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sinned collectively they were suddenly informed of a circus in a
neighbouring town； a circus of unrivalled merit and uncounted
elephants； to which； but for their depravity； they would have been taken
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that very day。
A few decent tears were looked for on the part of Nicholas when the
moment for the departure of the expedition arrived。 As a matter of fact；
however； all the crying was done by his girl…cousin； who scraped her
knee rather painfully against the step of the carriage as she was
scrambling in。
〃How she did howl；〃 said Nicholas cheerfully； as the party drove off
without any of the elation of high spirits that should have characterised
it。
〃She'll soon get over that；〃 said the SOI…DISANT aunt； 〃it will be a
glorious afternoon for racing about over those beautiful sands。 How
they will enjoy themselves！〃
〃Bobby won't enjoy himself much； and he won't race much either；〃
said Nicholas with a grim chuckle； his boots are hurting him。 They're
too tight。〃
〃Why didn't he tell me they were hurting？〃 asked the aunt with some
asperity。
〃He told you twice； but you weren't listening。 You often don't listen
when we tell you important things。〃
〃You are not to go into the gooseberry garden；〃 said the aunt；
changing the subject。
〃Why not？〃 demanded Nicholas。
〃Because you are in disgrace；〃 said the aunt loftily。
Nicholas did not admit the flawlessness of the reasoning； he felt
perfectly capable of being in disgrace and in a gooseberry garden at the
same moment。 His face took on an expression of considerable
obstinacy。 It was clear to his aunt that he was determined to get into
the gooseberry garden； 〃only；〃 as she remarked to herself； 〃because I
have told him he is not to。〃
Now the gooseberry garden had two doors by which it might be
entered； and once a small person like Nicholas could slip in there he
could effectually disappear from view amid the masking growth of
artichokes； raspberry canes； and fruit bushes。 The aunt had many other
things to do that afternoon； but she spent an hour or two in trivial
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gardening operations among flower beds and shrubberies； whence she
could keep a watchful eye on the two doors that led to the forbidden
paradise。 She was a woman of few ideas； with immense powers of
concentration。
Nicholas made one or two sorties into the front garden； wriggling his
way with obvious stealth of purpose towards one or other of the doors；
but never able for a moment to evade the aunt's watchful eye。 As a
matter of fact； he had no intention of trying to get into the gooseberry
garden； but it was extremely convenient for him that his aunt should
believe that he had； it was a belief that would keep her on self…imposed
sentry…duty for the greater part of the afternoon。 Having thoroughly
confirmed and fortified her suspicions Nicholas slipped back into the
house and rapidly put into execution a plan of action that had long
germinated in his brain。 By standing on a chair in the library one could
reach a shelf on which reposed a fat； important…looking key。 The key
was as important as it looked； it was the instrument which kept the
mysteries of the lumber…room secure from unauthorised intrusion； which
opened a way only for aunts and such…like privileged persons。
Nicholas had not had much experience of the art of fitting keys into
keyholes and turning locks； but for some days past he had practised
with the key of the schoolroom door； he did not believe in trusting too
much to luck and accident。 The key turned stiffly in the lock； but it
turned。 The door opened； and Nicholas was in an unknown land；
compared with which the gooseberry garden was a stale delight； a
mere material pleasure。
Often and often Nicholas had pictured to himself what the lumber…
room might be like； that region that was so carefully sealed from
youthful eyes and concerning which no questions were ever answered。
It came up to his expectations。 In the first place it was large and dimly
lit； one high window opening on to the forbidden garden being its only
source of illumination。 In the second place it was a storehouse of
unimagined treasures。 The aunt…by…assertion was one of those people
who think that things spoil by use and consign them to dust and damp by
way of preserving them。 Such parts of the house as Nicholas knew best
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were rather bare and cheerless； but here there were wonderful things for
the eye to feast on。 First and foremost there was a piece of framed
tapestry that was evidently meant to be a fire…screen。 To Nicholas it
was a living； breathing story； he sat down on a roll of Indian hangings；
glowing in wonderful colours beneath a layer of dust； and took in all the
details of the tapestry picture。 A man； dressed in the hunting costume
of some remote period； had just transfixed a stag with an arrow； it could
not have been a difficult shot because the stag was only one or two paces
away from him； in the thickly…growing vegetation that the picture
suggested it would not have been difficult to creep up to a feeding stag；
and the two spotted dogs that were springing forw