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days I always let the other fellowsthe EARNEST fellowsdo all the
fighting； and no doubt that's why I have the pleasure of being here now。〃
〃But if you don't fight he'll cut your head off！〃 gasped the Boy；
miserable at the prospect of losing both his fight and his friend。
〃Oh； I think not；〃 said the dragon in his lazy way。 〃You'll be able to
arrange something。 I've every confidence in you； you're such a
MANAGER。 Just run down； there's a dear chap； and make it all right。 I
leave it entirely to you。〃
The Boy made his way back to the village in a state of great
despondency。 First of all； there wasn't going to be any fight； next； his
dear and honoured friend the dragon hadn't shown up in quite such a
heroic light as he would have liked； and lastly； whether the dragon was a
hero at heart or not； it made no difference； for St。 George would most
undoubtedly cut his head off。 〃Arrange things indeed！〃 he said bitterly to
himself。 〃The dragon treats the whole affair as if it was an invitation to
tea and croquet。〃
The villagers were straggling homewards as he passed up the street； all
of them in the highest spirits； and gleefully discussing the splendid fight
that was in store。 The Boy pursued his way to the inn； and passed into
the principal chamber； where St。 George now sat alone； musing over the
chances of the fight； and the sad stories of rapine and of wrong that had so
lately been poured into his sympathetic ears。
〃May I come in； St。 George？〃 said the Boy politely； as he paused at the
door。 〃I want to talk to you about this little matter of the dragon； if you're
not tired of it by this time。〃
〃Yes； come in； Boy；〃 said the Saint kindly。 〃Another tale of misery
and wrong； I fear me。 Is it a kind parent； then； of whom the tyrant has
bereft you？ Or some tender sister or brother？ Well； it shall soon be
avenged。〃
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〃Nothing of the sort；〃 said the Boy。 〃There's a misunderstanding
somewhere； and I want to put it right。 The fact is； this is a GOOD
dragon。〃
〃Exactly；〃 said St。 George； smiling pleasantly； 〃I quite understand。 A
good DRAGON。 Believe me； I do not in the least regret that he is an
adversary worthy of my steel； and no feeble specimen of his noxious
tribe。〃
〃But he's NOT a noxious tribe；〃 cried the Boy distressedly。 〃Oh dear；
oh dear； how STUPID men are when they get an idea into their heads！ I
tell you he's a GOOD dragon； and a friend of mine； and tells me the most
beautiful stories you ever heard； all about old times and when he was little。
And he's been so kind to mother； and mother'd do anything for him。 And
father likes him too； though father doesn't hold with art and poetry much；
and always falls asleep when the dragon starts talking about STYLE。
But the fact is； nobody can help liking him when once they know him。
He's so engaging and so trustful； and as simple as a child！〃
〃Sit down； and draw your chair up；〃 said St。 George。 〃I like a fellow
who sticks up for his friends； and I'm sure the dragon has his good points；
if he's got a friend like you。 But that's not the question。 All this evening
I've been listening； with grief and anguish unspeakable； to tales of murder；
theft； and wrong； rather too highly coloured； perhaps； not always quite
convincing； but forming in the main a most serious roll of crime。 History
teaches us that the greatest rascals often possess all the domestic virtues；
and I fear that your cultivated friend； in spite of the qualities which have
won （and rightly） your regard； has got to be speedily exterminated。〃
〃Oh； you've been taking in all the yarns those fellows have been telling
you；〃 said the Boy impatiently。 〃Why； our villagers are the biggest story…
tellers in all the country round。 It's a known fact。 You're a stranger in
these parts； or else you'd have heard it already。 All they want is a FIGHT。
They're the most awful beggars for getting up fightsit's meat and drink to
them。
Dogs； bulls； dragonsanything so long as it's a fight。 Why； they've
got a poor innocent badger in the stable behind here； at this moment。
They were going to have some fun with him to…day； but they're saving him
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DREAM DAYS
up now till YOUR little affair's over。 And I've no doubt they've been
telling you what a hero you were； and how you were bound to win； in the
cause of right and justice； and so on； but let me tell you； I came down the
street just now； and they were betting six to four on the dragon freely！〃
〃Six to four on the dragon！〃 murmured St。 George sadly； resting his
cheek on his hand。 〃This is an evil world； and sometimes I begin to think
that all the wickedness in it is not entirely bottled up inside the dragons。
And yetmay not this wily beast have misled you as to his real character；
in order that your good report of him may serve as a cloak for his evil
deeds？ Nay； may there not be； at this very moment； some hapless
Princess immured within yonder gloomy cavern？〃
The moment he had spoken； St。 George was sorry for what he had said；
the Boy looked so genuinely distressed。
〃I assure you； St。 George；〃 he said earnestly； 〃there's nothing of the
sort in the cave at all。 The dragon's a real gentleman； every inch of him；
and I may say that no one would be more shocked and grieved than he
would； at hearing you talk in that that LOOSE way about matters on
which he has very strong views！〃
〃Well； perhaps I've been over…credulous；〃 said St。 George。 〃Perhaps
I've misjudged the animal。 But what are we to do？ Here are the dragon
and I； almost face to face； each supposed to be thirsting for each other's
blood。 I don't see any way out of it； exactly。 What do you suggest？
Can't you arrange things； somehow？〃
〃That's just what the dragon said；〃 replied the Boy； rather