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threatening retribution。
〃Go and fetch 'em quick！ 〃 shouted Selina； stamping with
impatience。
Harold ran off at once； true to the stern system of discipline in
which he had been nurtured。 But his eyes were like round O's；
and as he ran he talked fast to himself； in evident disorder of
mind。
The pea…sticks made a rare blaze； and the fire； no longer
smouldering sullenly； leapt up and began to assume the appearance
of a genuine bonfire。 Harold； awed into silence at first； began
to jump round it with shouts of triumph。 Selina looked on
grimly； with knitted brow； she was not yet fully satisfied。
〃Can't you get any more sticks？〃 she said presently。 〃Go and
hunt about。 Get some old hampers and matting and things out of
the tool…house。 Smash up that old cucumber frame Edward shoved
you into； the day we were playing scouts and Mohicans。 Stop
a bit！ Hooray！ I know。 You come along with me。〃
Hard by there was a hot…house； Aunt Eliza's special pride and
joy； and even grimly approved of by the gardener。 At one end； in
an out…house adjoining； the necessary firing was stored； and to
this sacred fuel； of which we were strictly forbidden to touch a
stick； Selina went straight。 Harold followed obediently；
prepared for any crime after that of the pea…sticks； but pinching
himself to see if he were really awake。
〃You bring some coals；〃 said Selina briefly； without any palaver
or pro…and…con discussion。 〃Here's a basket。 I'LL manage the
faggots！〃
In a very few minutes there was little doubt about its being a
genuine bonfire and no paltry makeshift。 Selina； a Maenad now；
hatless and tossing disordered locks； all the dross of the young
lady purged out of her； stalked around the pyre of her own
purloining； or prodded it with a pea…stick。 And as she prodded
she murmured at intervals； 〃I KNEW there was something we
could do！ It isn't muchbut still it's SOMETHING！〃
The gardener had gone home to his tea。 Aunt Eliza had driven out
for hers a long way off； and was not expected back till quite
late； and this far end of the garden was not overlooked by any
windows。 So the Tribute blazed on merrily unchecked。 Villagers
far away； catching sight of the flare； muttered something about
〃them young devils at their tricks again；〃 and trudged on beer…
wards。 Never a thought of what day it was； never a thought for
Nelson； who preserved their honest pint…pots； to be paid for in
honest pence； and saved them from litres and decimal coinage。
Nearer at hand； frightened rabbits popped up and vanished with a
flick of white tails； scared birds fluttered among the
branches； or sped across the glade to quieter sleeping…quarters；
but never a bird nor a beast gave a thought to the hero to whom
they owed it that each year their little homes of horsehair；
wool； or moss； were safe stablished 'neath the flap of the
British flag； and that Game Laws； quietly permanent； made la
chasse a terror only to their betters。 No one seemed to know；
nor to care； nor to sympathise。 In all the ecstasy of her burnt…
offering and sacrifice； Selina stood alone。
And yetnot quite alone！ For； as the fire was roaring at its
best； certain stars stepped delicately forth on the surface of
the immensity above； and peered down doubtfullywith wonder at
first； then with interest； then with recognition； with a start of
glad surprise。 THEY at least knew all about it； THEY
understood。 Among THEM the Name was a daily familiar
word； his story was a part of the music to which they swung；
himself was their fellow and their mate and comrade。 So they
peeped； and winked； and peeped again； and called to their laggard
brothers to come quick and see。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。
〃The best of life is but intoxication；〃 and Selina； who during
her brief inebriation had lived in an ecstasy as golden as our
drab existence affords； had to experience the inevitable
bitterness of awakening sobriety； when the dying down of the
flames into sullen embers coincided with the frenzied entrance of
Aunt Eliza on the scene。 It was not so much that she was at once
and forever disrated； broke； sent before the mast； and branded as
one on whom no reliance could be placed； even with Edward safe at
school； and myself under the distant vigilance of an aunt； that
her pocket money was stopped indefinitely； and her new Church
Service； the pride of her last birthday； removed from her own
custody and placed under the control of a Trust。 She sorrowed
rather because she had dragged poor Harold； against his better
judgment； into a most horrible scrape； and moreover because； when
the reaction had fairly set in； when the exaltation had fizzled
away and the young…lady portion of her had crept timorously back
to its wonted lodging； she could only see herself as a plain
fool； unjustified； undeniable； without a shadow of an excuse or
explanation。
As for Harold； youth and a short memory made his case less
pitiful than it seemed to his more sensitive sister。 True； he
started upstairs to his lonely cot bellowing dismally； before him
a dreary future of pains and penalties； sufficient to last to the
crack of doom。 Outside his door； however； he tumbled over
Augustus the cat； and made capture of him； and at once his
mourning was changed into a song of triumph； as he conveyed his
prize into port。 For Augustus； who detested above all things
going to bed with little boys； was ever more knave than fool； and
the trapper who was wily enough to ensnare him had achieved
something notable。 Augustus； when he realized that his fate was
sealed； and his night's lodging settled； wisely made the best of
things； and listened； with a languorous air of complete
comprehension； to the incoherent babble concerning pigs and
heroes； moles and bonfires； which served Harold for a self…sung
lullaby。 Yet it may be doubted whether Augustus was one of those
rare fellows who thoroughly understood。
But Selina knew no more of this source of consolation than of the
sympathy with which the stars were winking above her； and it was
only after some sad interval oftime； and on a very moist
pillow； that she drifted into that quaint inconsequent country
where you may meet your own pet hero strolling down the road； and
commit what hair…brained oddities you like； and everybody
understands and appreciates。
DIES IRAE
Those memorable days that move in procession； their heads just
out of the mist of years long deadthe most of them are full…
eyed as the dandelion that from dawn to shade has steeped itself
in sunlight。 Here and there in their ranks； however； moves a
forlorn one who is blindblind in the sense of the dulled
window…pane on which the pelting raindrops have mingled and run
down； obscuring sunshine and the circling birds； happy fields；
and storied garden； blind with the spatter of a misery
uncomprehended； unanalysed； only felt as something corporeal in
its buffeting