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certain look in their faces； as if they had a common purpose and a business；
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DREAM DAYS
and were acting under orders thoroughly recognised and understood。 I
remembered； too； something that Martha had told me； about these same
fellows doing 〃a power o' good；〃 and other hints I had collected vaguely；
of renouncements； rules； self…denials； and the like。 Thereupon； out of the
depths of my morbid soul swam up a new and fascinating idea； and at
once the career of arms seemed over…acted and stale； and piracy； as a
profession； flat and unprofitable。 This； then； or something like it； should
be my vocation and my revenge。 A severer line of business； perhaps；
such as I had read of； something that included black bread and a hair…shirt。
There should be vows； tooirrevocable； blood curdling vows； and an iron
grating。 This iron grating was the most necessary feature of all； for I
intended that on the other side of it my relations should range themselves
I mentally ran over the catalogue； and saw that the whole gang was present；
all in their proper places a sad…eyed row； combined in tristful appeal。
〃We see our error now；〃 they would say； 〃we were always dull dogs； slow
to catch especially in those akin to usthe finer qualities of soul！ We
misunderstood you； misappreciated you； and we own up to it。 And now
〃 〃Alas； my dear friends；〃 I would strike in here； waving towards them
an ascetic handone of the emaciated sort； that lets the light shine through
at the finger…tips〃Alas； you come too late！ This conduct is fitting and
meritorious on your part； and indeed I always expected it of you； sooner or
later； but the die is cast； and you may go home again and bewail at your
leisure this too tardy repentance of yours。 For me； I am vowed and
dedicated； and my relations henceforth are austerity and holy works。
Once a month； should you wish it； it shall be your privilege to come and
gaze at me through this very solid grating； but〃 WHACK！
A well…aimed clod of garden soil； whizzing just past my ear； starred on
a tree…trunk behind； spattering me with dirt。 The present came back to
me in a flash； and I nimbly took cover behind the trees； realising that the
enemy was up and abroad； with ambuscades； alarms； and thrilling sallies。
It was the gardener's boy； I knew well enough； a red proletariat； who hated
me just because I was a gentleman。 Hastily picking up a nice sticky clod
in one hand； with the other I delicately projected my hat beyond the shelter
of the tree…trunk。 I had not fought with Red…skins all these years for
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DREAM DAYS
nothing。
As I had expected； another clod； of the first class for size and
stickiness； took my poor hat full in the centre。 Then； Ajax… like； shouting
terribly； I issued from shelter and discharged my ammunition。 Woe then
for the gardener's boy； who； unprepared； skipping in premature triumph；
took the clod full in his stomach！
He； the foolish one； witless on whose side the gods were fighting that
day； discharged yet other missiles； wavering and wide of the mark； for his
wind had been taken with the first clod； and he shot wildly； as one already
desperate and in flight。 I got another clod in at short range； we clinched
on the brow of the hill； and rolled down to the bottom together。 When he
had shaken himself free and regained his legs； he trotted smartly off in the
direction of his mother's cottage； but over his shoulder he discharged at me
both imprecation and deprecation； menace mixed up with an under…current
of tears。
But as for me； I made off smartly for the road； my frame tingling； my
head high； with never a backward look at the Settlement of suggestive
aspect； or at my well…planned future which lay in fragments around it。
Life had its jollities； then； life was action； contest； victory！ The present
was rosy once more； surprises lurked on every side； and I was beginning
to feel villainously hungry。
Just as I gained the road a cart came rattling by； and I rushed for it；
caught the chain that hung below； and swung thrillingly between the dizzy
wheels； choked and blinded with delicious… smelling dust； the world
slipping by me like a streaky ribbon below； till the driver licked at me with
his whip； and I had to descend to earth again。 Abandoning the beaten
track； I then struck homewards through the fields； not that the way was
very much shorter； but rather because on that route one avoided the bridge；
and had to splash through the stream and get refreshingly wet。 Bridges
were made for narrow folk； for people with aims and vocations which
compelled abandonment of many of life's highest pleasures。 Truly wise
men called on each element alike to minister to their joy； and while the
touch of sun…bathed air； the fragrance of garden soil； the ductible qualities
of mud； and the spark…whirling rapture of playing with fire； had each their
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DREAM DAYS
special charm； they did not overlook the bliss of getting their feet wet。
As I came forth on the common Harold broke out of an adjoining copse
and ran to meet me； the morning rain…clouds all blown away from his face。
He had made a new squirrel…stick； it seemed。 Made it all himself； melted
the lead and everything！ I examined the instrument critically； and
pronounced it absolutely magnificent。 As we passed in at our gate the
girls were distantly visible； gardening with a zeal in cheerful contrast to
their heartsick lassitude of the morning。 〃There's bin another letter come
to…day；〃 Harold explained； 〃and the hamper got joggled about on the
journey； and the presents worked down into the straw and all over the
place。 One of 'em turned up inside the cold duck。 And that's why they
weren't found at first。 And Edward said； Thanks AWFULLY〃 I did not
see Martha again