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warm room and the highly…coloured beast…book。 But a walk with a
real Manwhy； that was a treat in itself！ We set off
briskly； the Man in the middle。 I looked up at him and wondered
whether I should ever live to smoke a big pipe with that careless
sort of majesty！ But Charlotte； whose young mind was not set on
tobacco as a possible goal； made herself heard from the other
side。
〃Now； then；〃 she said； 〃tell us a story； please； won't you？〃
The Man sighed heavily and looked about him。 〃I knew it；〃 he
groaned。 〃I KNEW I should have to tell a story。 Oh； why did
I leave my pleasant fireside？ Well； I WILL tell you a story。
Only let me think a minute。〃
So he thought a minute； and then he told us this story。
Long agomight have been hundreds of years agoin a cottage
half…way between this village and yonder shoulder of the Downs up
there； a shepherd lived with his wife and their little son。
Now the shepherd spent his daysand at certain times of the year
his nights tooup on the wide ocean…bosom of the Downs； with
only the sun and the stars and the sheep for company； and the
friendly chattering world of men and women far out of sight and
hearing。 But his little son； when he wasn't helping his father；
and often when he was as well； spent much of his time buried in
big volumes that he borrowed from the affable gentry and
interested parsons of the country round about。 And his parents
were very fond of him； and rather proud of him too； though they
didn't let on in his hearing； so he was left to go his own way
and read as much as he liked； and instead of frequently getting a
cuff on the side of the head； as might very well have happened to
him； he was treated more or less as an equal by his parents； who
sensibly thought it a very fair division of labour that they
should supply the practical knowledge； and he the book…learning。
They knew that book…learning often came in useful at a pinch； in
spite of what their neighbours said。 What the Boy chiefly
dabbled in was natural history and fairy…tales； and he just took
them as they came； in a sandwichy sort of way； without making any
distinctions； and really his course of reading strikes one as
rather sensible。
One evening the shepherd； who for some nights past had been
disturbed and preoccupied； and off his usual mental balance； came
home all of a tremble； and； sitting down at the table where his
wife and son were peacefully employed； she with her seam； he in
following out the adventures of the Giant with no Heart in his
Body； exclaimed with much agitation：
〃It's all up with me； Maria！ Never no more can I go up on them
there Downs； was it ever so！〃
〃Now don't you take on like that；〃 said his wife； who was a
VERY sensible woman： 〃but tell us all about it first； whatever
it is as has given you this shake…up； and then me and you and the
son here； between us； we ought to be able to get to the bottom of
it！〃
〃It began some nights ago；〃 said the shepherd。 〃You know that
cave up thereI never liked it； somehow； and the sheep never
liked it neither； and when sheep don't like a thing there's
generally some reason for it。 Well； for some time past there's
been faint noises coming from that cavenoises like heavy
sighings； with grunts mixed up in them； and sometimes a snoring；
far away downREAL snoring； yet somehow not HONEST
snoring； like you and me o'nights； you know！〃
〃_I_ know；〃 remarked the Boy； quietly。
〃Of course I was terrible frightened；〃 the shepherd went on； 〃yet
somehow I couldn't keep away。 So this very evening； before
I come down； I took a cast round by the cave； quietly。 And
thereO Lord！ there I saw him at last； as plain as I see you！〃
〃Saw WHO？〃 said his wife； beginning to share in her husband's
nervous terror。
〃Why HIM； I'm a telling you！〃 said the shepherd。 〃He was
sticking half…way out of the cave； and seemed to be enjoying of
the cool of the evening in a poetical sort of way。 He was as big
as four cart…horses； and all covered with shiny scalesdeep…blue
scales at the top of him； shading off to a tender sort o' green
below。 As he breathed； there was that sort of flicker over his
nostrils that you see over our chalk roads on a baking windless
day in summer。 He had his chin on his paws； and I should say he
was meditating about things。 Oh； yes； a peaceable sort o' beast
enough； and not ramping or carrying on or doing anything
but what was quite right and proper。 I admit all that。 And yet；
what am I to do？ SCALES； you know； and claws； and a tail for
certain； though I didn't see that end of himI ain't USED to
'em； and I don't HOLD with 'em； and that's a fact！〃
The Boy； who had apparently been absorbed in his book during his
father's recital； now closed the volume； yawned； clasped his
hands behind his head； and said sleepily：
〃It's all right； father。 Don't you worry。 It's only a dragon。〃
〃Only a dragon？〃 cried his father。 〃What do you mean； sitting
there； you and your dragons？ ONLY a dragon indeed！ And what
do YOU know about it？〃
〃'Cos it IS； and 'cos I DO know；〃 replied the Boy； quietly。
〃Look here； father； you know we've each of us got our line。
YOU know about sheep； and weather； and things； _I_ know
about dragons。 I always said； you know； that that cave up there
was a dragon…cave。 I always said it must have belonged to a
dragon some time； and ought to belong to a dragon now； if rules
count for anything。 Well； now you tell me it HAS got a
dragon； and so THAT'S all right。 I'm not half as much
surprised as when you told me it HADN'T got a dragon。 Rules
always come right if you wait quietly。 Now； please； just leave
this all to me。 And I'll stroll up to…morrow morningno； in the
morning I can't； I've got a whole heap of things to dowell；
perhaps in the evening； if I'm quite free； I'll go up and have a
talk to him； and you'll find it'll be all right。 Only； please；
don't you go worrying round there without me。 You don't
understand 'em a bit； and they're very sensitive； you know！〃
〃He's quite right； father；〃 said the sensible mother。 〃As
he says； dragons is his line and not ours。 He's wonderful
knowing about book…beasts； as every one allows。 And to tell the
truth； I'm not half happy in my own mind； thinking of that poor
animal lying alone up there； without a bit o' hot supper or
anyone to change the news with； and maybe we'll be able to do
something for him； and if he ain't quite respectable our Boy'll
find it out quick enough。 He's got a pleasant sort o' way with
him that makes everybody tell him everything。〃
Next day； after he'd had his tea； the Boy strolled up the chalky
track that led to the summit of the Downs； and there； sure
enough； he found the dragon； stretched lazily on the sward in
front of his cave。 The view from that point was a magnificent
one。 To the right and left； the bare and billowy leagues of
Downs； in front； the vale； with its cl