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of dark blue was held by a jewelled clasp； and whose long； fair hair was
crowned with a diadem of gold and pearl。 Well； we had no objection to
that； it seemed fair enough； especially to Edward； who promptly
proceeded to 〃grab〃 the armour…man who stood leaning on his shield at the
lady's right hand。 A dainty and delicate armour…man this！ And I confess；
though I knew it was all right and fair and orderly； I felt a slight pang
when he passed out of my reach into Edward's possession。 His armour
was just the sort I wanted myself scalloped and fluted and shimmering
and spotless； and； though he was but a boy by his beardless face and
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golden hair； the shattered spear…shaft in his grasp proclaimed him a
genuine fighter and fresh from some such agreeable work。 Yes； I
grudged Edward the armour…man； and when he said I could have the
fellow on the other side； I hung back and said I'd think about it。
This fellow had no armour nor weapons； but wore a plain jerkin with a
leather poucha mere civilianand with one hand he pointed to a wound
in his thigh。 I didn't care about him； and when Harold eagerly put in his
claim I gave way and let him have the man。 The cause of Harold's
anxiety only came out later。 It was the wound he coveted； it seemed。
He wanted to have a big； sore wound of his very own； and go about and
show it to people； and excite their envy or win their respect。 Charlotte
was only too pleased to take the child…angel seated at the lady's feet；
grappling with a musical instrument much too big for her。 Charlotte
wanted wings badly； and； next to those； a guitar or a banjo。 The angel；
besides； wore an amber necklace； which took her fancy immensely。
This left the picture allotted； with the exception of two or three more
angels； who peeped or perched behind the main figures with a certain
subdued drollery in their faces； as if the thing had gone on long enough；
and it was now time to upset something or kick up a row of some sort。
We knew these good folk to be saints and angels； because we had been
told they were； otherwise we should never have guessed it。 Angels； as
we knew them in our Sunday books； were vapid； colourless； uninteresting
characters； with straight up…and…down sort of figures； white nightgowns；
white wings； and the same straight yellow hair parted in the middle。
They were serious； even melancholy； and we had no desire to have any
traffic with them。 These bright bejewelled little persons； however；
piquant of face and radiant of feather； were evidently hatched from quite a
different egg； and we felt we might have interests in common with them。
Short…nosed； shock headed； with mouths that went up at the corners and
with an evident disregard for all their fine clothes； they would be the best
of good company； we felt sure； if only we could manage to get at them。
One doubt alone disturbed my mind。 In games requiring agility； those
wings of theirs would give them a tremendous pull。 Could they be
trusted to play fair？ I asked Selina； who replied scornfully that angels
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DREAM DAYS
ALWAYS played fair。 But I went back and had another look at the
brown…faced one peeping over the back of the lady's chair； and still I had
my doubts。
When Edward went off to school a great deal of adjustment and re…
allotment took place； and all the heroes of illustrated literature were at my
call； did I choose to possess them。 In this particular case； however； I
made no haste to seize upon the armour…man。 Perhaps it was because I
wanted a FRESH saint of my own； not a stale saint that Edward had been
for so long a time。 Perhaps it was rather that； ever since I had elected to
be saintless； I had got into the habit of strolling off into the background；
and amusing myself with what I found there。
A very fascinating background it was； and held a great deal； though so
tiny。 Meadow…land came first； set with flowers； blue and red； like gems。
Then a white road ran； with wilful； uncalled…for loops； up a steep； conical
hill； crowned with towers； bastioned walls； and belfries； and down the
road the little knights came riding； two and two。 The hill on one side
descended to water； tranquil； far…reaching； and blue； and a very curly ship
lay at anchor； with one mast having an odd sort of crow's…nest at the top of
it。
There was plenty to do in this pleasant land。 The annoying thing
about it was； one could never penetrate beyond a certain point。 I might
wander up that road as often as I liked； I was bound to be brought up at the
gateway； the funny galleried； top…heavy gateway； of the little walled town。
Inside； doubtless； there were high jinks going on； but the password was
denied to me。 I could get on board a boat and row up as far as the curly
ship； but around the headland I might not go。 On the other side； of a
surety； the shipping lay thick。 The merchants walked on the quay； and
the sailors sang as they swung out the corded bales。 But as for me； I
must stay down in the meadow； and imagine it all as best I could。
Once I broached the subject to Charlotte； and found； to my surprise；
that she had had the same joys and encountered the same disappointments
in this delectable country。 She； too； had walked up that road and
flattened her nose against that portcullis； and she pointed out something
that I had overlookedto wit； that if you rowed off in a boat to the curly
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DREAM DAYS
ship； and got hold of a rope； and clambered aboard of her； and swarmed up
the mast； and got into the crow's…nest； you could just see over the headland；
and take in at your ease the life and bustle of the port。 She proceeded