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scanned what text there was in the middle； in order to get a hint of what it
was all about。 Of course I was not going to waste any time in reading。
A clue； a sign…board； a finger…post was all I required。 To my dismay and
disgust it was all in a stupid foreign language！ Really； the perversity of
some people made one at times almost despair of the whole race。
However； the pictures remained； pictures never lied； never shuffled nor
evaded； and as for the story； I could invent it myself。
Over the page I went； shifting the bit of coal to a new position； and； as
the scheme of the picture disengaged itself from out the medley of colour
that met my delighted eyes； first there was a warm sense of familiarity；
then a dawning recognition； and then O then！ along with blissful
certainty came the imperious need to clasp my stomach with both hands；
in order to repress the shout of rapture that struggled to escapeit was my
own little city！
I knew it well enough； I recognized it at once； though I had never been
quite so near it before。 Here was the familiar gateway； to the left that
strange； slender tower with its grim； square head shot far above the walls；
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DREAM DAYS
to the right； outside the town； the hillas of oldbroke steeply down to the
sea。 But to…day everything was bigger and fresher and clearer； the walls
seemed newly hewn； gay carpets were hung out over them； fair ladies and
long…haired children peeped and crowded on the battlements。 Better still；
the portcullis was upI could even catch a glimpse of the sunlit square
withinand a dainty company was trooping through the gate on horseback；
two and two。 Their horses； in trappings that swept the ground； were gay
as themselves； and THEY were the gayest crew； for dress and bearing； I
had ever yet beheld。 It could mean nothing else but a wedding； I thought；
this holiday attire； this festal and solemn entry； and； wedding or whatever
it was； I meant to be there。 This time I would not be balked by any grim
portcullis； this time I would slip in with the rest of the crowd； find out just
what my little town was like； within those exasperating walls that had so
long confronted me； and； moreover； have my share of the fun that was
evidently going on inside。 Confident； yet breathless with expectation； I
turned the page。
Joy！ At last I was in it； at last I was on the right side of those
provoking walls； and； needless to say； I looked about me with much
curiosity。 A public place； clearly； though not such as I was used to。 The
houses at the back stood on a sort of colonnade； beneath which the people
jostled and crowded。 The upper stories were all painted with wonderful
pictures。 Above the straight line of the roofs the deep blue of a cloudless
sky stretched from side to side。 Lords and ladies thronged the
foreground； while on a dais in the centre a gallant gentleman； just alighted
off his horse； stooped to the fingers of a girl as bravely dressed out as
Selina's lady between the saints； and round about stood venerable
personages； robed in the most variegated clothing。 There were boys； too；
in plenty； with tiny red caps on their thick hair； and their shirts had
bunched up and worked out at the waist； just as my own did so often； after
chasing anybody； and each boy of them wore an odd pair of stockings； one
blue and the other red。 This system of attire went straight to my heart。 I
had tried the same thing so often； and had met with so much
discouragement； and here； at last； was my justification； painted
deliberately in a grown…up book！ I looked about for my saint…friends
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DREAM DAYS
the armour man and the other fellowbut they were not to be seen。
Evidently they were unable to get off duty； even for a wedding； and still
stood on guard in that green meadow down below。 I was disappointed；
too； that not an angel was visible。 One or two of them； surely； could
easily have been spared for an hour； to run up and see the show； and they
would have been thoroughly at home here； in the midst of all the colour
and the movement and the fun。
But it was time to get on； for clearly the interest was only just
beginning。 Over went the next page； and there we were； the whole crowd
of us； assembled in a noble church。 It was not easy to make out exactly
what was going on； but in the throng I was delighted to recognize my
angels at last； happy and very much at home。 They had managed to get
leave off； evidently； and must have run up the hill and scampered
breathlessly through the gate； and perhaps they cried a little when they
found the square empty； and thought the fun must be all over。 Two of
them had got hold of a great wax candle apiece； as much as they could
stagger under； and were tittering sideways at each other as the grease ran
bountifully over their clothes。 A third had strolled in among the company；
and was chatting to a young gentleman； with whom she appeared to be on
the best of terms。 Decidedly； this was the right breed of angel for us。
None of your sick…bed or night nursery business for them！
Well； no doubt they were now being married； He and She； just as
always happened。 And then； of course； they were going to live happily
ever after； and THAT was the part I wanted to get to。 Story…books were
so stupid； always stopping at the point where they became really nice； but
this picture…story was only in its first chapters； and at last I was to have a
chance of knowing HOW people lived happily ever after。 We would all
go home together； He and She； and the angels； and I； and the armour…man
would be invited to come and stay。 And then the story would really
begin； at the point where those other ones always left off。 I turned the
page； and found myself free of the dim and splendid church and once more
in the open country。
This was all right； this was just as it should be。 The sky was a
fleckless blue； the flags danced in the breeze； and our merry bridal party；
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DREAM DAYS
with jest and laughter； jogged down to the water… side。 I was through the
town by this time； and out on the other side of the hill； where I had always
wanted to be； and； sure enough； there was the harbour； all thick with curly
ships。 Most of them were piled high with wedding…presentsbales of silk；
and gold and silver plate； and comfortable…looking bags suggesting bullion；
and the gayest ship of all lay close up to the carpeted landing…stage。
Already the bride was stepping daintily down the gangway； her ladies
following primly； one by one； a few minutes more and we should all be
aboard； the hawsers would splash in the water； the sails would fill and
strain。 From the deck I should see the little walled town recede and sink
and grow dim； while every plunge of our bows brought us nearer to the
happy islandit was an island we were bound for； I knew well！ Already I
could see the island…people waving hands on the crowded quay； whence
the little houses ran up the hill to the castle； crowning all with its towers
and battlements。 Once more we should ride together； a merry procession；
clattering up the steep street and through the grim gateway； and then we
should have arrived； then we should all dine together； then we should have
reached home！ And then
OW！ OW！ OW！
Bitter it is to stumble out of an opalescent dream into the cold daylight；
cruel to lose in a second a sea…voyage； an island； and a castle that was to
be practically your own； but cruellest