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sacred fire itself。 And if at the time he paid the penalty
exacted by the sordid unimaginative ones who temporarily rule the
roast； he must ever after； one feels sure； have carried
inside him some of the white gladness of the acolyte who； greatly
privileged； has been permitted to swing a censer at the sacring
of the very Mass。
October was mellowing fast； and with it the year itself； full of
tender hints； in woodland and hedgerow； of a course well…nigh
completed。 From all sides that still afternoon you caught the
quick breathing and sob of the runner nearing the goal。
Preoccupied and possessed； Selina had strayed down the garden and
out into the pasture beyond； where； on a bit of rising ground
that dominated the garden on one side and the downs with the old
coach…road on the other； she had cast herself down to chew the
cud of fancy。 There she was presently joined by Harold；
breathless and very full of his latest grievance。
〃I asked him not to；〃 he burst out。 〃I said if he'd only please
wait a bit and Edward would be back soon； and it couldn't
matter to HIM； and the pig wouldn't mind； and Edward'd be
pleased and everybody'd be happy。 But he just said he was very
sorry； but bacon didn't wait for nobody。 So I told him he was a
regular beast； and then I came away。 Andand I b'lieve they're
doing it now！〃
〃Yes； he's a beast；〃 agreed Selina； absently。 She had forgotten
all about the pig…killing。 Harold kicked away a freshly thrown…
up mole…hill； and prodded down the hole with a stick。 From the
direction of Farmer Larkin's demesne came a long…drawn note of
sorrow； a thin cry and appeal； telling that the stout soul of a
black Berkshire pig was already faring down the stony track to
Hades。
〃D'you know what day it is？〃 said Selina presently； in a low
voice； looking far away before her。
Harold did not appear to know； nor yet to care。 He had laid
open his mole…run for a yard or so； and was still grubbing at it
absorbedly。
〃It's Trafalgar Day；〃 went on Selina； trancedly； 〃Trafalgar Day
and nobody cares！〃
Something in her tone told Harold that he was not behaving quite
becomingly。 He didn't exactly know in what manner； still； he
abandoned his mole…hunt for a more courteous attitude of
attention。
〃Over there；〃 resumed Selinashe was gazing out in the direction
of the old highroad〃over there the coaches used to go by。
Uncle Thomas was telling me about it the other day。 And the
people used to watch for 'em coming； to tell the time by； and
p'r'aps to get their parcels。 And one morningthey wouldn't be
expecting anything differentone morning； first there would be a
cloud of dust； as usual； and then the coach would come racing
by； and THEN they would know！ For the coach would be dressed
in laurel； all laurel from stem to stern！ And the coachman would
be wearing laurel； and the guard would be wearing laurel； and
then they would know； then they would know！〃
Harold listened in respectful silence。 He would much rather have
been hunting the mole； who must have been a mile away by this
time if he had his wits about him。 But he had all the natural
instincts of a gentleman； of whom it is one of the principal
marks； if not the complete definition； never to show signs of
being bored。
Selina rose to her feet； and paced the turf restlessly with a
short quarter…deck walk。
〃Why can't we DO something？〃 she burst out presently。
〃HEhe did everythingwhy can't we do anything for him？〃
〃WHO did everything？〃 inquired Harold； meekly。 It was useless
wasting further longings on that mole。 Like the dead； he
travelled fast。
〃Why； Nelson； of course；〃 said Selina； shortly； still looking
restlessly around for help or suggestion。
〃But he'she's DEAD； isn't he？〃 asked Harold； slightly
puzzled。
〃What's that got to do with it？〃 retorted his sister； resuming
her caged…lion promenade。
Harold was somewhat taken aback。 In the case of the pig； for
instance； whose last outcry had now passed into stillness； he had
considered the chapter as finally closed。 Whatever innocent
mirth the holidays might hold in store for Edward； that
particular pig； at least； would not be a contributor。 And now he
was given to understand that the situation had not materially
changed！ He would have to revise his ideas； it seemed。
Sitting up on end； he looked towards the garden for assistance in
the task。 Thence； even as he gazed； a tiny column of smoke rose
straight up into the still air。 The gardener had been sweeping
that afternoon； and now； an unconscious priest； was offering his
sacrifice of autumn leaves to the calm…eyed goddess of changing
hues and chill forebodings who was moving slowly about the land
that golden afternoon。 Harold was up and off in a moment；
forgetting Nelson； forgetting the pig； the mole； the Larkin
betrayal； and Selina's strange fever of conscience。 Here was
fire； real fire； to play with； and that was even better than
messing with water； or remodelling the plastic surface of the
earth。 Of all the toys the world provides for right…minded
persons； the original elements rank easily the first。
But Selina sat on where she was； her chin on her fists； and
her fancies whirled and drifted； here and there； in curls and
eddies； along with the smoke she was watching。 As the quick…
footed dusk of the short October day stepped lightly over the
garden； little red tongues of fire might be seen to leap and
vanish in the smoke。 Harold； anon staggering under armfuls of
leaves； anon stoking vigorously； was discernible only at fitful
intervals。 It was another sort of smoke that the inner eye of
Selina was looking upon；a smoke that hung in sullen banks round
the masts and the hulls of the fighting ships； a smoke from
beneath which came thunder and the crash and the splinter…rip；
the shout of the boarding party； the choking sob of the gunner
stretched by his gun； a smoke from out of which at last she saw；
as through a riven pall； the radiant spirit of the Victor；
crowned with the coronal of a perfect death； leap in full
assurance up into the ether that Immortals breathe。 The dusk was
glooming towards darkness when she rose and moved slowly down
towards the beckoning fire； something of the priestess in her
stride； something of the devotee in the set purpose of her eye。
The leaves were well alight by this time； and Harold had just
added an old furze bush； which flamed and crackled stirringly。
〃Go 'n' get some more sticks；〃 ordered Selina； 〃and shavings； 'n'
chunks of wood； 'n' anything you can find。 Look herein the
kitchen…garden there's a pile of old pea…sticks。 Fetch as many
as you can carry； and then go back and bring some more！〃
〃But I say；〃 began Harold； amazedly； scarce knowing his sister；
and with a vision of a frenzied gardener； pea…stickless and
threatening retribution。
〃Go and fetch 'em quick！ 〃 shouted Selina； stamping with
impati