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get up。〃
You return to bed； and lie listening to somebody being dragged
upstairs； evidently against their will。 By a thoughtful
arrangement the spare rooms at 〃Beggarbush〃 are exactly underneath
the nurseries。 The same somebody； you conclude； still offering the
most creditable opposition； is being put back into bed。 You can
follow the contest with much exactitude； because every time the
body is flung down upon the spring mattress； the bedstead； just
above your head； makes a sort of jump； while every time the body
succeeds in struggling out again； you are aware by the thud upon
the floor。 After a time the struggle wanes； or maybe the bed
collapses； and you drift back into sleep。 But the next moment； or
what seems to be the next moment； you again open your eyes under
the consciousness of a presence。 The door is being held ajar； and
four solemn faces； piled one on top of the other； are peering at
you； as though you were some natural curiosity kept in this
particular room。 Seeing you awake； the top face； walking calmly
over the other three； comes in and sits on the bed in a friendly
attitude。
〃Oh！〃 it says； 〃we didn't know you were awake。 I've been awake
some time。〃
〃So I gather；〃 you reply； shortly。
〃Pa doesn't like us to get up too early；〃 it continues。 〃He says
everybody else in the house is liable to be disturbed if we get up。
So； of course； we mustn't。〃
The tone is that of gentle resignation。 It is instinct with the
spirit of virtuous pride； arising from the consciousness of self…
sacrifice。
〃Don't you call this being up？〃 you suggest。
〃Oh； no； we're not really up； you know； because we're not properly
dressed。〃 The fact is self…evident。 〃Pa's always very tired in
the morning；〃 the voice continues； 〃of course； that's because he
works hard all day。 Are you ever tired in the morning？〃
At this point he turns and notices； for the first time； that the
three other children have also entered； and are sitting in a semi…
circle on the floor。 From their attitude it is clear they have
mistaken the whole thing for one of the slower forms of
entertainment； some comic lecture or conjuring exhibition； and are
waiting patiently for you to get out of bed and do something。 It
shocks him； the idea of their being in the guest's bedchamber。 He
peremptorily orders them out。 They do not answer him； they do not
argue； in dead silence； and with one accord they fall upon him。
All you can see from the bed is a confused tangle of waving arms
and legs； suggestive of an intoxicated octopus trying to find
bottom。 Not a word is spoken； that seems to be the etiquette of
the thing。 If you are sleeping in your pyjamas； you spring from
the bed； and only add to the confusion； if you are wearing a less
showy garment； you stop where you are and shout commands； which are
utterly unheeded。 The simplest plan is to leave it to the eldest
boy。 He does get them out after a while； and closes the door upon
them。 It re…opens immediately； and one； generally Muriel； is shot
back into the room。 She enters as from a catapult。 She is
handicapped by having long hair； which can be used as a convenient
handle。 Evidently aware of this natural disadvantage； she clutches
it herself tightly in one hand； and punches with the other。 He
opens the door again； and cleverly uses her as a battering…ram
against the wall of those without。 You can hear the dull crash as
her head enters among them； and scatters them。 When the victory is
complete； he comes back and resumes his seat on the bed。 There is
no bitterness about him； he has forgotten the whole incident。
〃I like the morning；〃 he says； 〃don't you？〃
〃Some mornings；〃 you agree； 〃are all right； others are not so
peaceful。〃
He takes no notice of your exception； a far…away look steals over
his somewhat ethereal face。
〃I should like to die in the morning；〃 he says； 〃everything is so
beautiful then。〃
〃Well；〃 you answer； 〃perhaps you will； if your father ever invites
an irritable man to come and sleep here； and doesn't warn him
beforehand。〃
He descends from his contemplative mood； and becomes himself again。
〃It's jolly in the garden；〃 he suggests； 〃you wouldn't like to get
up and have a game of cricket； would you？〃
It was not the idea with which you went to bed； but now； as things
have turned out； it seems as good a plan as lying there hopelessly
awake； and you agree。
You learn； later in the day； that the explanation of the proceeding
is that you； unable to sleep； woke up early in the morning； and
thought you would like a game of cricket。 The children； taught to
be ever courteous to guests； felt it their duty to humour you。
Mrs。 Harris remarks at breakfast that at least you might have seen
to it that the children were properly dressed before you took them
out； while Harris points out to you； pathetically； how； by your one
morning's example and encouragement； you have undone his labour of
months。
On this Wednesday morning； George； it seems； clamoured to get up at
a quarter…past five； and persuaded them to let him teach them
cycling tricks round the cucumber frames on Harris's new wheel。
Even Mrs。 Harris； however； did not blame George on this occasion；
she felt intuitively the idea could not have been entirely his。
It is not that the Harris children have the faintest notion of
avoiding blame at the expense of a friend and comrade。 One and all
they are honesty itself in accepting responsibility for their own
misdeeds。 It simply is； that is how the thing presents itself to
their understanding。 When you explain to them that you had no
original intention of getting up at five o'clock in the morning to
play cricket on the croquet lawn； or to mimic the history of the
early Church by shooting with a cross…bow at dolls tied to a tree；
that as a matter of fact； left to your own initiative； you would
have slept peacefully till roused in Christian fashion with a cup
of tea at eight； they are firstly astonished； secondly apologetic；
and thirdly sincerely contrite。 In the present instance； waiving
the purely academic question whether the awakening of George at a
little before five was due to natural instinct on his part； or to
the accidental passing of a home…made boomerang through his bedroom
window； the dear children frankly admitted that the blame for his
uprising was their own。 As the eldest boy said：
〃We ought to have remembered that Uncle George had a long day；
before him； and we ought to have dissuaded him from getting up。 I
blame myself entirely。〃
But an occasional change of habit does nobody any harm； and
besides； as Harris and I agreed； it was good training for George。
In the Black Forest we should be up at five every morning； that we
had determined on。 Indeed； George himself had suggested half…past
four； but Harris and I had argued that five would be early enough
as an average； that would enable us to be on our machines by six；
and to break the back of our journey before the heat of the day set
in。 Occasionally we might start a little earlier； but not as a
habit。
I myself was up that morning at five。 This was earlier than I had
intended。 I had said to mys