按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
best。〃
〃And so would I；〃 he replied with unction。 〃But Marcus Aurelius
wouldn't； you know。〃
〃Then we won't invite him；〃 I said； 〃will we？〃 〃_I_ won't if you
68
… Page 69…
The Golden Age
won't；〃 said he。 And that point being settled； we were silent for a while。
〃Do you know；〃 he said； presently； 〃I've met one or two fellows from
time to time who have been to a city like yours；perhaps it was the same
one。 They won't talk much about itonly broken hints； now and then；
but they've been there sure enough。 They don't seem to care about
anything in particularand every thing's the same to them； rough or
smooth； and sooner or later they slip off and disappear； and you never see
them again。 Gone back； I suppose。〃
〃Of course；〃 said I。 〃Don't see what they ever came away for； _I_
wouldn't；to be told you've broken things when you haven't； and stopped
having tea with the servants in the kitchen； and not allowed to have a dog
to sleep with you。 But _I've_ known people； too； who've gone there。〃
The artist stared； but without incivility。
〃Well； there's Lancelot；〃 I went on。 〃The book says he died； but it
never seemed to read right； somehow。 He just went away； like Arthur。
And Crusoe； when he got tired of wearing clothes and being respectable。
And all the nice men in the stones who don't marry the Princess； 'cos only
one man ever gets married in a book； you know。 They'll be there！〃
〃And the men who never come off；〃 he said； 〃who try like the rest； but
get knocked out； or somehow miss；or break down or get bowled over in
the melee；and get no Princess； nor even a second…class kingdom；some
of them'll be there； I hope？〃
〃Yes； if you like；〃 I replied； not quite understanding him； 〃if they're
friends of yours； we'll ask 'em； of course。〃
〃What a time we shall have！〃 said the artist； reflectively； 〃and how
shocked old Marcus Aurelius will be！〃
The shadows had lengthened uncannily； a tide of golden haze was
flooding the grey…green surface of the downs； and the artist began to put
his traps together； preparatory to a move。 I felt very low； we would have
to part； it seemed； just as we were getting on so well together。 Then he
stood up； and he was very straight and tall； and the sunset was in his hair
and beard as he stood there； high over me。 He took my hand like an
equal。 〃I've enjoyed our conversation very much；〃 he said。 〃That was
an interesting subject you started； and we haven't half exhausted it。 We
69
… Page 70…
The Golden Age
shall meet again； I hope。〃
〃Of course we shall；〃 I replied； surprised that there should be any
doubt about it。
〃In Rome； perhaps？〃 said he。
〃Yes； in Rome；〃 I answered； 〃or Piccy…the…other…place； or somewhere。〃
〃Or else；〃 said he； 〃in that other city；when we've found the way there。
And I'll look out for you； and you'll sing out as soon as you see me。 And
we'll go down the street arm…in…arm； and into all the shops； and then I'll
choose my house； and you'll choose your house； and we'll live there like
princes and good fellows。〃
〃Oh； but you'll stay in my house； won't you？〃 I cried； 〃wouldn't ask
everybody； but I'll ask YOU。〃
He affected to consider a moment； then 〃Right！〃 he said： 〃I believe
you mean it； and I WILL come and stay with you。 I won't go to anybody
else； if they ask me ever so much。 And I'll stay quite a long time； too；
and I won't be any trouble。〃
Upon this compact we parted； and I went down…heartedly from the
man who understood me； back to the house where I never could do
anything right。 How was it that everything seemed natural and sensible
to him； which these uncles； vicars； and other grown…up men took for the
merest tomfoolery？ Well； he would explain this； and many another thing；
when we met again。 The Knights' Road！ How it always brought
consolation！ Was he possibly one of those vanished knights I had been
looking for so long？ Perhaps he would be in armour next time；why not？
He would look well in armour； I thought。 And I would take care to get
there first； and see the sunlight flash and play on his helmet and shield； as
he rode up the High Street of the Golden City。
Meantime； there only remained the finding it；an easy matter。
70
… Page 71…
The Golden Age
THE SECRET DRAWER
IT must surely have served as a boudoir for the ladies of old time； this
little used； rarely entered chamber where the neglected old bureau stood。
There was something very feminine in the faint hues of its faded brocades；
in the rose and blue of such bits of china as yet remained； and in the
delicate old…world fragrance of pot…pourri from the great bowlblue and
white； with funny holes in its coverthat stood on the bureau's flat top。
Modern aunts disdained this out…of…the…way； back…water； upstairs room；
preferring to do their accounts and grapple with their correspondence in
some central position more in the whirl of things； whence one eye could
be kept on the carriage drive； while the other was alert for malingering
servants and marauding children。 Those aunts of a former generationI
sometimes felt would have suited our habits better。 But even by us
children； to whom few places were private or reserved； the room was
visited but rarely。 To be sure； there was nothing particular in it that we
coveted or required；only a few spindle…legged gilt… backed chairs； an old
harp； on which； so the legend ran； Aunt Eliza herself used once to play； in
years remote； unchronicled； a corner…cupboard with a few pieces of china；
and the old bureau。 But one other thing the room possessed； peculiar to
itself； a certain sense of privacy；a power of making the intruder feel that
he WAS intruding；perhaps even a faculty of hinting that some one might
have been sitting on those chairs； writing at the bureau； or fingering the
c