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one。 To the right and left； the bare and billowy leagues of
Downs； in front； the vale； with its clustered homesteads；
its threads of white roads running through orchards and well…
tilled acreage； and； far away； a hint of grey old cities on the
horizon。 A cool breeze played over the surface of the grass and
the silver shoulder of a large moon was showing above distant
junipers。 No wonder the dragon seemed in a peaceful and
contented mood； indeed； as the Boy approached he could hear the
beast purring with a happy regularity。 〃Well； we live and
learn！〃 he said to himself。 〃None of my books ever told me that
dragons purred！〃
〃Hullo； dragon！〃 said the Boy； quietly； when he had got up to
him。
The dragon； on hearing the approaching footsteps； made the
beginning of a courteous effort to rise。 But when he saw it was
a Boy； he set his eyebrows severely。
〃Now don't you hit me；〃 he said； 〃or bung stones； or squirt
water； or anything。 I won't have it； I tell you！〃
〃Not goin' to hit you；〃 said the Boy wearily； dropping on the
grass beside the beast： 〃and don't； for goodness' sake； keep on
saying ‘Don't；' I hear so much of it； and it's monotonous； and
makes me tired。 I've simply looked in to ask you how you were
and all that sort of thing； but if I'm in the way I can easily
clear out。 I've lots of friends； and no one can say I'm in the
habit of shoving myself in where I'm not wanted！〃
〃No； no； don't go off in a huff；〃 said the dragon； hastily； 〃fact
is；I'm as happy up here as the day's long； never without an
occupation； dear fellow； never without an occupation！ And yet；
between ourselves； it IS a trifle dull at times。〃
The Boy bit off a stalk of grass and chewed it。 〃Going to make a
long stay here？〃 he asked； politely。
〃Can't hardly say at present；〃 replied the dragon。 〃It seems a
nice place enoughbut I've only been here a short time； and one
must look about and reflect and consider before settling down。
It's rather a serious thing； settling down。 Besidesnow I'm
going to tell you something！ You'd never guess it if you tried
ever so！fact is； I'm such a confoundedly lazy beggar！〃
〃You surprise me；〃 said the Boy； civilly。
〃It's the sad truth；〃 the dragon went on； settling down between
his paws and evidently delighted to have found a listener at
last： 〃and I fancy that's really how I came to be here。 You see
all the other fellows were so active and EARNEST and all that
sort of thingalways rampaging； and skirmishing； and scouring
the desert sands； and pacing the margin of the sea； and chasing
knights all over the place； and devouring damsels； and going
on generallywhereas I liked to get my meals regular and then to
prop my back against a bit of rock and snooze a bit； and wake up
and think of things going on and how they kept going on just the
same； you know！ So when it happened I got fairly caught。〃
〃When WHAT happened； please？〃 asked the Boy。
〃That's just what I don't precisely know；〃 said the dragon。 〃I
suppose the earth sneezed； or shook itself； or the bottom dropped
out of something。 Anyhow there was a shake and a roar and a
general stramash； and I found myself miles away underground and
wedged in as tight as tight。 Well； thank goodness； my wants are
few； and at any rate I had peace and quietness and wasn't always
being asked to come along and DO something。 And I've got such
an active mindalways occupied； I assure you！ But time went
on； and there was a certain sameness about the life； and at
last I began to think it would be fun to work my way upstairs and
see what you other fellows were doing。 So I scratched and
burrowed； and worked this way and that way and at last I came out
through this cave here。 And I like the country； and the view；
and the peoplewhat I've seen of 'emand on the whole I feel
inclined to settle down here。〃
〃What's your mind always occupied about？〃 asked the Boy。 〃That's
what I want to know。〃
The dragon coloured slightly and looked away。 Presently he said
bashfully：
〃Did you everjust for funtry to make up poetryverses； you
know？〃
〃'Course I have；〃 said the Boy。 〃Heaps of it。 And some of it's
quite good； I feel sure； only there's no one here cares about it。
Mother's very kind and all that； when I read it to her； and so's
father for that matter。 But somehow they don't seem to〃
〃Exactly；〃 cried the dragon； 〃my own case exactly。 They don't
seem to； and you can't argue with 'em about it。 Now you've got
culture； you have； I could tell it on you at once； and I should
just like your candid opinion about some little things I threw
off lightly； when I was down there。 I'm awfully pleased to have
met you； and I'm hoping the other neighbours will be equally
agreeable。 There was a very nice old gentleman up here only last
night； but he didn't seem to want to intrude。〃
〃That was my father；〃 said the boy； 〃and he IS a nice old
gentleman； and I'll introduce you some day if you like。〃
〃Can't you two come up here and dine or something to…morrow？〃
asked the dragon eagerly。 〃Only； of course； if you've got
nothing better to do；〃 he added politely。
〃Thanks awfully；〃 said the Boy； 〃but we don't go out anywhere
without my mother； and； to tell you the truth； I'm afraid she
mightn't quite approve of you。 You see there's no getting over
the hard fact that you're a dragon； is there？ And when you talk
of settling down； and the neighbours； and so on； I can't help
feeling that you don't quite realize your position。 You're an
enemy of the human race； you see！〃
〃Haven't got an enemy in the world；〃 said the dragon； cheerfully。
Too lazy to make 'em； to begin with。 And if I DO read other
fellows my poetry； I'm always ready to listen to theirs！〃
〃Oh； dear！〃 cried the boy； 〃I wish you'd try and grasp the
situation properly。 When the other people find you out； they'll
come after you with spears and swords and all sorts of things。
You'll have to be exterminated； according to their way of
looking at it！ You're a scourge； and a pest； and a baneful
monster！〃
〃Not a word of truth in it；〃 said the dragon； wagging his head
solemnly。 〃Character'll bear the strictest investigation。 And
now； there's a little sonnet…thing I was working on when you
appeared on the scene〃
〃Oh； if you WON'T be sensible；〃 cried the Boy； getting up；
〃I'm going off home。 No； I can't stop for sonnets； my mother's
sitting up。 I'll look you up to…morrow； sometime or other； and
do for goodness' sake try and realize that you're a pestilential
scourge； or you'll find yourself in a most awful fix。 Good…
night！〃
The Boy found it an easy matter to set the mind of his parents'
at ease about his new friend。 They had always left that branch
to him； and they took his word without a murmur。 The shepherd
was formally introduced and many compliments and kind
inquiries were exchanged。 His wife； however； though expres