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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 until we were all re…assembled at tea… time； when she
seemed red…eyed and strangely silent； neither scolding nor finding fault
with anything。 Instead； she was very kind and thoughtful with jams and
things； feverishly pressing unwonted delicacies on us； who wanted little
pressing enough。 Then suddenly； when I was busiest； she disappeared；
and Charlotte whispered me presently that she had heard her go to her
room and lock herself in。 This struck me as a funny sort of proceeding。
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DREAM DAYS
MUTABILE SEMPER
She stood on the other side of the garden fence； and regarded me
gravely as I came down the road。 Then she said； 〃Hi…o！〃 and I responded；
〃Hullo！〃 and pulled up somewhat nervously。
To tell the truth； the encounter was not entirely unexpected on my part。
The previous Sunday I had seen her in church； and after service it had
transpired who she was； this new…comer； and what aunt she was staying
with。 That morning a volunteer had been called for； to take a note to the
Parsonage； and rather to my own surprise I had found myself stepping
forward with alacrity； while the others had become suddenly absorbed in
various pursuits； or had sneaked unobtrusively out of view。 Certainly I
had not yet formed any deliberate plan of action； yet I suppose I
recollected that the road to the Parsonage led past her aunt's garden。
She began the conversation； while I hopped backwards and forwards
over the ditch； feigning a careless ease。
〃Saw you in church on Sunday；〃 she said； 〃only you looked different
then。 All dressed up； and your hair quite smooth； and brushed up at the
sides； and oh； so shiny！ What do they put on it to make it shine like that？
Don't you hate having your hair brushed？〃 she ran on； without waiting for
an answer。 〃How your boots squeaked when you came down the aisle！
When mine squeak； I walk in all the puddles till they stop。 Think I'll get
over the fence。〃
This she proceeded to do in a businesslike way； while； with my hands
deep in my pockets； I regarded her movements with silent interest； as
those of some strange new animal。
〃I've been gardening；〃 she explained； when she had joined me； 〃but I
didn't like it。 There's so many worms about to…day。 I hate worms。
Wish they'd keep out of the way when I'm digging。〃
〃Oh； I like worms when I'm digging；〃 I replied heartily； 〃seem to make
things more lively； don't they？〃
She reflected。 〃Shouldn't mind 'em so much if they were warm and
DRY；〃 she said； 〃but〃 here she shivered； and somehow I liked her for it；
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DREAM DAYS
though if it had been my own flesh and blood hoots of derision would
have instantly assailed her。
From worms we passed； naturally enough； to frogs； and thence to pigs；
aunts； gardeners； rocking…horses； and other fellow…citizens of our common
kingdom。 In five minutes we had each other's confidences； and I seemed
to have known her for a lifetime。 Somehow； on the subject of one's self it
was easier to be frank and communicative with her than with one's female
kin。 It must be； I supposed； because she was less familiar with one's
faulty； tattered past。
〃I was watching you as you came along the road；〃 she said presently；
〃and you had your head down and your hands in your pockets； and you
weren't throwing stones at anything； or whistling； or jumping over things；
and I thought perhaps you'd bin scolded； or got a stomach…ache。〃
〃No；〃 I answered shyly； 〃it wasn't that。 Fact is； I wasI oftenbut it's
a secret。〃
There I made an error in tactics。 That enkindling word set her
dancing round me； half beseeching； half imperious。 〃Oh； do tell it me！〃
she cried。 〃You must！ I'll never tell anyone else at all； I vow and
declare I won't！〃
Her small frame wriggled with emotion； and with imploring eyes she
jigged impatiently just in front of me。 Her hair was tumbled
bewitchingly on her shoulders； and even the loss of a front tootha loss
incidental to her ageseemed but to add a piquancy to her face。
〃You won't care to hear about it；〃 I said； wavering。 〃Besides； I can't
explain exactly。 I think I won't tell