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into the morning； and with her blossom catches the rain and the sun drops
of heaven。 I see in him the witchery of God； and of her prettiness would
I make a song of redemption。〃
So saying he knelt down before the little tree； while Blink on her
haunches； very quiet beside him； looked wiser than many dogs。
A familiar gurgling sound roused him from his devotions； and turning his
head he saw his young neighbour in the garb of a nurse； standing on the
path behind him。 〃She has dropped from heaven；〃 he thought for all
nurses are angels。
And； taking off his hat； he said：
〃You surprised me at a moment of which I am not ashamed； I was communing
with Beauty。 And behold！ Aurora is with me。〃
〃Say； rather； Borealis；〃 said the young lady。 〃I was so fed…up with
hospital that I had to have a scamper before turning in。 If you're going
home we might go together？〃
〃It would； indeed； be a joy；〃 said Mr。 Lavender。 〃The garb of mercy
becomes you。〃
〃Do you think so？〃 replied the young lady； in whose cheeks a lovely flush
had not deepened。 〃I call it hideous。 Do you always come out and pray
to that tree？〃
〃I am ashamed to say；〃 returned Mr。 Lavender； 〃that I do not。 But I
intend to do so in future； since it has brought me such a vision。
And he looked with such deferential and shining eyes at his companion
that she placed the back of her hand before her mouth； and her breast
rose。
〃I'm most fearfully sleepy；〃 she said。 〃Have you had any adventures
latelyyou and Samjoe？
〃Samjoe？〃 repeated Mr。 Lavender。
〃Your chauffeurI call him that。 He's very like Sam Weller and Sancho
Panza； don't you think； Don Pickwixote？
〃Ah！〃 said Mr。 Lavender； bewildered； 〃Joe； you mean。 A good fellow。 He
has in him the sort of heroism which I admire more than any other。〃
〃Which is that？〃 asked the young lady。
〃That imperturbable humour in the face of adverse circumstances for which
our soldiers are renowned。〃
〃You are a great believer in heroics； Don Pickwixote；〃 said the young
lady。
〃What would life be without them？〃 returned Mr。 Lavender。 〃The war could
not go on for a minute。〃
〃You're right there；〃 said the young lady bitterly。
〃You surely；〃 said Mr。 Lavender； aghast； cannot wish it to stop until we
have destroyed our common enemies？〃
〃Well；〃 said the young lady；〃 I'm not a Pacifist； but when you see as
many people without arms and legs as I do； heroics get a bit off； don't
you know。〃 And she increased her pace until Mr。 Lavender； who was not
within four inches of her stature； was almost compelled to trot。 〃If I
were a Tommy；〃 she added； 〃I should want to shoot every man who uttered a
phrase。 Really； at this time of day； they are the limit。〃
〃Aurora；〃 said Mr。 Lavender； 〃if you will permit me； who am old enough
alas！to be your father； to call you that； you must surely be aware that
phrases are the very munitions of war； and certainly not less important
than mere material explosives。 Take the word 'Liberty；' for instance；
would you deprive us of it？〃
The young lady fixed on him those large grey eyes which had in them the
roll of genius。 〃Dear Don Pickwixote；〃 she said； 〃I would merely take it
from the mouths of those who don't know what it means； and how much do
you think would be left？ Not enough to butter the parsnips of a Borough
Council； or fill one leader in a month of Sundays。 Have you not
discovered； Don Pickwixote； that Liberty means the special form of
tyranny which one happens to serve under； and that our form of tyranny is
GAS。〃
〃High heaven！〃 cried Mr。 Lavender； 〃that I should hear such words from so
red lips！〃
〃I've not been a Pacifist； so far；〃 continued the young lady； stifling a
yawn； 〃because I hate cruelty； I hate it enough to want to be cruel to
it。 I want the Huns to lap their own sauce。 I don't want to be
revengeful； but I just can't help it。〃
〃My dear young lady；〃 said Mr。 Lavender soothingly； 〃you are notyou
cannot be revengeful； for every great writer and speaker tells us that
revengefulness is an emotion alien to the Allies； who are merely just。
〃Rats！〃
At this familiar word； Blink who had been following their conversation
quietly； threw up her nose and licked the young lady's hand so
unexpectedly that she started and added：
〃Darling！〃
Mr。 Lavender； who took the expression as meant for himself； coloured
furiously。
〃Aurora；〃 he said in a faint voice； 〃the rapture in my heart prevents my
taking advantage of your sweet words。 Forgive me； and let us go quietly
in； with the vision I have seen； for I know my place。〃
The young lady's composure seemed to tremble in the balance； and her lips
twitched； then holding out her hand she took Mr。 Lavender's and gave it a
good squeeze。
〃You really are a dear；〃 she said。 〃I think you ought to be in bed。 My
name's Isabel； you know。〃
〃Not to me；〃 said Mr。 Lavender。 You are the Dawn； nothing shall persuade
me to the contrary。 And from henceforth I swear to rise with you every
morning。〃
〃Oh； no！〃 cried the young lady please don't imagine that I sniff the
matutinal as a rule。 I just happened to be in a night shift。〃
〃No matter；〃 said Mr。 Lavender； 〃I shall see you with the eye of faith；
in your night shifts； and draw from the vision strength to continue my
public work beckoned by the fingers of the roseate future。〃
〃Well；〃 murmured the young lady； 〃so long for now； and do go back to bed。
It's only about five。〃 And waving the tips of those fingers； she ran
lightly up the garden…path and disappeared into her house。
Mr。 Lavender remained for a moment as if transfigured； then entering his
garden； he stood gazing up at her window； until the thought that she
might appear there was too much for him； and he went in。
XI
BREAKS UP A PEACE MEETING
While seated at breakfast on the morning after he had seen this vision；
Mr。 Lavender； who read his papers as though they had been Holy Writ； came
on an announcement that a meeting would be held that evening at a chapel
in Holloway under the auspices of the 〃Free Speakers' League；〃 an
association which his journals had often branded with a reputation； for
desiring Peace。 On reading the names of the speakers Mr。 Lavender felt
at once that it would be his duty to attend。 〃There will；〃 he thought；
〃very likely be no one there to register a protest。 For in this country
we have pushed the doctrine of free speech to a limit which threatens the
noble virtue of patriotism。 This is no doubt a recrudescence of that
terrible horse…sense in the British people which used to permit everybody
to have his say； no matter what he said。 Yet I would rather stay at
home；〃 he mused 〃for they will do me violence； I expect； cowardice；
however； would not become me； and I must go。〃
He was in a state of flurry all day； thinking of his unpleasant duty
towards those violent