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tea he said ‘Once more unto the breach； dear friends； once more；' and then
sniggered all over。 I didn't see anything funny in that。 And then
somebody asked him about his button…hole and he said ‘'Tis but a little
faded flower；' and exploded again。 I thought it very stupid。〃
〃O HIM；〃 said Edward contemptuously： 〃he can't help it； you know；
it's a sort of way he's got。 But it's these girls I can't make out。 If they've
anything really sensible to talk about； how is it nobody knows what it is？
And if they haven'tand we know they CAN'T have； naturallywhy don't
they shut up their jaw？ This old rabbit hereHE doesn't want to talk。
He's got something better to do。〃 And Edward aimed a ginger…beer cork
at the unruffled beast； who never budged。
〃O but rabbits DO talk；〃 interposed Harold。 〃I've watched them often
in their hutch。 They put their heads together and their noses go up and
down； just like Selina's and the Vicarage girls'。 Only of course I can t
hear what they're saying。〃
〃Well； if they do；〃 said Edward； unwillingly； 〃I'll bet they don't talk
such rot as those girls do！〃which was ungenerous； as well as unfair； for it
had not yet transpirednor has it to this dayWHAT Selina and her
friends talked about。
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The Golden Age
THE ARGONAUTS
The advent of strangers； of whatever sort； into our circle； had always
been a matter of grave dubiety and suspicion； indeed； it was generally a
signal for retreat into caves and fastnesses of the earth； into unthreaded
copses or remote outlying cowsheds； whence we were only to be
extricated by wily nursemaids； rendered familiar by experience with our
secret runs and refuges。 It was not surprising therefore that the heroes of
classic legend； when first we made their acquaintance； failed to win our
entire sympathy at once。 〃Confidence；〃 says somebody； 〃is a plant of
slow growth；〃 and these stately dark…haired demi…gods； with names hard to
master and strange accoutrements； had to win a citadel already strongly
garrisoned with a more familiar soldiery。 Their chill foreign goddesses
had no such direct appeal for us as the mocking malicious fairies and
witches of the North； we missed the pleasant alliance of the animalthe
fox who spread the bushiest of tails to convey us to the enchanted castle；
the frog in the well； the raven who croaked advice from the tree； andto
Harold especiallyit seemed entirely wrong that the hero should ever be
other than the youngest brother of three。 This belief； indeed； in the
special fortune that ever awaited the youngest brother； as such；the
〃Borough…English〃 of Faery；had been of baleful effect on Harold；
producing a certain self…conceit and perkiness that called for physical
correction。 But even in our admonishment we were on his side； and as
we distrustfully eyed these new arrivals； old Saturn himself seemed
something of a parvenu。 Even strangers； however； if they be good
fellows at heart； may develop into sworn comrades； and these gay
swordsmen； after all； were of the right stuff。 Perseus； with his cap of
darkness and his wonderful sandals； was not long in winging his way to
our hearts； Apollo knocked at Admetus' gate in something of the right
fairy fashion； Psyche brought with her an orthodox palace of magic； as
well as helpful birds and friendly ants。 Ulysses； with his captivating
shifts and strategies； broke down the final barrier； and hence forth the band
was adopted and admitted into our freemasonry。 I had been engaged
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The Golden Age
in chasing Farmer Larkin's calveshis special prideround the field； just
to show the man we hadn't forgotten him； and was returning through the
kitchen…garden with a conscience at peace with all men； when I happened
upon Edward； grubbing for worms in the dung…heap。 Edward put his
worms into his hat； and we strolled along together； discussing high matters
of state。 As we reached the tool…shed； strange noises arrested our steps；
looking in； we perceived Harold； alone； rapt； absorbed； immersed in the
special game of the moment。 He was squatting in an old pig…trough that
had been brought in to be tinkered； and as he rhapsodised； anon he waved
a shovel over his head； anon dug it into the ground with the action of those
who would urge Canadian canoes。 Edward strode in upon him。
〃What rot are you playing at now？〃 he demanded sternly。 Harold
flushed up； but stuck to his pig…trough like a man。 〃I'm Jason；〃 he replied；
defiantly； 〃and this is the Argo。 The other fellows are here too； only you
can't see them； and we're just going through the Hellespont； so don't you
come bothering。〃 And once more he plied the wine…dark sea。
Edward kicked the pig…trough contemptuously。
〃Pretty sort of Argo you've got！〃 said he。
Harold began to get annoyed。 〃I can't help it；〃 he replied。 〃It's the
best sort of Argo I can manage； and it's all right if you only pretend
enough； but YOU never could pretend one bit。〃
Edward reflected。 〃Look here；〃 he said presently； 〃why shouldn't we
get hold of Farmer Larkin's boat； and go right away up the river in a real
Argo； and look for Medea； and the Golden Fleece； and everything？ And
I'll tell you what； I don't mind your being Jason； as you thought of it first。〃
Harold tumbled out of the trough in the excess of his emotion。 〃But
we aren't allowed to go on the water by ourselves；〃 he cried。
〃No；〃 said Edward； with fine scorn： 〃we aren't allowed； and Jason
wasn't allowed either； I daresaybut he WENT！〃
Harold's protest had been merely conventional： he only wanted to be
convinced by sound argument。 The next question was； How about the
girls？ Selina was distinctly handy in a boat： the difficulty about her was；
that if she disapproved of the expeditionand； morally considered； it was
not exactly