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when a casual uncle came down for the night。 We entered in noiseless
file； the room being plunged in darkness； except for a bright strip of
moonlight on the floor； across which we must pass for our exit。 On this
our leading lady chose to pause； seizing the opportunity to study the hang
of her new dressing…gown。 Greatly satisfied thereat； she proceeded； after
the feminine fashion； to peacock and to pose； pacing a minuet down the
moonlit patch with an imaginary partner。 This was too much for
Edward's histrionic instincts； and after a moment's pause he drew his
single…stick； and with flourishes meet for the occasion； strode onto the
stage。 A struggle ensued on approved lines； at the end of which Selina
was stabbed slowly and with unction； and her corpse borne from the
chamber by the ruthless cavalier。 The rest of us rushed after in a clump；
with capers and gesticulations of delight； the special charm of the
performance lying in the necessity for its being carried out with the
dumbest of dumb shows。
Once out on the dark landing； the noise of the storm without told us
that we had exaggerated the necessity for silence； so； grasping the tails of
each other's nightgowns even as Alpine climbers rope themselves together
in perilous places； we fared stoutly down the staircase…moraine； and across
the grim glacier of the hall； to where a faint glimmer from the half…open
door of the drawing…room beckoned to us like friendly hostel…lights。
Entering； we found that our thriftless seniors had left the sound red heart
of a fire； easily coaxed into a cheerful blaze； and biscuitsa plateful
smiled at us in an encouraging sort of way； together with the halves of a
lemon； already once squeezed but still suckable。 The biscuits were
righteously shared； the lemon segments passed from mouth to mouth； and
as we squatted round the fire； its genial warmth consoling our unclad
limbs； we realised that so many nocturnal perils had not been braved in
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vain。
〃It's a funny thing；〃 said Edward； as we chatted； 〃how； I hate this room
in the daytime。 It always means having your face washed； and your hair
brushed； and talking silly company talk。 But to…night it's really quite
jolly。 Looks different； somehow。〃
〃I never can make out I said； 〃what people come here to tea for。
They can have their own tea at home if they like；they're not poor
people；with jam and things； and drink out of their saucer； and suck their
fingers and enjoy themselves； but they come here from a long way off； and
sit up straight with their feet off the bars of their chairs； and have one cup；
and talk the same sort of stuff every time。〃
Selina sniffed disdainfully。 〃You don't know anything about it；〃 she
said。 〃In society you have to call on each other。 It's the proper thing to
do。〃
〃Pooh！ YOU'RE not in society；〃 said Edward； politely； 〃and； what's
more； you never will be。〃
〃Yes； I shall； some day；〃 retorted Selina； 〃but I shan't ask you to come
and see me； so there！〃
〃Wouldn't come if you did；〃 growled Edward。
〃Well； you won't get the chance；〃 rejoined our sister； claiming her right
of the last word。 There was no heat about these little amenities； which
made upas we understood itthe art of polite conversation。
〃I don 't like society people；〃 put in Harold from the sofa； where he
was sprawling at full length；a sight the daylight hours would have
blushed to witness。 〃There were some of 'em here this afternoon； when
you two had gone off to the station。 Oh； and I found a dead mouse on the
lawn； and I wanted to skin it； but I wasn't sure I knew how； by myself； and
they came out into the garden and patted my head；I wish people wouldn't
do that；and one of 'em asked me to pick her a flower。 Don't know why
she couldn't pick it herself； but I said； ‘All right； I will if you'll hold my
mouse。' But she screamed； and threw it away； and Augustus （the cat） got
it； and ran away with it。 I believe it was really his mouse all the time；
'cos he'd been looking about as if he had lost something； so I wasn't angry
with HIM； but what did SHE want to throw away my mouse for？〃
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The Golden Age
〃You have to be careful with mice；〃 reflected Edward； 〃they're such
slippery things。 Do you remember we were playing with a dead mouse
once on the piano； and the mouse was Robinson Crusoe； and the piano
was the island； and somehow Crusoe slipped down inside the island； into
its works； and we couldn't get him out； though we tried rakes and all sorts
of things； till the tuner came。 And that wasn't till a week after； and then
〃
Here Charlotte； who had been nodding solemnly； fell over into the
fender； and we realised that the wind had dropped at last； and the house
was lapped in a great stillness。 Our vacant beds seemed to be calling to
us imperiously； and we were all glad when Edward gave the signal for
retreat。 At the top of the staircase Harold unexpectedly turned mutinous；
insisting on his right to slide down the banisters in a free country。
Circumstances did not allow of argument； I suggested frog's…marching
instead； and frog's…marched he accordingly was； the procession passing
solemnly across the moonlit Blue Room； with Harold horizontal and
limply submissive。 Snug in bed at last； I was just slipping off into
slumber when I heard Edward explode； with chuckle and snort。
〃By Jove！〃 he said； 〃I forgot all about it。 The new tutor's sleeping in
the Blue Room！〃
〃Lucky he didn't wake up and catch us；〃 I grunted； drowsily； and both
of us； without another thought on the matter； sank into well…earned repose。
Next morning we came down to breakfast braced to grapple with fresh
adversity； but were surprised to find our garrulous friend of the previous
dayhe was late in making his appearance strangely silent and
（apparently） preoccupied。 Having polished off our porridge； we ran out
to feed