the quiet stars！
This morning； house…bound by the relentless； indefatigable snow； I
was feeling the reaction Edward； on the contrary； being violently stage
struck on this his first introduction to the real Drama； was striding up and
down the floor； proclaiming 〃Here be I； King Gearge the Third；〃 in a
strong Berkshire accent。 Harold； accustomed； as the youngest； to lonely
antics and to sports that asked no sympathy； was absorbed in 〃clubmen〃： a
performance consisting in a measured progress round the room arm…in…
arm with an imaginary companion of reverend years； with occasional halts
at imaginary clubs； whereimaginary steps being leisurely ascended
imaginary papers were glanced at； imaginary scandal was discussed with
elderly shakings of the head； andregrettable to sayimaginary glasses
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The Golden Age
were lifted lipwards。 Heaven only knows how the germ of this dreary
pastime first found way into his small…boyish being。 It was his own
invention； and he was proportionately proud of it。 Meanwhile； Charlotte
and I； crouched in the window…seat； watched； spell…stricken； the whirl and
eddy and drive of the innumerable snow…flakes； wrapping our cheery little
world in an uncanny uniform； ghastly in line and hue。
Charlotte was sadly out of spirits。 Having 〃countered〃 Miss Smedley
at breakfast； during some argument or other； by an apt quotation from her
favourite classic （the Fairy Book） she had been gently but firmly informed
that no such things as fairies ever really existed。 〃Do you mean to say it's
all lies？〃 asked Charlotte； bluntly。 Miss Smedley deprecated the use of