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DREAM DAYS
Harold was up and off in a moment； forgetting Nelson； forgetting the pig；
the mole； the Larkin betrayal； and Selina's strange fever of conscience。
Here was fire； real fire； to play with； and that was even better than messing
with water； or remodelling the plastic surface of the earth。 Of all the toys
the world provides for right…minded persons； the original elements rank
easily the first。
But Selina sat on where she was； her chin on her fists； and her fancies
whirled and drifted； here and there； in curls and eddies； along with the
smoke she was watching。 As the quick… footed dusk of the short October
day stepped lightly over the garden； little red tongues of fire might be seen
to leap and vanish in the smoke。 Harold； anon staggering under armfuls
of leaves； anon stoking vigorously； was discernible only at fitful intervals。
It was another sort of smoke that the inner eye of Selina was looking
upon；a smoke that hung in sullen banks round the masts and the hulls of
the fighting ships； a smoke from beneath which came thunder and the
crash and the splinter…rip； the shout of the boarding party； the choking sob
of the gunner stretched by his gun； a smoke from out of which at last she
saw； as through a riven pall； the radiant spirit of the Victor； crowned with
the coronal of a perfect death； leap in full assurance up into the ether that
Immortals breathe。 The dusk was glooming towards darkness when she
rose and moved slowly down towards the beckoning fire； something of the
priestess in her stride； something of the devotee in the set purpose of her
eye。
The leaves were well alight by this time； and Harold had just added an
old furze bush； which flamed and crackled stirringly。
〃Go 'n' get some more sticks；〃 ordered Selina； 〃and shavings； 'n'
chunks of wood； 'n' anything you can find。 Look herein the kitchen…
garden there's a pile of old pea…sticks。 Fetch as many as you can carry；
and then go back and bring some more！〃
〃But I say；〃 began Harold； amazedly； scarce knowing his sister； and
with a vision of a frenzied gardener； pea…stickless and threatening
retribution。
〃Go and fetch 'em quick！ 〃 shouted Selina； stamping with impatience。
Harold ran off at once； true to the stern system of discipline in which
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DREAM DAYS
he had been nurtured。 But his eyes were like round O's； and as he ran he
talked fast to himself； in evident disorder of mind。
The pea…sticks made a rare blaze； and the fire； no longer smouldering
sullenly； leapt up and began to assume the appearance of a genuine bonfire。
Harold； awed into silence at first； began to jump round it with shouts of
triumph。 Selina looked on grimly； with knitted brow； she was not yet
fully satisfied。 〃Can't you get any more sticks？〃 she said presently。 〃Go
and hunt about。 Get some old hampers and matting and things out of the
tool…house。 Smash up that old cucumber frame Edward shoved you into；
the day we were playing scouts and Mohicans。 Stop a bit！ Hooray！ I
know。 You come along with me。〃
Hard by there was a hot…house； Aunt Eliza's special pride and joy； and
even grimly approved of by the gardener。 At one end； in an out…house
adjoining； the necessary firing was stored； and to this sacred fuel； of which
we were strictly forbidden to touch a stick； Selina went straight。 Harold
followed obediently； prepared for any crime after that of the pea…sticks；
but pinching himself to see if he were really awake。
〃You bring some coals；〃 said Selina briefly； without any palaver or
pro…and…con discussion。 〃Here's a basket。 I'LL manage the faggots！〃
In a very few minutes there was little doubt about its being a genuine
bonfire and no paltry makeshift。 Selina； a Maenad now； hatless and
tossing disordered locks； all the dross of the young lady purged out of her；
stalked around the pyre of her own purloining； or prodded it with a pea…
stick。 And as she prodded she murmured at intervals； 〃I KNEW there
was something we could do！ It isn't muchbut still it's SOMETHING！〃
The gardener had gone home to his tea。 Aunt Eliza had driven out for
hers a long way off； and was not expected back till quite late； and this far
end of the garden was not overlooked by any windows。 So the Tribute
blazed on merrily unchecked。 Villagers far away； catching sight of the
flare； muttered something about 〃them young devils at their tricks again；〃
and trudged on beer… wards。 Never a thought of what day it was； never a
thought for Nelson； who preserved their honest pint…pots； to be paid for in
honest pence； and saved them from litres and decimal coinage。 Nearer at
hand； frightened rabbits popped up and vanished with a flick of white tails；
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DREAM DAYS
scared birds fluttered among the branches； or sped across the glade to
quieter sleeping…quarters； but never a bird nor a beast gave a thought to the
hero to whom they owed it that each year their little homes of horsehair；
wool； or moss； were safe stablished 'neath the flap of the British flag； and
that Game Laws； quietly permanent； made la chasse a terror only to their
betters。 No one seemed to know； nor to care； nor to sympathise。 In all
the ecstasy of her burnt… offering and sacrifice； Selina stood alone。
And yetnot quite alone！ For； as the fire was roaring at its best；
certain stars stepped delicately forth on the surface of the immensity above；
and peered down doubtfullywith wonder at first； then with interest； then
with recognition； with a start of glad surprise。 THEY at least knew all
about it； THEY understood。 Among THEM the Name was a daily
familiar word； his story was a part of the music to which they swung；
himself was their fellow and their mate and comrade。 So they peeped；
and winked； and peeped again； and called to their laggard brothers to come
quick and see。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。
〃The best of life is but intoxication；〃 and Selina； who during her brief