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his own age in the crowd and hailed him。
〃What's up？〃 he cried。 〃Is it the players； or bears； or a circus； or
what？〃
〃It's all right；〃 his friend hailed back。 〃He's a…coming。〃
〃WHO'S a…coming？〃 demanded the Boy； thrusting into the throng。
〃Why； St。 George； of course；〃 replied his friend。 〃He's heard tell of
our dragon； and he's comin' on purpose to slay the deadly beast； and free
us from his horrid yoke。 O my！ won't there be a jolly fight！〃
Here was news indeed！ The Boy felt that he ought to make quite sure
for himself； and he wriggled himself in between the legs of his good…
natured elders； abusing them all the time for their unmannerly habit of
shoving。 Once in the front rank； he breathlessly awaited the arrival。
Presently from the far…away end of the line came the sound of cheering。
Next； the measured tramp of a great war…horse made his heart beat quicker；
and then he found himself cheering with the rest； as； amidst welcoming
shouts； shrill cries of women； uplifting of babies and waving of
handkerchiefs； St。 George paced slowly up the street。 The Boy's heart
stood still and he breathed with sobs； the beauty and the grace of the hero
were so far beyond anything he had yet seen。 His fluted armour was
inlaid with gold； his plumed helmet hung at his saddle…bow； and his thick
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fair hair framed a face gracious and gentle beyond expression till you
caught the sternness in his eyes。 He drew rein in front of the little inn；
and the villagers crowded round with greetings and thanks and voluble
statements of their wrongs and grievances and oppressions。 The Boy
heard the grave gentle voice of the Saint； assuring them that all would be
well now； and that he would stand by them and see them righted and free
them from their foe； then he dismounted and passed through the doorway
and the crowd poured in after him。 But the Boy made off up the hill as
fast as he could lay his legs to the ground。
〃It's all up； dragon！〃 he shouted as soon as he was within sight of the
beast。 〃He's coming！ He's here now！ You'll have to pull yourself
together and DO something at last！〃
The dragon was licking his scales and rubbing them with a bit of
house…flannel the Boy's mother had lent him； till he shone like a great
turquoise。
〃Don't be VIOLENT； Boy；〃 he said without looking round。 〃Sit
down and get your breath； and try and remember that the noun governs the
verb； and then perhaps you'll be good enough to tell me WHO'S coming？〃
〃That's right； take it coolly；〃 said the Boy。 〃Hope you'll be half as
cool when I've got through with my news。 It's only St。 George who's
coming； that's all； he rode into the village half… an…hour ago。 Of course
you can lick hima great big fellow like you！ But I thought I'd warn you；
'cos he's sure to be round early； and he's got the longest； wickedest…looking
spear you ever did see！〃 And the Boy got up and began to jump round in
sheer delight at the prospect of the battle。
〃O deary； deary me；〃 moaned the dragon； 〃this is too awful。 I won't
see him； and that's flat。 I don't want to know the fellow at all。 I'm sure
he's not nice。 You must tell him to go away at once； please。 Say he can
write if he likes； but I can't give him an interview。 I'm not seeing
anybody at present。〃
〃Now dragon； dragon；〃 said the Boy imploringly； 〃don't be perverse
and wrongheaded。 You've GOT to fight him some time or other； you
know； 'cos he's St。 George and you're the dragon。 Better get it over； and
then we can go on with the sonnets。 And you ought to consider other
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DREAM DAYS
people a little； too。 If it's been dull up here for you； think how dull it's
been for me！〃
〃My dear little man；〃 said the dragon solemnly； 〃just understand； once
for all； that I can't fight and I won't fight。 I've never fought in my life；
and I'm not going to begin now； just to give you a Roman holiday。 In old
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。 Hist