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all lies？〃 asked Charlotte； bluntly。 Miss Smedley deprecated the use of
any such unladylike words in any connection at all。 〃These stories had
their origin； my dear；〃 she explained； 〃in a mistaken anthropomorphism in
the interpretation of nature。 But though we are now too well informed to
fall into similar errors； there are still many beautiful lessons to be learned
from these myths〃
〃But how can you learn anything；〃 persisted Charlotte； 〃from what
doesn't exist？〃 And she left the table defiant； howbeit depressed。
〃Don't you mind HER；〃 I said； consolingly； 〃how can she know
anything about it？ Why； she can't even throw a stone properly！〃
〃Edward says they're all rot； too；〃 replied Charlotte； doubtfully。
Edward says everything's rot；〃 I explained； 〃now he thinks he's going
into the Army。 If a thing's in a book it MUST be true； so that settles it！〃
Charlotte looked almost reassured。 The room was quieter now； for
Edward had got the dragon down and was boring holes in him with a
purring sound Harold was ascending the steps of the Athenaeum with a
jaunty airsuggestive rather of the Junior Carlton。 Outside； the tall elm…
tops were hardly to be seen through the feathery storm。 〃The sky's a…
falling；〃 quoted Charlotte； softly； 〃I must go and tell the king。〃 The
quotation suggested a fairy story； and I offered to read to her； reaching out
for the book。 But the Wee Folk were under a cloud； sceptical hints had
embittered the chalice。 So I was fain to fetch Arthursecond favourite
with Charlotte for his dames riding errant； and an easy first with us boys
for his spear…splintering crash of tourney and hurtle against hopeless odds。
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Here again； however； I proved unfortunate；what ill…luck made the book
open at the sorrowful history of Balin and Balan？ 〃And he vanished
anon；〃 I read： 〃and so he heard an horne blow； as it had been the death of a
beast。 ‘That blast；' said Balin； ‘is blowen for me； for I am the prize； and
yet am I not dead。'〃 Charlotte began to cry： she knew the rest too well。 I
shut the book in despair。 Harold emerged from behind the arm…chair。
He was sucking his thumb （a thing which members of the Reform are
seldom seen to do）； and he stared wide… eyed at his tear stained sister。
Edward put off his histrionics； and rushed up to her as the consolera new
part for him。
〃I know a jolly story；〃 he began。 〃Aunt Eliza told it me。 It was
when she was somewhere over in that beastly abroad〃（he had once spent
a black month of misery at Dinan）〃and there was a fellow there who had
got two storks。 And one stork diedit was the she…stork。〃 （〃What did it
die of？〃 put in Harold。） 〃And the other stork was quite sorry； and moped；
and went on； and got very miserable。 So they looked about and found a
duck； and introduced it to the stork。 The duck was a drake； but the stork
didn't mind； and they loved each other and were as jolly as could be。 By
and by another duck came along；a real she…duck this time；and when the
drake saw her he fell in love； and left the stork； and went and proposed to
the duck： for she was very beautiful。 But the poor stork who was left； he
said nothing at all to anybody； but just pined and pined and pined away； till
one morning he was found quite dead！ But the ducks lived happily ever
afterwards！〃
This was Edward's idea of a jolly story！ Down again went the
corners of poor Charlotte's mouth。 Really Edward's stupid inability to
see the real point in anything was TOO annoying！ It was always so。
Years before； it being necessary to prepare his youthful mind for a
domestic event that might lead to awkward questionings at a time when
there was little leisure to invent appropriate answers； it was delicately
inquired of him whether he would like to have a little brother； or perhaps a
little sister？ He considered the matter carefully in all its bearings； and
finally declared for a Newfoundland pup。 Any boy more 〃gleg at the
uptak〃 would have met his parents half…way； and eased their burden。 As
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The Golden Age
it was； the matter had to be approached all over again from a fresh
standpoint。 And now； while Charlotte turned away sniffingly； with a
hiccough that told of an overwrought soul； Edward； unconscious （like Sir
Isaac's Diamond） of the mischief he had done； wheeled round on Harold
with a shout。
〃I want a live dragon；〃 he announced： 〃you've got to be my dragon！〃
〃Leave me go； will you？〃 squealed Harold； struggling stoutly。 〃I'm
playin' at something else。 How can I be a dragon and belong to all the
clubs？〃
〃But wouldn't you like to be a nice scaly dragon； all green；〃 said
Edward； trying persuasion； 〃with a curly tail and red eyes； and breathing
real smoke and fire？〃
Harold wavered an instant： Pall…Mall was still strong in him。 The
next he was grovelling on the floor。 No saurian ever swung a tail so
scaly and so curly as his。 Clubland was a thousand years away。 With
horrific pants he emitted smokiest smoke and fiercest fire。
〃Now I want a Princess；〃 cried Edward； clutching Charlotte
ecstatically； 〃and YOU can be the doctor； and heal me from the dragon's
deadly wound。〃
Of all professions I held the sacred art of healing in worst horror and
contempt。 Cataclysmal memories of purge and draught crowded thick on
me； and with Charlottewho courted no barren honoursI made a break
for the door。 Edward did likewise； and the hostile forces clashed together
on the mat； and for a brief space things were mixed and chaotic and
Arthurian。 The silvery sound of the luncheon…bell restored an instant
peace； even in the teeth of clenched antagonisms like ours。 The Holy
Grail itself； 〃sliding athwart a sunbeam；〃 never so effectually stilled a rio