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incinerated in the vast and towering belch of the devouring element。
〃It was among the most inspiring sights I have ever witnessed。〃
When Mr。 Lavender had completed that record； whose actuality and wealth
of moving detail had greatly affected him； and marked it 〃For the Press…
Immediate；〃 he felt very cold。 It was； in fact； that hour of dawn when a
shiver goes through the world； and； almost with pleasurable anticipation
he took up his lighted candle and stole shivering out to his pile； rising
ghostly to the height of some five feet in the middle of the dim lawn
whereon a faint green tinge was coming with the return of daylight。
Having reached it； he walked round it twice； and readjusted four volumes
of the history of the war as stepping…stones to the top； then lowering
the candle； whose flame burned steadily in the stillness； he knelt down
in the grey dew and set fire to an article in a Sunday paper。 Then；
sighing deeply； he returned to his little ladder and； with some
difficulty preserving his balance； mounted to the top； and sat down with
his legs towards the house and his eyes fixed on Aurora's bedroom…window。
He had been there perhaps ten minutes before he realized that nothing was
happening below him； and； climbing down again； proceeded to the aperture
where he had inserted the burning print。 There； by the now considerable
daylight； he saw that the flame had gone out at the words 〃The Stage is
now set for the last act of this colossal world drama。〃 And convinced
that Providence had intended that heartening sentence to revive his
somewhat drooping courage； he thought； 〃I； too； shall be making history
this morning；〃 and relighting the journal； went on his hands and knees
and began manfully to blow the flames。 。 。 。 。 。
Now the young lady in the adjoining castle； who had got out of bed；
happened； as she sometimes did； to go to the window for a look at the sun
rising over Parliament Hill。 Attracted by the smell of burning paper she
saw Mr。 Lavender in this act of blowing up the flames。
〃What on earth is the poor dear doing now？〃 she thought。 〃This is
really the limit！〃 And slipping on her slippers and blue dressing…gown
she ensconced herself behind the curtain to await developments。
Mr。 Lavender had now backed away from the flames at which he had been
blowing； and remained on his hands and knees； apparently assuring himself
that they had really obtained hold。 He then rose； and to her intense
surprise began climbing up on to the pile。 She watched him at first with
an amused astonishment； so ludicrous was his light little figure； crowned
by stivered…up white hair； and the expression of eager melancholy on his
thin； high…cheekboned face upturned towards her window。 Then； to her
dismay； she saw that the flame had really caught； and； suddenly persuaded
that he had some crazy intention of injuring himself with the view；
perhaps； of attracting her attention； she ran out of her room and down
the stairs； and emerging from the back door just as she was； circled her
garden； so that she might enter Mr。 Lavender's garden from behind him；
ready for any eventuality。 She arrived within arm's reach of him without
his having heard her； for Blink； whose anxious face as she watched her
master wasting； could be discerned at the bedroom…window； was whining；
and Mr。 Lavender himself had now broken into a strange and lamentable
chantey； which； in combination with the creeping flutter of the flames in
the weekly journals encircling the base of the funeral pyre； well…nigh
made her blood curdle。
〃Aurora；〃 sang Mr。 Lavender； in that most dolorous voice；
〃Aurora； my heart I bring；
For I know well it will not burn；
Oh！ when the leaves puff out in Spring
And when the leaves in Autumn turn
Think； think of me！
Aurora； I pass away！
Upon my horse of air I ride；
Here let my grizzled ashes stay；
But take； ah！ take my heart inside！
Aurora！ Aurora！〃
At this moment； just as a fit of the most uncontrollable laughter was
about to seize her； she saw a flame which had just consumed the word
Horatio reach Mr。 Lavender's right calf。
〃Oh！〃 he cried out in desperate tones； stretching up his arms to the sky。
〃Now is my hour come！ Sweet…sky； open and let me see her face！ Behold！
behold her with the eyes of faith。 It is enough。 Courage； brother； let
me now consume in silence！〃 So saying； he folded his arm tightly across
his breast and closed his lips。 The flame rising to the bottom of the
weekly which had indeed been upside down； here nipped him vigorously； so
that with a wholly unconscious movement he threw up his little legs； and；
losing his balance； fell backwards into the arms of Aurora； watchfully
outstretched to receive him。 Uplifted there； close to that soft blue
bosom away from the reek of the flame； he conceived that he was consumed
and had passed already from his night of ghosts and shadows into the arms
of the morning； and through his swooning lips came forth the words：
〃I am in Paradise。〃
End