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thought very much of Ham and Shem and Japhet。 They were only
there because they were in the story； but nobody really
wanted them。 The Ark was built for the animals； of course
animals with tails； and trunks； and horns； and at least three
legs apiece； though some unfortunates had been unable to retain
even that number。 And in the animals were of course included the
birdsthe dove； for instance； grey with black wings； and the
red…crested woodpeckeror was it a hoo…poe？and the insects；
for there was a dear beetle； about the same size as the dove；
that held its own with any of the mammalia。
Of the doll…department Charlotte had naturally been sole chief
for a long time； if the staff were not in their places to…day； it
was not I who had any official right to take notice。 And yet one
may have been member of a Club for many a year without ever
exactly understanding the use and object of the other members；
until one enters； some Christmas day or other holiday； and；
surveying the deserted armchairs； the untenanted sofas； the
barren hat…pegs； realizes； with depression； that those other
fellows had their allotted functions； after all。 Where was old
Jerry？ Where were Eugenie； Rosa； Sophy； Esmeralda？ We had long
drifted apart； it was true； we spoke but rarely； perhaps；
absorbed in new ambitions； new achievements； I had even come to
look down on these conservative； unprogressive members who were
so clearly content to remain simply what they were。 And now that
their corners were unfilled； their chairs unoccupiedwell； my
eyes were opened and I wanted 'em back！
However； it was no business of mine。 If grievances were the
question； I hadn't a leg to stand upon。 Though my catapults were
officially confiscated； I knew the drawer in which they were
incarcerated； and where the key of it was hidden； and I
could make life a burden； if I chose； to every living thing
within a square…mile radius； so long as the catapult was restored
to its drawer in due and decent time。 But I wondered how the
others were taking it。 The edict hit them more severely。 They
should have my moral countenance at any rate； if not more； in any
protest or countermine they might be planning。 And； indeed；
something seemed possible； from the dogged； sullen air with which
the two of them had trotted off in the direction of the
raspberry…canes。 Certain spots always had their insensible
attraction for certain moods。 In love； one sought the orchard。
Weary of discipline； sick of convention； impassioned for the
road； the mining camp； the land across the border； one made for
the big meadow。 Mutinous； sulky； charged with plots and
conspiracies； one always got behind the shelter of the
raspberry…canes。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。
〃You can come too if you like；〃 said Harold； in a subdued sort of
way； as soon as he was aware that I was sitting up in bed
watching him。 〃We didn't think you'd care； 'cos you've got to
catapults。 But we're goin' to do what we've settled to do； so
it's no good sayin' we hadn't ought and that sort of thing； 'cos
we're goin' to！〃
The day had passed in an ominous peacefulness。 Charlotte and
Harold had kept out of my way； as well as out of everybody
else's； in a purposeful manner that ought to have bred suspicion。
In the evening we had read books； or fitfully drawn ships and
battles on fly…leaves； apart； in separate corners； void of
conversation or criticism； oppressed by the lowering tidiness of
the universe； till bedtime came； and disrobement； and
prayers even more mechanical than usual； and lastly bed itself
without so much as a giraffe under the pillow。 Harold had
grunted himself between the sheets with an ostentatious pretence
of overpowering fatigue； but I noticed that he pulled his pillow
forward and propped his head against the brass bars of his crib；
and； as I was acquainted with most of his tricks and subterfuges；
it was easy for me to gather that a painful wakefulness was his
aim that night。
I had dozed off； however； and Harold was out and on his feet；
poking under the bed for his shoes； when I sat up and grimly
regarded him。 Just as he said I could come if I liked； Charlotte
slipped in； her face rigid and set。 And then it was borne in
upon me that I was not on in this scene。 These youngsters had
planned it all out； the piece was their own； and the
mounting； and the cast。 My sceptre had fallen； my rule had
ceased。 In this magic hour of the summer night laws went for
nothing； codes were cancelled； and those who were most in touch
with the moonlight and the warm June spirit and the topsy…
turvydom that reigns when the clock strikes ten； were the true
lords and lawmakers。
Humbly； almost timidly； I followed without a protest in the wake
of these two remorseless； purposeful young persons； who were
marching straight for the schoolroom。 Here in the moonlight the
grim big box stood visiblethe box in which so large a portion
of our past and our personality lay entombed； cold； swathed in
paper； awaiting the carrier of the morning who should speed them
forth to the strange； cold； distant Children's Hospital； where
their little failings would all be misunderstood and no one
would make allowances。 A dreamy spectator； I stood idly by
while Harold propped up the lid and the two plunged in their arms
and probed and felt and grappled。
〃Here's Rosa；〃 said Harold； suddenly。 〃I know the feel of her
hair。 Will you have Rosa out？〃
〃Oh； give me Rosa！〃 cried Charlotte with a sort of gasp。 And
when Rosa had been dragged forth； quite unmoved apparently；
placid as ever in her moonfaced contemplation of this comedy…
world with its ups and downs； Charlotte retired with her to the
window…seat； and there in the moonlight the two exchanged their
private confidences； leaving Harold to his exploration alone。
〃Here's something with sharp corners；〃 said Harold； presently。
〃Must be Leotard； I think。 Better let HIM go。〃
〃Oh； yes； we can't save Leotard；〃 assented Charlotte；
limply。
Poor old Leotard！ I said nothing； of course； I was not on in
this piece。 But； surely； had Leotard heard and rightly
understood all that was going on above him； he must have sent up
one feeble； strangled cry； one faint appeal to be rescued from
unfamiliar little Annies and retained for an audience certain to
appreciate and never unduly critical。
〃Now I've got to the Noah's Ark；〃 panted Harold； still groping
blindly。
〃Try and shove the lid back a bit；〃 said Charlotte； 〃and pull out
a dove or a zebra or a giraffe if there's one handy。〃
Harold toiled on with grunts and contortions； and presently
produced in triumph a small grey elephant and a large beetle with
a red stomach。
〃They're jammed in too tight；〃 he complained。 〃Can't get any
more out。 But as I came up I'm sure I felt Potiphar！〃 And down
he dived again。
Potiphar was a finely modelled bull with a suede skin； rough