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myself； scarce conscious of intermediate steps； seated actually in the
circus at last； and took in the first sniff of that intoxicating circus smell
that will stay by me while this clay endures。 The place was beset by a
hum and a glitter and a mist； suspense brooded large o'er the blank；
mysterious arena。 Strung up to the highest pitch of expectation； we knew
not from what quarter； in what divine shape； the first surprise would come。
A thud of unseen hoofs first set us aquiver； then a crash of cymbals； a
jangle of bells； a hoarse applauding roar； and Coralie was in the midst of
us； whirling past 'twixt earth and sky； now erect； flushed； radiant； now
crouched to the flowing mane； swung and tossed and moulded by the
maddening dance…music of the band。 The mighty whip of the count in
the frock…coat marked time with pistol…shots； his war…cry； whooping clear
above the music； fired the blood with a passion for splendid deeds； as
Coralie； laughing； exultant； crashed through the paper hoops。 We
gripped the red cloth in front of us； and our souls sped round and round
with Coralie； leaping with her； prone with her； swung by mane or tail with
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her。 It was not only the ravishment of her delirious feats； nor her cream
coloured horse of fairy breed； long…tailed； roe…footed； an enchanted prince
surely； if ever there was one！ It was her more than mortal beauty
displayed； too； under conditions never vouchsafed to us beforethat held
us spell…bound。 What princess had arms so dazzlingly white； or went
delicately clothed in such pink and spangles？ Hitherto we had known the
outward woman as but a drab thing； hour…glass shaped； nearly legless；
bunched here； constricted there； slow of movement； and given to
deprecating lusty action of limb。 Here was a revelation！ From
henceforth our imaginations would have to be revised and corrected up to
date。 In one of those swift rushes the mind makes in high…strung
moments； I saw myself and Coralie； close enfolded； pacing the world
together； o'er hill and plain； through storied cities； past rows of applauding
relations；I in my Sunday knickerbockers； she in her pink and spangles。
Summers sicken； flowers fail and die； all beauty but rides round the
ring and out at the portal； even so Coralie passed in her turn； poised
sideways； panting； on her steed； lightly swayed as a tulip…bloom； bowing
on this side and on that as she disappeared； and with her went my heart
and my soul； and all the light and the glory and the entrancement of the
scene。
Harold woke up with a gasp。 〃Wasn't she beautiful？〃 he said； in quite
a subdued way for him。 I felt a momentary pang。 We had been friendly
rivals before； in many an exploit； but here was altogether a more serious
affair。 Was this； then； to be the beginning of strife and coldness； of civil
war on the hearthstone and the sundering of old ties？ Then I recollected
the true position of things； and felt very sorry for Harold； for it was
inexorably written that he would have to give way to me； since I was the
elder。 Rules were not made for nothing； in a sensibly constructed
universe。
There was little more to wait for； now Coralie had gone； yet I lingered
still； on the chance of her appearing again。 Next moment the clown
tripped up and fell flat； with magnificent artifice； and at once fresh
emotions began to stir。 Love had endured its little hour； and stern
ambition now asserted itself。 Oh； to be a splendid fellow like this； self…
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DREAM DAYS
contained； ready of speech； agile beyond conception； braving the forces of
society； his hand against everyone； yet always getting the best of it！
What freshness of humour； what courtesy to dames； what triumphant
ability to discomfit rivals； frock…coated and moustached though they might
be！ And what a grand； self… confident straddle of the legs！ Who could
desire a finer career than to go through life thus gorgeously equipped！
Success was his key…note； adroitness his panoply； and the mellow music of
laughter his instant reward。 Even Coralie's image wavered and receded。
I would come back to her in the evening； of course； but I would be a
clown all the working hours of the day。
The short interval was ended： the band； with long…drawn chords；
sounded a prelude touched with significance； and the programme； in
letters overtopping their fellows； proclaimed Zephyrine； the Bride of the
Desert； in her unequalled bareback equestrian interlude。 So sated was I
already with beauty and with wit； that I hardly dared hope for a fresh
emotion。 Yet her title was tinged with romance； and Coralie's display had
aroused in me an interest in her sex which even herself had failed to
satisfy entirely。
Brayed in by trumpets； Zephyrine swung passionately into the arena。
With a bound she stood erect； one foot upon each of her supple； plunging
Arabs； and at once I knew that my fate was sealed； my chapter closed； and
the Bride of the Desert was the one bride for me。 Black was her raiment；
great silver stars shone through it； caught in the dusky twilight of her
gauze； black as her own hair were the two mighty steeds she bestrode。 In
a tempest they thundered by； in a whirlwind； a scirocco of tan； her cheeks
bore the kiss of an Eastern sun； and the sand… storms of her native desert
were her satellites。 What was Coralie； with her pink silk； her golden hair
and slender limbs； beside this magnificent； full…figured Cleopatra？ In a
twinkling we were scouring the desertshe and I and the two coal… black
horses。 Side by side； keeping pace in our swinging gallop； we distanced
the ostrich； we outstrode the zebra； and； as we went； it seemed the
wilderness blossomed like the rose。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。
I know not rightly how we got home that evening。 On the road there
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were everywhere strange presences； and the thud of phantom hoofs
encircled us。 In my nose was the pungent circus…smell； the crack of the
whip and the frank laugh of the clown were in my ears。 The funny man
thoughtfully abstained from conversation； and left our illusion quite alone；
sparing us all jarring criticism and analysis； and he gave me no chance；
when he deposited us at our gate； to get rid of the clumsy expressions of
gratitude I had been laboriously framing。 For the rest of the evening；
distraught and silent； I only heard the march…music of the band； playing on
in some corner of my brain。 When at last my head touched the pillow； in
a trice I was with Zephyrine； riding the boundless Sahara； cheek to cheek；
the world well lost； while at times； through the sand…clouds that encircled
us； glimmered the eyes of Coralie； touched； one fancied； with something
of a tender reproach。
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ITS WALLS WERE AS OF
JASPER
In the long winter evenings； when we had the picture…books out on the
floor； and sprawled together over them with elbows deep in the hearth…rug；
the first business to be gone through was the process of allotment。 All
the characters in the pictures had to be assigned and dealt out among us；
according to seniority； as far as they would go。 When once that had been
satisfactorily completed； the story was allowed to proceed； and thereafter；
in addition to the excitement of the plot； one alway