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scoring it up； with a sense of injury； against the aunt。 There was a
splendid uselessness about the whole performance that specially appealed
to my artistic sense。 That it should have been Selina； too； who should
break out this waySelina； who had just become a regular subscriber to
the 〃Young Ladies' Journal；〃 and who allowed herself to be taken out to
strange teas with an air of resignation palpably assumedthis was a
special joy； and served to remind me that much of this dreaded convention
that was creeping over us might be； after all； only veneer。 Edward also
was absent； getting licked into shape at school； but to him the loss was
nothing。 With his stern practical bent he wouldn't have seen any sense in
itto recall one of his favourite expressions。 To Harold； however； for
whom the gods had always cherished a special tenderness； it was granted；
not only to witness； but also； priestlike； to feed the sacred fire itself。 And
if at the time he paid the penalty exacted by the sordid unimaginative ones
who temporarily rule the roast； he must ever after； one feels sure； have
carried inside him some of the white gladness of the acolyte who； greatly
privileged； has been permitted to swing a censer at the sacring of the very
Mass。
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DREAM DAYS
October was mellowing fast； and with it the year itself； full of tender
hints； in woodland and hedgerow； of a course well…nigh completed。
From all sides that still afternoon you caught the quick breathing and sob
of the runner nearing the goal。 Preoccupied and possessed； Selina had
strayed down the garden and out into the pasture beyond； where； on a bit
of rising ground that dominated the garden on one side and the downs with
the old coach…road on the other； she had cast herself down to chew the cud
of fancy。 There she was presently joined by Harold； breathless and very
full of his latest grievance。
〃I asked him not to；〃 he burst out。 〃I said if he'd only please wait a
bit and Edward would be back soon； and it couldn't matter to HIM； and the
pig wouldn't mind； and Edward'd be pleased and everybody'd be happy。
But he just said he was very sorry； but bacon didn't wait for nobody。 So I
told him he was a regular beast； and then I came away。 Andand I
b'lieve they're doing it now！〃
〃Yes； he's a beast；〃 agreed Selina； absently。 She had forgotten all
about the pig…killing。 Harold kicked away a freshly thrown… up mole…hill；
and prodded down the hole with a stick。 From the direction of Farmer
Larkin's demesne came a long…drawn note of sorrow； a thin cry and appeal；
telling that the stout soul of a black Berkshire pig was already faring down
the stony track to Hades。
〃D'you know what day it is？〃 said Selina presently； in a low voice；
looking far away before her。
Harold did not appear to know； nor yet to care。 He had laid open his
mole…run for a yard or so； and was still grubbing at it absorbedly。
〃It's Trafalgar Day；〃 went on Selina； trancedly； 〃Trafalgar Day and
nobody cares！〃
Something in her tone told Harold that he was not behaving quite
becomingly。 He didn't exactly know in what manner； still； he abandoned
his mole…hunt for a more courteous attitude of attention。
〃Over there；〃 resumed Selinashe was gazing out in the direction of
the old highroad〃over there the coaches used to go by。 Uncle Thomas
was telling me about it the other day。 And the people used to watch for
'em coming； to tell the time by； and p'r'aps to get their parcels。 And one
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DREAM DAYS
morningthey wouldn't be expecting anything differentone morning；
first there would be a cloud of dust； as usual； and then the coach would
come racing by； and THEN they would know！ For the coach would be
dressed in laurel； all laurel from stem to stern！ And the coachman would
be wearing laurel； and the guard would be wearing laurel； and then they
would know； then they would know！〃
Harold listened in respectful silence。 He would much rather have
been hunting the mole； who must have been a mile away by this time if he
had his wits about him。 But he had all the natural instincts of a
gentleman； of whom it is one of the principal marks； if not the complete
definition； never to show signs of being bored。
Selina rose to her feet； and paced the turf restlessly with a short
quarter…deck walk。
〃Why can't we DO something？〃 she burst out presently。 〃HEhe did
everythingwhy can't we do anything for him？〃
〃WHO did everything？〃 inquired Harold； meekly。 It was useless
wasting further longings on that mole。 Like the dead； he travelled fast。
〃Why； Nelson； of course；〃 said Selina； shortly； still looking restlessly
around for help or suggestion。
〃But he'she's DEAD； isn't he？〃 asked Harold； slightly puzzled。
〃What's that got to do with it？〃 retorted his sister； resuming her caged…
lion promenade。
Harold was somewhat taken aback。 In the case of the pig； for
instance； whose last outcry had now passed into stillness； he had
considered the chapter as finally closed。 Whatever innocent mirth the
holidays might hold in store for Edward； that particular pig； at least； would
not be a contributor。 And now he was given to understand that the
situation had not materially changed！ He would have to revise his ideas；
it seemed。 Sitting up on end； he looked towards the garden for assistance
in the task。 Thence； even as he gazed； a tiny column of smoke rose
straight up into the still air。 The gardener had been sweeping that
afternoon； and now； an unconscious priest； was offering his sacrifice of
autumn leaves to the calm…eyed goddess of changing hues and chill
forebodings who was moving slowly about the land that golden afternoon。
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Harold was up and off in a moment； forgetting Nelson； forgett