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at one side of the heel as Clementina's were very far from the thing。
Mrs。 Milray decided that another fold of cheese…cloth would add to the
statuesque charm of her figure； and give her more height； and she was
richly satisfied with the effect when the Middlemount coach drove up to
the great veranda the next morning； with all the figures of her picture
in position on its roof； and Clementina supreme among them。 She herself
mounted in simple； undramatized authority to her official seat beside the
landlord； who in coachman's dress； with a bouquet of autumnal flowers in
his lapel； sat holding his garlanded reins over the backs of his six
horses； and then the coach as she intended it to appear in the parade set
out as soon as the turnouts of the other houses joined it。 They were all
to meet at the Middlemount； which was thickly draped and festooned in
flags； with knots of evergreen and the first red boughs of the young
swamp maples holding them in place over its irregular facade。 The coach
itself was amass of foliage and flowers； from which it defined itself as
a wheeled vehicle in vague and partial outline； the other wagons and
coaches； as they drove tremulously up； with an effect of having been
mired in blossoms about their spokes and hubs； had the unwieldiness which
seems inseparable from spectacularity。 They represented motives in color
and design sometimes tasteless enough； and sometimes so nearly very good
that Mrs。 Milray's heart was a great deal in her mouth； as they arrived；
each with its hotel…cry roared and shrilled from a score of masculine and
feminine throats； and finally spelled for distinctness sake； with an
ultimate yell or growl。 But she had not finished giving the lady…
representative of a Sunday newspaper the points of her own tableau；
before she regained the courage and the faith in which she remained
serenely steadfast throughout the parade。
It was when all the equipages of the neighborhood had arrived that she
climbed to her place； the ladder was taken away； the landlord spoke to
his horses； and the Middlemount coach led the parade； amid the renewed
slogans； and the cries and fluttered handkerchiefs of the guests crowding
the verandas。
The line of march was by one road to Middlemount Centre； where the prize
was to be awarded at the judges' stand； and then the coaches were to
escort the triumphant vehicle homeward by another route； so as to pass as
many houses on the way as possible。 It was a curious expression of the
carnival spirit in a region immemorially starved of beauty in the lives
of its people； and whatever was the origin of the mountain coaching
parade； or from whatever impulse of sentimentality or advertising it
came； the effect was of undeniable splendor； and of phantasmagoric
strangeness。
Gregory watched its progress from a hill…side pasture as it trailed
slowly along the rising and falling road。 The songs of the young girls；
interrupted by the explosion of hotel slogans and college cries from the
young men； floated off to him on the thin breeze of the cloudless August
morning； like the hymns and shouts of a saturnalian rout going in holiday
processional to sacrifice to their gods。 Words of fierce Hebrew poetry
burned in his thought； the warnings and the accusals and the
condemnations of the angry prophets； and he stood rapt from his own time
and place in a dream of days when the Most High stooped to commune face
to face with His ministers； while the young voices of those forgetful or
ignorant of Him； called to his own youth； and the garlanded chariots；
with their banners and their streamers passed on the road beneath him and
out of sight in the shadow of the woods beyond。
When the prize was given to the Middlemount coach at the Center the
landlord took the flag； and gallantly transferred it to Mrs。 Milray； and
Mrs。 Milray passed it up to Clementina； and bade her； 〃Wave it； wave it！〃
The village street was thronged with people that cheered； and swung their
hats and handkerchiefs to the coach as it left the judges' stand and
drove under the triumphal arch； with the other coaches behind it。 Then
Atwell turned his horses heads homewards； and at the brisker pace with
which people always return from festivals or from funerals； he left the
village and struck out upon the country road with his long escort before
him。 The crowd was quick to catch the courteous intention of the
victors； and followed them with applause as far beyond the village
borders as wind and limb would allow； but the last noisy boy had dropped
off breathless before they reached a half…finished house in the edge of
some woods。 A line of little children was drawn up by the road…side
before it； who watched the retinue with grave eagerness； till the
Middlemount coach came in full sight。 Then they sprang into the air； and
beating their hands together； screamed； 〃Clem！ Clem！ Oh it's Clem！〃
and jumped up and down； and a shabby looking work worn woman came round
the corner of the house and stared up at Clementina waving her banner
wildly to the children； and shouting unintelligible words to them。 The
young people on the coach joined in response to the children； some
simply； some ironically； and one of the men caught up a great wreath of
flowers which lay at Clementina's feet； and flung it down to them； the
shabby woman quickly vanished round the corner of the house again。 Mrs。
Milray leaned over to ask the landlord； 〃Who in the world are
Clementina's friends？〃
〃Why don't you know？〃 he retorted in abated voice。 〃Them's her brothas
and sistas。〃
〃And that woman？〃
〃The lady at the conna？ That's her motha。〃
When the event was over； and all the things had been said and said again；
and there was nothing more to keep the spring and summer months from
going up to their rooms to lie down； and the fall and winter months from
trying to get something to eat； Mrs。 Milray found herself alone with
Clementina。
The child seemed anxious about something； and Mrs。 Milray； who wanted to
go and lie down； too； asked a little impatiently； 〃What is it；
Clementina？〃
〃Oh； nothing。 Only I was afraid maybe you didn't like my waving to the
children； when you saw how queea they looked。〃 Clementina's lips
quivered。
〃Did any of the rest say anything？〃
〃I know what they thought。 But I don't care！ I should do it right over
again！〃
Mrs。 Milray's happiness in the day's triumph was so great that she could
indulge a generous emotion。 She caught the girl in her arms。 〃I want to
kiss you； I want to hug you； Clementina！〃
The notion of a dance for the following night to celebrate the success of
the house in the coaching parade came to Mrs。 Milray aver a welsh…rarebit
which she gave at the close of the evening。 The party was in the charge
of Gregory； who silently served them at their orgy with an austerity that
might have conspired with the viand itself against their dreams； if they
had not been so used to the gloom of his ministrations。 He would not
allow the waitresses to be disturbed in their evening leisure； or kept
from their sleep by such belated pleasures； and when he had provided the
materials for the rarebit； he stood