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All the Christmas numbers； in their gilt frames on the nursery…
wall； had been gone through and allotted long ago； and in these；
sooner or later； each one of us got a chance to figure in some
satisfactory and brightly coloured situation。 Few of the other
pictures about the house afforded equal facilities。 They were
generally wanting in figures； and even when these were present
they lacked dramatic interest。 In this picture that I have to
speak about； although the characters had a stupid way of not
doing anything； and apparently not wanting to do anything； there
was at least a sufficiency of them； so in due course they were
allotted； too。
In itself the picture； whichin its ebony and tortoise…shell
framehung in a corner of the dining…room； had hitherto
possessed no special interest for us； and would probably
never have been dealt with at all but for a revolt of the girls
against a succession of books on sport； in which the illustrator
seemed to have forgotten that there were such things as women in
the world。 Selina accordingly made for it one rainy morning； and
announced that she was the lady seated in the centre； whose gown
of rich； flowered brocade fell in such straight； severe lines to
her feet； whose cloak of dark blue was held by a jewelled clasp；
and whose long； fair hair was crowned with a diadem of gold and
pearl。 Well； we had no objection to that； it seemed fair enough；
especially to Edward； who promptly proceeded to 〃grab〃 the
armour…man who stood leaning on his shield at the lady's right
hand。 A dainty and delicate armour…man this！ And I confess；
though I knew it was all right and fair and orderly； I felt a
slight pang when he passed out of my reach into Edward's
possession。 His armour was just the sort I wanted myself
scalloped and fluted and shimmering and spotless； and； though he
was but a boy by his beardless face and golden hair； the
shattered spear…shaft in his grasp proclaimed him a genuine
fighter and fresh from some such agreeable work。 Yes； I grudged
Edward the armour…man； and when he said I could have the fellow
on the other side； I hung back and said I'd think about it。
This fellow had no armour nor weapons； but wore a plain jerkin
with a leather poucha mere civilianand with one hand he
pointed to a wound in his thigh。 I didn't care about him； and
when Harold eagerly put in his claim I gave way and let him have
the man。 The cause of Harold's anxiety only came out later。 It
was the wound he coveted； it seemed。 He wanted to have a
big； sore wound of his very own； and go about and show it to
people； and excite their envy or win their respect。 Charlotte
was only too pleased to take the child…angel seated at the lady's
feet； grappling with a musical instrument much too big for her。
Charlotte wanted wings badly； and； next to those； a guitar or a
banjo。 The angel； besides； wore an amber necklace； which took
her fancy immensely。
This left the picture allotted； with the exception of two or
three more angels； who peeped or perched behind the main figures
with a certain subdued drollery in their faces； as if the thing
had gone on long enough； and it was now time to upset something
or kick up a row of some sort。 We knew these good folk to be
saints and angels； because we had been told they were； otherwise
we should never have guessed it。 Angels； as we knew them in
our Sunday books； were vapid； colourless； uninteresting
characters； with straight up…and…down sort of figures； white
nightgowns； white wings； and the same straight yellow hair parted
in the middle。 They were serious； even melancholy； and we had no
desire to have any traffic with them。 These bright bejewelled
little persons； however； piquant of face and radiant of feather；
were evidently hatched from quite a different egg； and we felt we
might have interests in common with them。 Short…nosed； shock
headed； with mouths that went up at the corners and with an
evident disregard for all their fine clothes； they would be the
best of good company； we felt sure； if only we could manage to
get at them。 One doubt alone disturbed my mind。 In games
requiring agility； those wings of theirs would give them a
tremendous pull。 Could they be trusted to play fair？ I
asked Selina； who replied scornfully that angels ALWAYS played
fair。 But I went back and had another look at the brown…faced
one peeping over the back of the lady's chair； and still I had my
doubts。
When Edward went off to school a great deal of adjustment and re…
allotment took place； and all the heroes of illustrated
literature were at my call； did I choose to possess them。 In
this particular case； however； I made no haste to seize upon the
armour…man。 Perhaps it was because I wanted a FRESH saint of
my own； not a stale saint that Edward had been for so long a
time。 Perhaps it was rather that； ever since I had elected to be
saintless； I had got into the habit of strolling off into the
background； and amusing myself with what I found there。
A very fascinating background it was； and held a great deal；
though so tiny。 Meadow…land came first； set with flowers；
blue and red； like gems。 Then a white road ran； with wilful；
uncalled…for loops； up a steep； conical hill； crowned with
towers； bastioned walls； and belfries； and down the road the
little knights came riding； two and two。 The hill on one side
descended to water； tranquil； far…reaching； and blue； and a very
curly ship lay at anchor； with one mast having an odd sort of
crow's…nest at the top of it。
There was plenty to do in this pleasant land。 The annoying thing
about it was； one could never penetrate beyond a certain point。
I might wander up that road as often as I liked； I was bound to
be brought up at the gateway； the funny galleried； top…heavy
gateway； of the little walled town。 Inside； doubtless； there
were high jinks going on； but the password was denied to me。 I
could get on board a boat and row up as far as the curly ship；
but around the headland I might not go。 On the other side；
of a surety； the shipping lay thick。 The merchants walked on the
quay； and the sailors sang as they swung out the corded bales。
But as for me； I must stay down in the meadow； and imagine it all
as best I could。
Once I broached the subject to Charlotte； and found； to my
surprise； that she had had the same joys and encountered the same
disappointments in this delectable country。 She； too； had walked
up that road and flattened her nose against that portcullis； and
she pointed out something that I had overlookedto wit； that if
you rowed off in a boat to the curly ship； and got hold of a
rope； and clambered aboard of her； and swarmed up the mast； and
got into the crow's…nest； you could just see over the headland；
and take in at your ease the life and bustle of the port。 She
proceeded to describe all the fun that was going on there；
at such length and with so much particularity tha