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〃You're going to the Fair？〃 she whispered breathlessly。
He frowned。 How could she know？ She always knew everything。
〃Perhaps；〃 he whispered back； 〃but if you tell anyone I'll〃
〃Of course I wouldn't tell；〃 she replied； deeply offended。
This little conversation strengthened his purpose。 He had not
admitted to himself that he was really going。 Now he knew。
Wednesday would be the night。 On Wednesday evenings his father had a
service which prevented him from returning home until half…past
eight。 He would go to Somerset's at half…past four； and would he
expected home at half…past six； there would be no real alarm about
him until his father's return from church； and he could； therefore；
be sure of two hours' bliss。 For the consequences he did not care at
all。 He was going to do no harm to anyone or anything。 They would be
angry； perhaps； but that would not hurt him； and； in any case； he
was going to school next week。 No one at school would mind whether
he had been to the Fair or no。
He felt aloof and apart； as though no one could touch him。 He would
not have minded simply going into them all and saying： 〃I'm off to
the Fair。〃 The obvious drawback to that would have been that he
would have been shut up in his room； and then they might make him
give his word 。 。 。 He would not break any promises。
When Wednesday came it was a lovely day。 Out in the field just
behind the Coles' house they were burning a huge bonfire of dead
leaves。 At first only a heavy column of grey smoke rose； then flames
broke through； little； thin golden flames like paper； then a sudden
fierce red tongue shot out and went licking up into the air until it
faded like tumbling water against the sunlight。 On the outer edge of
the bonfire there was thin grey smoke through which you could see as
through glass。 The smell was heavenly； and even through closed
windows the crackling of the burnt leaves could be heard。 The sight
of the bonfire excited Jeremy。 It seemed to him a signal of
encouragement； a spur to perseverance。 All the morning the flames
crackled； and men came with wheelbarrows full of leaves and emptied
them in thick heaps upon the fire。 At each emptying the fire would
be for a moment beaten； and only the white； thick； malicious smoke
would come through； then a little spit of flame； another； another；
then a thrust like a golden hand stretching out； then a fine；
towering； quivering splendour。
Under the full noonday sun the fire was pale and so unreal； weak；
and sickly； that one was almost ashamed to look at it。 But as the
afternoon passed； it again gathered strength； and with the faint；
dusky evening it was a giant once more。
〃You come along；〃 it said to Jeremy。 〃Come along！ Come along！〃
〃I'm going to Mr。 Somerset's； Mother；〃 he said； putting two exercise
books and a very new and shining blue Latin book together。
〃Are you； dear？ I suppose you're safe？〃 Mrs。 Cole asked； looking
through the drawing…room window。
〃Oh； it's all right；〃 said Jeremy
〃Well； I think it is；〃 said Mrs。 Cole。 〃The street seems quite
empty。 Don't speak to any odd…looking men； will you？〃
〃Oh； that's all right；〃 he said again。
He walked down Orange Street； his books under his arm； the 3s。 3
1/2d。 in his pocket。 The street was quite deserted； swimming in a
cold； pale light； the trees； the houses； the church； the garden…
walls； sharp and black； the street； dim and precipitous； tumbling
forward into the blue； whence lights； one； two； three； now a little
bunch together； came pricking out。
The old woman opened the door when he rang Mr。 Somerset's bell。
〃Master's been called away；〃 she said in her croaking voice。 〃A
burial。 'E 'adn't time to let you know。 'Tell the little gen'l'man；'
'e said； 'I'm sorry。'〃
〃All right；〃 said Jeremy； 〃thank you。〃
He descended the steps； then stood where he was； in the street；
looking up and down。 Who could deny that it was all being arranged
for him？ He felt more than ever like God as he looked proudly about
him。 Everything served his purpose。
The jingling of the money in his pocket reminded him that he must
waste no more time。 He started off。
Even his progress through the town seemed wonderful； quite
unattended at last； as he had always all his life longed to be。 So
soon as he left Orange Street and entered the market he was caught
into a great crowd。 It was all stirring and humming with a noise
such as the bonfire had all day been making。 It was his first
introduction to the worldhe had never been in a large crowd
beforeand it is not to be denied but that his heart beat thick and
his knees trembled a little。 But he pulled himself together。 Who was
he to be afraid？ But the books under his arm were a nuisance。 He
suddenly dropped them in amongst the legs and boots of the people。
There were many interesting sights to be seen in the market…place；
but he could not stay； and he found himself soon； to his own
surprise； slipping through the people as quietly and easily as
though he had done it all his days； only always he kept his hand on
his money lest that should be stolen and his adventure suddenly come
to nothing。
He knew his way very well； and soon he was at the end of Finch
Street which in those days opened straight into fields and hedges。
Even now； so little has Polchester grown in thirty years； the fields
and hedges are not very far away。 Here there was a stile with a
large wooden fence on either side of it； and a red…faced man saying：
〃Pay your sixpences now！ Come along 。 。 。 pay your sixpences now。〃
Crowds of people were passing through the stile； jostling one
another； pressing and pushing； but all apparently in good temper；
for there was a great deal of laughter and merriment。 From the other
side of the fence came a torrent of sound； so discordant and so
tumultuous that it was impossible to separate the elements of it one
from anotherscreams； shrieks； the bellowing of animals； and the
monotonous rise and fall of scraps of tune； several bars of one and
then bars of another； and then everything lost together in the
general babel； and to the right of him Jeremy could see not very far
away quiet fields with cows grazing； and the dark grave wood on the
horizon。
Would he venture？ For a moment his heart failed hima wave of
something threatening and terribly powerful seemed to come out to
him through the stile； and the people who were passing in looked
large and fierce。 Then he saw two small boys； their whole bearing
one of audacious boldness； push through。 He was not going to be
beaten。 He followed a man with a back like a wall。 〃One； please；〃 he
said。
〃'Come along now 。 。 。 pay your sixpences 。 。 。 pay your sixpences；〃
cried the man。 He was through。 He stepped at once into something
that had for him all the elements of the most terrifying and
enchanting of fairy tales。 He was planted； it seemed； in a giant
world。 At first he could see nothing but the high and thick bodies
of the people who moved on every side of him； he peered under
shoulders； he was lost amongst legs and arms； he walked suddenly
into waistcoat buttons and was flung thence on to walking sticks。
But it was； if he had known it； the most ma