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haunted in appearance。 Once inside； I knew where we were。 This was
the garden of my friend the circus…man； though I had never approached it
before by a lawless gap； from this unfamiliar side。
And here was the circus…man himself； placidly smoking a pipe as he
strolled up and down the walks。 I stepped up to him and asked him
politely if he had lately seen a Beast。
〃May I inquire；〃 he said； with all civility； 〃what particular sort of a
Beast you may happen to be looking for？〃
〃It's a LIZARDY sort of Beast；〃 I explained。 〃Charlotte says it's a
dragon； but she doesn't really know much about beasts。〃
The circus…man looked round about him slowly。 〃I don't THINK；〃 he
said； 〃that I've seen a dragon in these parts recently。 But if I come across
one I'll know it belongs to you； and I'll have him taken round to you at
once。〃
〃Thank you very much；〃 said Charlotte； 〃but don't TROUBLE about it；
please； 'cos p'raps it isn't a dragon after all。 Only I thought I saw his little
footprints in the snow； and we followed 'em up； and they seemed to lead
right in here； but maybe it's all a mistake； and thank you all the same。〃
〃Oh； no trouble at all；〃 said the circus…man； cheerfully。 〃I should be
only too pleased。 But of course； as you say； it MAY be a mistake。 And
it's getting dark； and he seems to have got away for the present； whatever
he is。 You'd better come in and have some tea。 I'm quite alone； and
we'll make a roaring fire； and I've got the biggest Book of Beasts you ever
saw。 It's got every beast in the world； and all of 'em coloured； and we'll
try and find YOUR beast in it！〃
We were always ready for tea at any time； and especially when
combined with beasts。 There was marmalade； too； and apricot…jam；
brought in expressly for us； and afterwards the beast…book was spread out；
and； as the man had truly said； it contained every sort of beast that had
ever been in the world。
The striking of six o'clock set the more prudent Charlotte nudging me；
and we recalled ourselves with an effort from Beast… land； and reluctantly
stood up to go。
〃Here； I'm coming along with you；〃 said the circus…man。 〃I want
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DREAM DAYS
another pipe； and a walk'll do me good。 You needn't talk to me unless
you like。〃
Our spirits rose to their wonted level again。 The way had seemed so
long； the outside world so dark and eerie； after the bright warm room and
the highly…coloured beast…book。 But a walk with a real Manwhy； that
was a treat in itself！ We set off briskly； the Man in the middle。 I looked
up at him and wondered whether I should ever live to smoke a big pipe
with that careless sort of majesty！ But Charlotte； whose young mind was
not set on tobacco as a possible goal； made herself heard from the other
side。
〃Now； then；〃 she said； 〃tell us a story； please； won't you？〃
The Man sighed heavily and looked about him。 〃I knew it；〃 he
groaned。 〃I KNEW I should have to tell a story。 Oh； why did I leave
my pleasant fireside？ Well； I WILL tell you a story。 Only let me think a
minute。〃
So he thought a minute； and then he told us this story。
Long agomight have been hundreds of years agoin a cottage half…
way between this village and yonder shoulder of the Downs up there； a
shepherd lived with his wife and their little son。 Now the shepherd spent
his daysand at certain times of the year his nights tooup on the wide
ocean…bosom of the Downs； with only the sun and the stars and the sheep
for company； and the friendly chattering world of men and women far out
of sight and hearing。 But his little son； when he wasn't helping his father；
and often when he was as well； spent much of his time buried in big
volumes that he borrowed from the affable gentry and interested parsons
of the country round about。 And his parents were very fond of him； and
rather proud of him too； though they didn't let on in his hearing； so he was
left to go his own way and read as much as he liked； and instead of
frequently getting a cuff on the side of the head； as might very well have
happened to him； he was treated more or less as an equal by his parents；
who sensibly thought it a very fair division of labour that they should
supply the practical knowledge； and he the book…learning。 They knew
that book…learning often came in useful at a pinch； in spite of what their
neighbours said。 What the Boy chiefly dabbled in was natural history
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DREAM DAYS
and fairy…tales； and he just took them as they came； in a sandwichy sort of
way； without making any distinctions； and really his course of reading
strikes one as rather sensible。
One evening the shepherd； who for some nights past had been
disturbed and preoccupied； and off his usual mental balance； came home
all of a tremble； and； sitting down at the table where his wife and son were
peacefully employed； she with her seam； he in following out the
adventures of the Giant with no Heart in his Body； exclaimed with much
agitation：
〃It's all up with me； Maria！ Never no more can I go up on them there
Downs； was it ever so！〃
〃Now don't you take on like that；〃 said his wife； who was a VERY
sensible woman： 〃but tell us all about it first； whatever it is as has given
you this shake…up； and then me and you and the son here； between us； we
ought to be able to get to the bottom of it！〃
〃It began some nights ago；〃 said the shepherd。 〃You know that cave
up thereI never liked it； somehow； and the sheep never liked it neither；
and when sheep don't like a thing there's generally some reason for it。
Well； for some time past there's been faint noises coming from that cave
noises like heavy sighings； with grunts mixed up in them； and sometimes a
snoring； far away downREAL snoring； yet somehow not HONEST
snoring； like you and me o'nights； you know！〃
〃_I_ know；〃 remarked the Boy； quietly。
〃Of course I was terrible frightened；〃 the sh