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into waistcoat buttons and was flung thence on to walking sticks。
But it was； if he had known it； the most magical hour of all for him
to have chosen。 It was the moment when the sun； sinking behind the
woods and hills； leaves a faint white crystal sky and a world
transformed in an instant from sharp outlines and material form into
coloured mist and rising vapour。 The Fair also was transformed；
putting forward all its lights and becoming； after the glaring
tawdiness of the day； a place of shadow and sudden circles of flame
and dim obscurity。
Lights； even as Jeremy watched； sprang into the air； wavered；
faltered； hesitated； then rocked into a steady glow； only shifting a
little with the haze。 On either side of him were rough； wooden
stalls； and these were illuminated with gas； which sizzled and
hissed like angry snakes。 The stalls were covered with everything
invented by man； here a sweet stall； with thick； sticky lumps of
white and green and red； glass bottles of bulls' eyes and
peppermints； thick slabs of almond toffee and pink cocoanut icing；
boxes of round chocolate creams and sticks of liquorice； lumps of
gingerbread； with coloured pictures stuck upon them； saffron buns；
plum cakes in glass jars； and chains of little sugary biscuits
hanging on long red strings。 There was the old…clothes' stall with
trousers and coats and waistcoats； all shabby and lanky； swinging
beneath the gas； and piles of clothes on the boards； all nondescript
and unhappy and faded； there was the stall with the farm implements；
and the medicine stall； and the flower stall； and the vegetable
stall； and many； many another。 Each place had his or her guardian；
vociferous； red…faced； screaming out the wares； lowering the voice
to cajole； raising it again to draw back a retreating customer；
carrying on suddenly an intimate conversation with the next…door
shopkeeper； laughing； quarrelling； arguing。
To Jeremy it was a world of giant heights and depths。 Behind the
stalls； beyond the lane down which he moved； was an uncertain glory；
a threatening peril。 He fancied that strange animals moved there； he
thought he heard a lion roar and an elephant bellow。 The din of the
sellers all about him made it impossible to tell what was happening
beyond there； only the lights and bells； shouts and cries； confusing
smells； and a great roar of distant voices。
He almost wished that he had not come； he felt so very small and
helpless； he wondered whether he could find his way out again； and
looking back； he was for a moment terrified to see that the stream
of people behind him shut him in so that he could not see the stile；
nor the wooden barrier； nor the red…faced man。 Pushed forward； he
found himself at the end of the lane and standing in a semi…
circular space surrounded by strange…looking booths with painted
pictures upon them； and in front of them platforms with wooden steps
running up to them。 Then； so unexpectedly that he gave a little
scream； a sudden roar burst out behind him。 He turned and； indeed；
the world seemed to have gone mad。 A moment ago there had been
darkness and dim shadow。 Now； suddenly； there was a huge whistling；
tossing circle of light and flame； and from the centre of this a
banging； brazen； cymbal…clashing scream issued…a scream that；
through its strident shrillness； he recognised as a tune that he
knewa tune often whistled by Jim at Cow Farm。 〃And her golden hair
was hanging down her back。〃 Whence the tune came he could not tell；
from the very belly of the flaming monster； it seemed； but； as he
watched； he saw that the huge circle whirled ever faster and faster；
and that up and down on the flame of it coloured horses rose and
fell； vanishing from light to darkness； from darkness to light； and
seeming of their own free will and motion to dance to the thundering
music。
It was the most terrific thing that he had ever seen。 The most
terrific thing。 。 。 he stood there； his cap on the back of his head；
his legs apart； his mouth open； forgetting utterly the crowd；
thinking nothing of time or danger or punishmenthe gazed with his
whole body。
As his eyes grew more accustomed to the glare of the hissing gas； he
saw that in the centre figures were painted standing on the edge of
a pillar that revolved without pause。 There was a woman with flaming
red cheeks； a gold dress and dead white dusty arms； a man with a
golden crown and a purple robe； but a broken nose； and a minstrel
with a harp。 The woman and the king moved stiffly their arms up and
down； that they might strike instruments； one a cymbal and the other
a drum。 But it was finally the horses that caught Jeremy's heart。
Half of them at least were without riders； and the empty ones went
round pathetically； envying the more successful ones and dancing to
the music as though with an effort。 One especially moved Jeremy's
sympathy。 He was a fine horse； rather fresher than the others； with
a coal…black mane and great black bulging eyes； his saddle was of
gold and his trappings of red。 As he went round he seemed to catch
Jeremy's eye and to beg him to come to him。 He rode more securely
than the rest； rising nobly like a horse of fine breeding； falling
again with an implication of restrained force as though he would
say： 〃I have only to let myself go and there； my word； you would see
where I'd get to。〃 His bold black eyes turned beseechingly to
Jeremysurely it was not only a trick of the waving gas； the boy
drew closer and closer； never moving his gaze from the horses who
had hitherto been whirling at a bacchanalian pace； but now； as at
some sudden secret command； suddenly slackened； hesitated； fell into
a gentle jog…trot； then scarcely rose； scarcely fell； were suddenly
still。 Jeremy saw what it was that you did if you wanted to ride。 A
stout dirty man came out amongst the horses and； resting his hands
on their backs as though they were less than nothing to him；
shouted： 〃Now's your chance； lidies and gents！ Now； lidies and
gents！ Come along hup！ Come along hup！ The ride of your life now！ A
'alfpenny a time！ A 'alfpenny a time； and the finest ride of your
life！〃
People began to mount the steps that led on to the platform where
the horses stood。 A woman； then a man and a boy； then two men； then
two girls giggling together； then a man and a girl。
And the stout fellow shouted： 〃Come along hup！ Come along hup！ Now；
lidies and gents！ A 'alfpenny a ride！ Come along hup！〃
Jeremy noticed then that the fine horse with the black mane had
stopped close beside him。 Impossible to say whether the horse had
intended it or no！ He was staring now in front of him with the
innocent stupid gaze that animals can assume when they do not wish
to give themselves away。 But Jeremy could see that he was taking it
for granted that Jeremy understood the affair。 〃If you're such a
fool as not to understand；〃 he seemed to say； 〃well； then； I don't
want you。〃 Jeremy gazed； and the reproach in those eyes was more
than he could endure。 And at any moment someone else might settle
himself on that beautiful back！ There； that stupid fat giggling
girl！ Noshe had moved elsewhere。 。 。 He could endure it no longer
and； with a thumping