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glory and the entrancement of the scene。
Harold woke up with a gasp。 〃Wasn't she beautiful？〃 he said； in
quite a subdued way for him。 I felt a momentary pang。 We had
been friendly rivals before； in many an exploit； but here was
altogether a more serious affair。 Was this； then； to be the
beginning of strife and coldness； of civil war on the hearthstone
and the sundering of old ties？ Then I recollected the true
position of things； and felt very sorry for Harold； for it was
inexorably written that he would have to give way to me； since I
was the elder。 Rules were not made for nothing； in a sensibly
constructed universe。
There was little more to wait for； now Coralie had gone； yet I
lingered still； on the chance of her appearing again。 Next
moment the clown tripped up and fell flat； with magnificent
artifice； and at once fresh emotions began to stir。 Love had
endured its little hour； and stern ambition now asserted itself。
Oh； to be a splendid fellow like this； self…contained； ready of
speech； agile beyond conception； braving the forces of society；
his hand against everyone； yet always getting the best of it！
What freshness of humour； what courtesy to dames； what
triumphant ability to discomfit rivals； frock…coated and
moustached though they might be！ And what a grand； self…
confident straddle of the legs！ Who could desire a finer career
than to go through life thus gorgeously equipped！ Success was
his key…note； adroitness his panoply； and the mellow music of
laughter his instant reward。 Even Coralie's image wavered and
receded。 I would come back to her in the evening； of course； but
I would be a clown all the working hours of the day。
The short interval was ended： the band； with long…drawn chords；
sounded a prelude touched with significance； and the programme；
in letters overtopping their fellows； proclaimed Zephyrine； the
Bride of the Desert； in her unequalled bareback equestrian
interlude。 So sated was I already with beauty and with wit； that
I hardly dared hope for a fresh emotion。 Yet her title was
tinged with romance； and Coralie's display had aroused in me
an interest in her sex which even herself had failed to satisfy
entirely。
Brayed in by trumpets； Zephyrine swung passionately into the
arena。 With a bound she stood erect； one foot upon each of her
supple； plunging Arabs； and at once I knew that my fate was
sealed； my chapter closed； and the Bride of the Desert was the
one bride for me。 Black was her raiment； great silver stars
shone through it； caught in the dusky twilight of her gauze；
black as her own hair were the two mighty steeds she bestrode。
In a tempest they thundered by； in a whirlwind； a scirocco of
tan； her cheeks bore the kiss of an Eastern sun； and the sand…
storms of her native desert were her satellites。 What was
Coralie； with her pink silk； her golden hair and slender limbs；
beside this magnificent； full…figured Cleopatra？ In a twinkling
we were scouring the desertshe and I and the two coal…
black horses。 Side by side； keeping pace in our swinging gallop；
we distanced the ostrich； we outstrode the zebra； and； as we
went； it seemed the wilderness blossomed like the rose。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。
I know not rightly how we got home that evening。 On the road
there were everywhere strange presences； and the thud of phantom
hoofs encircled us。 In my nose was the pungent circus…smell； the
crack of the whip and the frank laugh of the clown were in my
ears。 The funny man thoughtfully abstained from conversation；
and left our illusion quite alone； sparing us all jarring
criticism and analysis； and he gave me no chance； when he
deposited us at our gate； to get rid of the clumsy expressions of
gratitude I had been laboriously framing。 For the rest of the
evening； distraught and silent； I only heard the march…music of
the band； playing on in some corner of my brain。 When at
last my head touched the pillow； in a trice I was with Zephyrine；
riding the boundless Sahara； cheek to cheek； the world well lost；
while at times； through the sand…clouds that encircled us；
glimmered the eyes of Coralie； touched； one fancied； with
something of a tender reproach。
ITS WALLS WERE AS OF JASPER
In the long winter evenings； when we had the picture…books out on
the floor； and sprawled together over them with elbows deep in
the hearth…rug； the first business to be gone through was the
process of allotment。 All the characters in the pictures had to
be assigned and dealt out among us； according to seniority； as
far as they would go。 When once that had been satisfactorily
completed； the story was allowed to proceed； and thereafter； in
addition to the excitement of the plot； one always possessed a
personal interest in some particular member of the cast； whose
successes or rebuffs one took as so much private gain or loss。
For Edward this was satisfactory enough。 Claiming his right of
the eldest； he would annex the hero in the very
frontispiece； and for the rest of the story his career； if
chequered at intervals； was sure of heroic episodes and a
glorious close。 But his juniors； who had to put up with
characters of a clay more mixednay； sometimes with undiluted
villainywere hard put to it on occasion to defend their other
selves （as it was strict etiquette to do） from ignominy perhaps
only too justly merited。 Edward was indeed a hopeless grabber。
In the 〃Buffalo…book；〃 for instance （so named from the subject of
its principal picture； though indeed it dealt with varied
slaughter in every zone）； Edward was the stalwart； bearded
figure； with yellow leggings and a powder…horn； who undauntedly
discharged the fatal bullet into the shoulder of the great bull
bison； charging home to within a yard of his muzzle。 To me was
allotted the subsidiary character of the friend who had succeeded
in bringing down a cow； while Harold had to be content to
hold Edward's spare rifle in the background； with evident signs
of uneasiness。 Farther on； again； where the magnificent chamois
sprang rigid into mid…air； Edward； crouched dizzily against the
precipice…face； was the sportsman from whose weapon a puff of
white smoke was floating away。 A bare…kneed guide was all that
fell to my share； while poor Harold had to take the boy with the
haversack； or abandon； for this occasion at least； all Alpine
ambitions。
Of course the girls fared badly in this book； and it was not
surprising that they preferred the 〃Pilgrim's Progress〃 （for
instance）； where women had a fair show； and there was generally
enough of 'em to go round； or a good fairy story； wherein
princesses met with a healthy appreciation。 But indeed we were
all best pleased with a picture wherein the characters just
fitted us； in number； sex； and qualifications； and this； to us；
stood for artistic merit。
All the Christmas numbers； in their gilt frames on the nursery…
wall； had been gone