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proceeded to describe all the fun that was going on there；
at such length and with so much particularity that I looked at
her suspiciously。 〃Why； you talk as if you'd been in that
crow's…nest yourself！〃 I said。 Charlotte answered nothing； but
pursed her mouth up and nodded violently for some minutes； and I
could get nothing more out of her。 I felt rather hurt。
Evidently she had managed； somehow or other； to get up into that
crow's…nest。 Charlotte had got ahead of me on this occasion。
It was necessary； no doubt； that grown…up people should dress
themselves up and go forth to pay calls。 I don't mean that we
saw any sense in the practice。 It would have been so much more
reasonable to stay at home in your old clothes and play。 But we
recognized that these folk had to do many unaccountable things；
and after all it was THEIR life； and not ours； and we were not
in a position to criticise。 Besides； they had many habits
more objectionable than this one； which to us generally meant a
free and untrammelled afternoon； wherein to play the devil in our
own way。 The case was different； however； when the press…gang
was abroad； when prayers and excuses were alike disregarded； and
we were forced into the service； like native levies impelled
toward the foe less by the inherent righteousness of the cause
than by the indisputable rifles of their white allies。 This was
unpardonable and altogether detestable。 Still； the thing
happened； now and again； and when it did； there was no arguing
about it。 The order was for the front； and we just had to shut
up and march。
Selina； to be sure； had a sneaking fondness for dressing up and
paying calls； though she pretended to dislike it； just to keep on
the soft side of public opinion。 So I thought it extremely
mean in her to have the earache on that particular afternoon when
Aunt Eliza ordered the pony…carriage and went on the war…path。 I
was ordered also； in the same breath as the pony…carriage； and；
as we eventually trundled off； it seemed to me that the utter
waste of that afternoon； for which I had planned so much； could
never be made up nor atoned for in all the tremendous stretch of
years that still lay before me。
The house that we were bound for on this occasion was a 〃big
house；〃 a generic title applied by us to the class of residence
that had a long carriage…drive through rhododendrons； and a
portico propped by fluted pillars； and a grave butler who bolted
back swing…doors； and came down steps； and pretended to have
entirely forgotten his familiar intercourse with you at less
serious moments； and a big hall； where no boots or shoes or
upper garments were allowed to lie about frankly and easily； as
with us； and where； finally； people were apt to sit about dressed
up as if they were going on to a party。
The lady who received us was effusive to Aunt Eliza and hollowly
gracious to me。 In ten seconds they had their heads together and
were hard at it talking CLOTHES。 I was left high and dry on a
straight…backed chair； longing to kick the legs of it； yet not
daring。 For a time I was content to stare； there was lots to
stare at； high and low and around。 Then the inevitable fidgets
came on； and scratching one's legs mitigated slightly； but did
not entirely disperse them。 My two warders were still deep in
clothes； I slipped off my chair and edged cautiously around the
room； exploring； examining； recording。
Many strange； fine things lay along my routepictures and
gimcracks on the walls； trinkets and globular old watches and
snuff…boxes on the tables； and I took good care to finger
everything within reach thoroughly and conscientiously。 Some
articles； in addition； I smelt。 At last in my orbit I happened
on an open door； half concealed by the folds of a curtain。 I
glanced carefully around。 They were still deep in clothes； both
talking together； and I slipped through。
This was altogether a more sensible sort of room that I had got
into； for the walls were honestly upholstered with books； though
these for the most part glimmered provokingly through the glass
doors of their tall cases。 I read their titles longingly；
breathing on every accessible pane of glass； for I dared not
attempt to open the doors； with the enemy encamped so near。 In
the window； though； on a high sort of desk； there lay； all by
itself； a most promising…looking book； gorgeously bound。 I
raised the leaves by one corner； and like scent from a pot…pourri
jar there floated out a brief vision of blues and reds； telling
of pictures； and pictures all highly coloured！ Here was the
right sort of thing at last； and my afternoon would not be
entirely wasted。 I inclined an ear to the door by which I had
entered。 Like the brimming tide of a full…fed river the grand；
eternal； inexhaustible clothes…problem bubbled and eddied and
surged along。 It seemed safe enough。 I slid the book off its
desk with some difficulty； for it was very fine and large； and
staggered with it to the hearthrugthe only fit and proper place
for books of quality； such as this。
They were excellent hearthrugs in that house； soft and wide； with
the thickest of pile； and one's knees sank into them most
comfortably。 When I got the book open there was a difficulty at
first in making the great stiff pages lie down。 Most
fortunately the coal…scuttle was actually at my elbow； and it was
easy to find a flat bit of coal to lay on the refractory page。
Really； it was just as if everything had been arranged for me。
This was not such a bad sort of house after all。
The beginnings of the thing were gay bordersscrolls and strap…
work and diapered backgrounds； a maze of colour； with small
misshapen figures clambering cheerily up and down everywhere。
But first I eagerly scanned what text there was in the middle； in
order to get a hint of what it was all about。 Of course I was
not going to waste any time in reading。 A clue； a sign…board； a
finger…post was all I required。 To my dismay and disgust it was
all in a stupid foreign language！ Really； the perversity of some
people made one at times almost despair of the whole race。
However； the pictures remained； pictures never lied； never
shuffled nor evaded； and as for the story； I could invent it
myself。
Over the page I went； shifting the bit of coal to a new position；
and； as the scheme of the picture disengaged itself from out the
medley of colour that met my delighted eyes； first there was a
warm sense of familiarity； then a dawning recognition； and then
O then！ along with blissful certainty came the imperious need to
clasp my stomach with both hands； in order to repress the shout
of rapture that struggled to escapeit was my own little city！
I knew it well enough； I recognized it at once； though I had
never been quite so near it before。 Here was the familiar
gateway； to the left that strange； slender tower with its grim；
square head shot far above the wa