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friend。
〃Oh； I think not；〃 said the dragon in his lazy way。 〃You'll be
able to arrange something。 I've every confidence in you； you're
such a MANAGER。 Just run down； there's a dear chap； and make
it all right。 I leave it entirely to you。〃
The Boy made his way back to the village in a state of great
despondency。 First of all； there wasn't going to be any fight；
next； his dear and honoured friend the dragon hadn't shown up in
quite such a heroic light as he would have liked； and lastly；
whether the dragon was a hero at heart or not； it made no
difference； for St。 George would most undoubtedly cut his head
off。 〃Arrange things indeed！〃 he said bitterly to himself。 〃The
dragon treats the whole affair as if it was an invitation to tea
and croquet。〃
The villagers were straggling homewards as he passed up the
street； all of them in the highest spirits； and gleefully
discussing the splendid fight that was in store。 The Boy pursued
his way to the inn； and passed into the principal chamber； where
St。 George now sat alone； musing over the chances of the fight；
and the sad stories of rapine and of wrong that had so lately
been poured into his sympathetic ears。
〃May I come in； St。 George？〃 said the Boy politely； as he paused
at the door。 〃I want to talk to you about this little matter of
the dragon； if you're not tired of it by this time。〃
〃Yes； come in； Boy；〃 said the Saint kindly。 〃Another tale of
misery and wrong； I fear me。 Is it a kind parent； then； of whom
the tyrant has bereft you？ Or some tender sister or brother？
Well； it shall soon be avenged。〃
〃Nothing of the sort；〃 said the Boy。 〃There's a misunderstanding
somewhere； and I want to put it right。 The fact is； this is
a GOOD dragon。〃
〃Exactly；〃 said St。 George； smiling pleasantly； 〃I quite
understand。 A good DRAGON。 Believe me； I do not in the least
regret that he is an adversary worthy of my steel； and no feeble
specimen of his noxious tribe。〃
〃But he's NOT a noxious tribe；〃 cried the Boy distressedly。
〃Oh dear； oh dear； how STUPID men are when they get an idea
into their heads！ I tell you he's a GOOD dragon； and a friend
of mine； and tells me the most beautiful stories you ever heard；
all about old times and when he was little。 And he's been so
kind to mother； and mother'd do anything for him。 And father
likes him too； though father doesn't hold with art and poetry
much； and always falls asleep when the dragon starts talking
about STYLE。 But the fact is； nobody can help liking him when
once they know him。 He's so engaging and so trustful； and
as simple as a child！〃
〃Sit down； and draw your chair up；〃 said St。 George。 〃I like a
fellow who sticks up for his friends； and I'm sure the dragon has
his good points； if he's got a friend like you。 But that's not
the question。 All this evening I've been listening； with grief
and anguish unspeakable； to tales of murder； theft； and wrong；
rather too highly coloured； perhaps； not always quite convincing；
but forming in the main a most serious roll of crime。 History
teaches us that the greatest rascals often possess all the
domestic virtues； and I fear that your cultivated friend； in
spite of the qualities which have won （and rightly） your regard；
has got to be speedily exterminated。〃
〃Oh； you've been taking in all the yarns those fellows have been
telling you；〃 said the Boy impatiently。 〃Why； our villagers
are the biggest story…tellers in all the country round。 It's a
known fact。 You're a stranger in these parts； or else you'd have
heard it already。 All they want is a FIGHT。 They're the most
awful beggars for getting up fightsit's meat and drink to them。
Dogs； bulls； dragonsanything so long as it's a fight。 Why；
they've got a poor innocent badger in the stable behind here； at
this moment。 They were going to have some fun with him to…day；
but they're saving him up now till YOUR little affair's over。
And I've no doubt they've been telling you what a hero you were；
and how you were bound to win； in the cause of right and justice；
and so on； but let me tell you； I came down the street just now；
and they were betting six to four on the dragon freely！〃
〃Six to four on the dragon！〃 murmured St。 George sadly； resting
his cheek on his hand。 〃This is an evil world； and
sometimes I begin to think that all the wickedness in it is not
entirely bottled up inside the dragons。 And yetmay not this
wily beast have misled you as to his real character； in order
that your good report of him may serve as a cloak for his evil
deeds？ Nay； may there not be； at this very moment； some hapless
Princess immured within yonder gloomy cavern？〃
The moment he had spoken； St。 George was sorry for what he had
said； the Boy looked so genuinely distressed。
〃I assure you； St。 George；〃 he said earnestly； 〃there's nothing
of the sort in the cave at all。 The dragon's a real gentleman；
every inch of him； and I may say that no one would be more
shocked and grieved than he would； at hearing you talk in that
that LOOSE way about matters on which he has very strong
views！〃
〃Well； perhaps I've been over…credulous；〃 said St。 George。
〃Perhaps I've misjudged the animal。 But what are we to do？ Here
are the dragon and I； almost face to face； each supposed to be
thirsting for each other's blood。 I don't see any way out of it；
exactly。 What do you suggest？ Can't you arrange things；
somehow？〃
〃That's just what the dragon said；〃 replied the Boy； rather
nettled。 〃Really； the way you two seem to leave everything to
meI suppose you couldn't be persuaded to go away quietly； could
you？〃
〃Impossible； I fear；〃 said the Saint。 〃Quite against the rules。
YOU know that as well as I do。〃
〃Well； then； look here；〃 said the Boy； 〃it's early yetwould you
mind strolling up with me and seeing the dragon and talking it
over？ It's not far； and any friend of mine will be most
welcome。〃
〃Well； it's IRREGULAR；〃 said St。 George； rising； 〃but
really it seems about the most sensible thing to do。 You're
taking a lot of trouble on your friend's account；〃 he added；
good…naturedly； as they passed out through the door together。
〃But cheer up！ Perhaps there won't have to be any fight after
all。〃
〃Oh； but _I_ hope there will； though！〃 replied the little
fellow； wistfully。
〃I've brought a friend to see you； dragon；〃 said the Boy； rather
loud。
The dragon woke up with a start。 〃I was justerthinking about
things；〃 he said in his simple way。 〃Very pleased to make your
acquaintance； sir。 Charming weather we're having！〃
〃This is St George；〃 said the Boy； shortly。 〃St。 George； let me
introduce you to the dragon。 We've come up to talk things over
quietly； dragon； and now for goodness' sake do let us have a
little straight common…sense； and come to some practical
business…like arrangement； for I'm sick of views and theories of
life and