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begin； at the point where those other ones always left off。 I turned the
page； and found myself free of the dim and splendid church and once more
in the open country。
This was all right； this was just as it should be。 The sky was a
fleckless blue； the flags danced in the breeze； and our merry bridal party；
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DREAM DAYS
with jest and laughter； jogged down to the water… side。 I was through the
town by this time； and out on the other side of the hill； where I had always
wanted to be； and； sure enough； there was the harbour； all thick with curly
ships。 Most of them were piled high with wedding…presentsbales of silk；
and gold and silver plate； and comfortable…looking bags suggesting bullion；
and the gayest ship of all lay close up to the carpeted landing…stage。
Already the bride was stepping daintily down the gangway； her ladies
following primly； one by one； a few minutes more and we should all be
aboard； the hawsers would splash in the water； the sails would fill and
strain。 From the deck I should see the little walled town recede and sink
and grow dim； while every plunge of our bows brought us nearer to the
happy islandit was an island we were bound for； I knew well！ Already I
could see the island…people waving hands on the crowded quay； whence
the little houses ran up the hill to the castle； crowning all with its towers
and battlements。 Once more we should ride together； a merry procession；
clattering up the steep street and through the grim gateway； and then we
should have arrived； then we should all dine together； then we should have
reached home！ And then
OW！ OW！ OW！
Bitter it is to stumble out of an opalescent dream into the cold daylight；
cruel to lose in a second a sea…voyage； an island； and a castle that was to
be practically your own； but cruellest and bitterest of all to know； in
addition to your loss； that the fingers of an angry aunt have you tight by
the scruff of your neck。 My beautiful book was gone tooravished from
my grasp by the dressy lady； who joined in the outburst of denunciation as
heartily as if she had been a relativeand naught was left me but to
blubber dismally； awakened of a sudden to the harshness of real things and
the unnumbered hostilities of the actual world。 I cared little for their
reproaches； their abuse； but I sorrowed heartily for my lost ship； my
vanished island； my uneaten dinner； and for the knowledge that； if I
wanted any angels to play with； I must henceforth put up with the anaemic；
night…gowned nonentities that hovered over the bed of the Sunday…school
child in the pages of the Sabbath Improver。
I was led ignominiously out of the house； in a pulpy； watery state；
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DREAM DAYS
while the butler handled his swing doors with a stony； impassive
countenance； intended for the deception of the very elect； though it did not
deceive me。 I knew well enough that next time he was off duty； and
strolled around our way； we should meet in our kitchen as man to man；
and I would punch him and ask him riddles； and he would teach me tricks
with corks and bits of string。 So his unsympathetic manner did not add
to my depression。
I maintained a diplomatic blubber long after we had been packed into
our pony…carriage and the lodge…gate had clicked behind us； because it
served as a sort of armour…plating against heckling and argument and
abuse； and I was thinking hard and wanted to be let alone。 And the
thoughts that I was thinking were two。
First I thought； 〃I've got ahead of Charlotte THIS time！〃
And next I thought； 〃When I've grown up big； and have money of my
own； and a full…sized walking…stick； I will set out early one morning； and
never stop till I get to that little walled town。〃 There ought to be no real
difficulty in the task。 It only meant asking here and asking there； and
people were very obliging； and I could describe every stick and stone of it。
As for the island which I had never even seen； that was not so easy。
Yet I felt confident that somehow； at some time； sooner or later； I was
destined to arrive。
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DREAM DAYS
A SAGA OF THE SEAS
It happened one day that some ladies came to call； who were not at all
the sort I was used to。 They suffered from a grievance； so far as I could
gather； and the burden of their plaint was ManMen in general and Man
in particular。 （Though the words were but spoken； I could clearly discern
the capital M in their acid utterance。）
Of course I was not present officially； so to speak。 Down below； in
my sub…world of chair…legs and hearthrugs and the undersides of sofas； I
was working out my own floor…problems； while they babbled on far above
my head； considering me as but a chair…leg； or even something lower in
the scale。 Yet I was listening hard all the time； with that respectful
consideration one gives to all grown…up people's remarks； so long as one
knows no better。
It seemed a serious indictment enough； as they rolled it out。 In tact；
considerateness； and right appreciation； as well as in taste and aesthetic
sensibilitieswe failed at every point； we breeched and bearded prentice…
jobs of Nature； and I began to feel like collapsing on the carpet from sheer
spiritual anaemia。 But when one of them； with a swing of her skirt；
prostrated a whole regiment of my brave tin soldiers； and never apologized
nor even offered her aid toward revivifying the battle…line； I could not help
feeling that in tactfulness and consideration for others she was still a little
to seek。 And I said as much； with some directness of language。
That was the end of me； from a society point of view。 Rudeness to
visitors was the unpardonable sin； and in two seconds I had my marching
orders； and was sullenly wending my way to the St。 Elelena of the nursery。
As I climbed the stair； my thoughts reverted somehow to a game we had
been playing that very morning。
It was the good