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recollected that the road to the Parsonage led past her aunt's
garden。
She began the conversation； while I hopped backwards and forwards
over the ditch； feigning a careless ease。
〃Saw you in church on Sunday；〃 she said； 〃only you looked
different then。 All dressed up； and your hair quite smooth； and
brushed up at the sides； and oh； so shiny！ What do they put on
it to make it shine like that？ Don't you hate having your hair
brushed？〃 she ran on； without waiting for an answer。 〃How your
boots squeaked when you came down the aisle！ When mine squeak； I
walk in all the puddles till they stop。 Think I'll get over the
fence。〃
This she proceeded to do in a businesslike way； while； with
my hands deep in my pockets； I regarded her movements with silent
interest； as those of some strange new animal。
〃I've been gardening；〃 she explained； when she had joined me；
〃but I didn't like it。 There's so many worms about to…day。 I
hate worms。 Wish they'd keep out of the way when I'm digging。〃
〃Oh； I like worms when I'm digging；〃 I replied heartily； 〃seem to
make things more lively； don't they？〃
She reflected。 〃Shouldn't mind 'em so much if they were warm and
DRY；〃 she said； 〃but〃 here she shivered； and somehow I liked
her for it； though if it had been my own flesh and blood hoots of
derision would have instantly assailed her。
From worms we passed； naturally enough； to frogs； and thence to
pigs； aunts； gardeners； rocking…horses； and other fellow…citizens
of our common kingdom。 In five minutes we had each other's
confidences； and I seemed to have known her for a lifetime。
Somehow； on the subject of one's self it was easier to be frank
and communicative with her than with one's female kin。 It must
be； I supposed； because she was less familiar with one's faulty；
tattered past。
〃I was watching you as you came along the road；〃 she said
presently； 〃and you had your head down and your hands in your
pockets； and you weren't throwing stones at anything； or
whistling； or jumping over things； and I thought perhaps you'd
bin scolded； or got a stomach…ache。〃
〃No；〃 I answered shyly； 〃it wasn't that。 Fact is； I wasI
oftenbut it's a secret。〃
There I made an error in tactics。 That enkindling word set her
dancing round me； half beseeching； half imperious。 〃Oh； do
tell it me！〃 she cried。 〃You must！ I'll never tell anyone else
at all； I vow and declare I won't！〃
Her small frame wriggled with emotion； and with imploring eyes
she jigged impatiently just in front of me。 Her hair was tumbled
bewitchingly on her shoulders； and even the loss of a front
tootha loss incidental to her ageseemed but to add a piquancy
to her face。
〃You won't care to hear about it；〃 I said； wavering。 〃Besides； I
can't explain exactly。 I think I won't tell you。〃 But all the
time I knew I should have to。
〃But I DO care；〃 she wailed plaintively。 〃I didn't think
you'd be so unkind！〃
This would never do。 That little downward tug at either corner
of the mouthI knew the symptom only too well！
〃It's like this；〃 I began stammeringly。 〃This bit of road here
up as far as that corneryou know it's a horrid dull bit of
road。 I'm always having to go up and down it； and I know it so
well； and I'm so sick of it。 So whenever I get to that corner； I
justwell； I go right off to another place！〃
〃What sort of a place？〃 she asked； looking round her gravely。
〃Of course it's just a place I imagine；〃 I went on hurriedly and
rather shamefacedly： 〃but it's an awfully nice placethe nicest
place you ever saw。 And I always go off there in church； or
during joggraphy lessons。〃
〃I'm sure it's not nicer than my home；〃 she cried patriotically。
〃Oh； you ought to see my homeit's lovely！ We've got〃
〃Yes it is； ever so much nicer；〃 I interrupted。 〃I mean〃I went
on apologetically〃of course I know your home's beautiful and
all that。 But this MUST be nicer； 'cos if you want
anything at all； you've only GOT to want it； and you can
have it！〃
〃That sounds jolly；〃 she murmured。 〃Tell me more about it；
please。 Tell me how you get there； first。〃
〃Idon'tquiteknowexactly；〃 I replied。 〃I just go。 But
generally it begins bywell； you're going up a broad； clear
river in a sort of a boat。 You're not rowing or anythingyou're
just moving along。 And there's beautiful grass meadows on both
sides； and the river's very full； quite up to the level of the
grass。 And you glide along by the edge。 And the people are
haymaking there； and playing games； and walking about； and they
shout to you； and you shout back to them； and they bring you
things to eat out of their baskets； and let you drink out of
their bottles； and some of 'em are the nice people you read about
in books。 And so at last you come to the Palace stepsgreat
broad marble steps； reaching right down to the water。 And there
at the steps you find every sort of boat you can imagine
schooners； and punts； and row…boats； and little men…of…war。 And
you have any sort of boating you want torowing； or sailing； or
shoving about in a punt！〃
〃I'd go sailing；〃 she said decidedly： 〃and I'd steer。 No；
YOU'D have to steer； and I'd sit about on the deck。 No； I
wouldn't though； I'd rowat least I'd make you row； and I'd
steer。 And then we'dOh； no！ I'll tell you what we'd do！ We'd
just sit in a punt and dabble！〃
〃Of course we'll do just what you like；〃 I said hospitably； but
already I was beginning to feel my liberty of action somewhat
curtailed by this exigent visitor I had so rashly admitted into
my sanctum。
〃I don't think we'd boat at all；〃 she finally decided。 〃It's
always so WOBBLY。 Where do you come to next？〃
〃You go up the steps；〃 I continued； 〃and in at the door； and the
very first place you come to is the Chocolate…room！〃
She brightened up at this； and I heard her murmur with gusto；
〃Chocolate…room！〃
〃It's got every sort of chocolate you can think of；〃 I went on：
〃soft chocolate； with sticky stuff inside； white and pink； what
girls like； and hard shiny chocolate； that cracks when you bite
it； and takes such a nice long time to suck！〃
〃I like the soft stuff best；〃 she said： 〃'cos you can eat such a
lot more of it！〃
This was to me a new aspect of the chocolate question； and I
regarded her with interest and some respect。 With us； chocolate
was none too common a thing； and； whenever we happened to come
by any； we resorted to the quaintest devices in order to make
it last out。 Still； legends had reached us of children who
actually had； from time to time； as much chocolate as they could
possibly eat； and here； apparently； was one of them。
〃You can have all the creams；〃 I said magnanimously； 〃and I'll
eat the hard sticks； 'cos I like 'em best。〃
〃Oh； but you mustn't！〃 she cried impetuously。 〃You must eat the
same as I do！ It isn't nice to want to eat different。 I'll tell
you whatyou must gi