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〃You won't care to hear about it；〃 I said； wavering。 〃Besides； I can't
explain exactly。 I think I won't tell you。〃 But all the time I knew I
should have to。
〃But I DO care；〃 she wailed plaintively。 〃I didn't think you'd be so
unkind！〃
This would never do。 That little downward tug at either corner of the
mouthI knew the symptom only too well！
〃It's like this；〃 I began stammeringly。 〃This bit of road here up as
far as that corneryou know it's a horrid dull bit of road。 I'm always
having to go up and down it； and I know it so well； and I'm so sick of it。
So whenever I get to that corner； I justwell； I go right off to another
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place！〃
〃What sort of a place？〃 she asked； looking round her gravely。
〃Of course it's just a place I imagine；〃 I went on hurriedly and rather
shamefacedly： 〃but it's an awfully nice placethe nicest place you ever
saw。 And I always go off there in church； or during joggraphy lessons。〃
〃I'm sure it's not nicer than my home；〃 she cried patriotically。 〃Oh；
you ought to see my homeit's lovely！ We've got〃 〃Yes it is； ever so
much nicer；〃 I interrupted。 〃I mean〃I went on apologetically〃of
course I know your home's beautiful and all that。 But this MUST be
nicer； 'cos if you want anything at all； you've only GOT to want it； and you
can have it！〃
〃That sounds jolly；〃 she murmured。 〃Tell me more about it； please。
Tell me how you get there； first。〃
〃Idon'tquiteknowexactly；〃 I replied。 〃I just go。 But generally
it begins bywell； you're going up a broad； clear river in a sort of a boat。
You're not rowing or anythingyou're just moving along。 And there's
beautiful grass meadows on both sides； and the river's very full； quite up to
the level of the grass。 And you glide along by the edge。 And the people
are haymaking there； and playing games； and walking about； and they
shout to you； and you shout back to them； and they bring you things to eat
out of their baskets； and let you drink out of their bottles； and some of 'em
are the nice people you read about in books。 And so at last you come to
the Palace stepsgreat broad marble steps； reaching right down to the
water。 And there at the steps you find every sort of boat you can
imagine schooners； and punts； and row…boats； and little men…of…war。
And you have any sort of boating you want torowing； or sailing； or
shoving about in a punt！〃
〃I'd go sailing；〃 she said decidedly： 〃and I'd steer。 No； YOU'D have
to steer； and I'd sit about on the deck。 No； I wouldn't though； I'd rowat
least I'd make you row； and I'd steer。 And then we'dOh； no！ I'll tell
you what we'd do！ We'd just sit in a punt and dabble！〃
〃Of course we'll do just what you like；〃 I said hospitably； but already I
was beginning to feel my liberty of action somewhat curtailed by this
exigent visitor I had so rashly admitted into my sanctum。
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〃I don't think we'd boat at all；〃 she finally decided。 〃It's always so
WOBBLY。 Where do you come to next？〃
〃You go up the steps；〃 I continued； 〃and in at the door； and the very
first place you come to is the Chocolate…room！〃
She brightened up at this； and I heard her murmur with gusto；
〃Chocolate…room！〃
〃It's got every sort of chocolate you can think of；〃 I went on： 〃soft
chocolate； with sticky stuff inside； white and pink； what girls like； and
hard shiny chocolate； that cracks when you bite it； and takes such a nice
long time to suck！〃
〃I like the soft stuff best；〃 she said： 〃'cos you can eat such a lot more of
it！〃
This was to me a new aspect of the chocolate question； and I regarded
her with interest and some respect。 With us； chocolate was none too
common a thing； and； whenever we happened to come by any； we resorted
to the quaintest devices in order to make it last out。 Still； legends had
reached us of children who actually had； from time to time； as much
chocolate as they could possibly eat； and here； apparently； was one of
them。
〃You can have all the creams；〃 I said magnanimously； 〃and I'll eat the
hard sticks； 'cos I like 'em best。〃
〃Oh； but you mustn't！〃 she cried impetuously。 〃You must eat the
same as I do！ It isn't nice to want to eat different。 I'll tell you what
you must give ME all the chocolate； and then I'll give YOUI'll give you
what you ought to have！〃
〃Oh； all right；〃 I said； in a subdued sort of way。 It seemed a little
hard to be put under a sentimental restriction like this in one's own
Chocolate…room。
〃In the next room you come to；〃 I proceeded； 〃there's fizzy drinks！
There's a marble…slab business all round the room； and little silver taps；
and you just turn the right tap； and have any kind of fizzy drink you want。〃
〃What fizzy drinks are there？〃 she inquired。
〃Oh； all sorts；〃 I answered hastily； hurrying on。 （She might restrict
my eatables； but I'd be hanged if I was going to have her meddle with my
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drinks。）〃 Then you go down the corridor； and at the back of the palace
there's a great big parkthe finest park you ever saw。 And there's ponies
to ride on； and carriages and carts； and a little railway； all complete； engine
and guard's van and all； and you work it yourself； and you can go first…
class； or in the van； or on the engine； just whichever you choose。〃
〃I'd go on the engine；〃 she murmured dreamily。 〃No； I wouldn't； I'd
〃
〃Then there's all the soldiers；〃 I struck in。 Really the line had to be
drawn somewhere； and I could not have my railway system disorganised
and turned upside down by a mere girl。 〃There's any quantity of 'em； fine
big soldiers； and they all belong to me。 And a row of brass cannons all
along the terrace！ And every now and then I give the order； and they fire
off all the guns！〃
〃No； they don't；〃 she interrupted hastily。 〃I won't have 'em fire off
any guns！ You must tell 'em not to。 I hate guns； and as soon as they
begin firing I shall run right away！〃
〃Butbut that's what they're THERE for；〃 I protested； aghast。
〃I don't care；〃 she insisted。 〃They mustn't do it。 They can walk
about behind me if they like； and talk to me； and carry things。 But they
mustn't fire off any guns。〃
I was sadly conscious by this time that in this brave palace of mine；
wherein I was wont to swagger daily； irresponsible and unquestioned； I
was rapidly becomingso to speaka mere lodger。
The idea of my fine big soldiers being told off to 〃carry things〃！ I
was not inclined to tell her any more； though there still remained plenty
more to tell。
〃Any other boys there？〃 she asked presently； in a casual sort of way。
〃Oh yes；〃 I unguardedly replied。 〃Nice chaps； too。 We'll have
great〃 Then I recollected myself。 〃We'll play with them； of course；〃 I
went on。 〃But you are going to be MY friend； aren't you？ And you'll
come in my boat； and we'll travel in the guard's van together； and I'll stop
the soldiers firing off their guns！〃
But she looked mischievously away； anddo what I wouldI could not
get her to promise。
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Just then the striking of the village clock awoke within me another
clamorous timepiece； reminding me of mid…day mutton a good half…mile
away； and of penalties and curtailments attaching to a late appearance。
We too