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weren't found at first。 And Edward said； Thanks AWFULLY〃 I did not
see Martha again until we were all re…assembled at tea… time； when she
seemed red…eyed and strangely silent； neither scolding nor finding fault
with anything。 Instead； she was very kind and thoughtful with jams and
things； feverishly pressing unwonted delicacies on us； who wanted little
pressing enough。 Then suddenly； when I was busiest； she disappeared；
and Charlotte whispered me presently that she had heard her go to her
room and lock herself in。 This struck me as a funny sort of proceeding。
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DREAM DAYS
MUTABILE SEMPER
She stood on the other side of the garden fence； and regarded me
gravely as I came down the road。 Then she said； 〃Hi…o！〃 and I responded；
〃Hullo！〃 and pulled up somewhat nervously。
To tell the truth； the encounter was not entirely unexpected on my part。
The previous Sunday I had seen her in church； and after service it had
transpired who she was； this new…comer； and what aunt she was staying
with。 That morning a volunteer had been called for； to take a note to the
Parsonage； and rather to my own surprise I had found myself stepping
forward with alacrity； while the others had become suddenly absorbed in
various pursuits； or had sneaked unobtrusively out of view。 Certainly I
had not yet formed any deliberate plan of action； yet I suppose I
recollected that the road to the Parsonage led past her aunt's garden。
She began the conversation； while I hopped backwards and forwards
over the ditch； feigning a careless ease。
〃Saw you in church on Sunday；〃 she said； 〃only you looked different
then。 All dressed up； and your hair quite smooth； and brushed up at the
sides； and oh； so shiny！ What do they put on it to make it shine like that？
Don't you hate having your hair brushed？〃 she ran on； without waiting for
an answer。 〃How your boots squeaked when you came down the aisle！
When mine squeak； I walk in all the puddles till they stop。 Think I'll get
over the fence。〃
This she proceeded to do in a businesslike way； while； with my hands
deep in my pockets； I regarded her movements with silent interest； as
those of some strange new animal。
〃I've been gardening；〃 she explained； when she had joined me； 〃but I
didn't like it。 There's so many worms about to…day。 I hate worms。
Wish they'd keep out of the way when I'm digging。〃
〃Oh； I like worms when I'm digging；〃 I replied heartily； 〃seem to make
things more lively； don't they？〃
She reflected。 〃Shouldn't mind 'em so much if they were warm and
DRY；〃 she said； 〃but〃 here she shivered； and somehow I liked her for it；
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DREAM DAYS
though if it had been my own flesh and blood hoots of derision would
have instantly assailed her。
From worms we passed； naturally enough； to frogs； and thence to pigs；
aunts； gardeners； rocking…horses； and other fellow…citizens of our common
kingdom。 In five minutes we had each other's confidences； and I seemed
to have known her for a lifetime。 Somehow； on the subject of one's self it
was easier to be frank and communicative with her than with one's female
kin。 It must be； I supposed； because she was less familiar with one's
faulty； tattered past。
〃I was watching you as you came along the road；〃 she said presently；
〃and you had your head down and your hands in your pockets； and you
weren't throwing stones at anything； or whistling； or jumping over things；
and I thought perhaps you'd bin scolded； or got a stomach…ache。〃
〃No；〃 I answered shyly； 〃it wasn't that。 Fact is； I wasI oftenbut it's
a secret。〃
There I made an error in tactics。 That enkindling word set her
dancing round me； half beseeching； half imperious。 〃Oh； do tell it me！〃
she cried。 〃You must！ I'll never tell anyone else at all； I vow and
declare I won't！〃
Her small frame wriggled with emotion； and with imploring eyes she
jigged impatiently just in front of me。 Her hair was tumbled
bewitchingly on her shoulders； and even the loss of a front tootha loss
incidental to her ageseemed but to add a piquancy to her face。
〃You won't care to hear about it；〃 I said； wavering。 〃Besides； I can't
explain exactly。 I think I won't tell you。〃 But all the time I knew I
should have to。
〃But I DO care；〃 she wailed plaintively。 〃I didn't think you'd be so
unkind！〃
This would never do。 That little downward tug at either corner of the
mouthI knew the symptom only too well！
〃It's like this；〃 I began stammeringly。 〃This bit of road here up as
far as that corneryou know it's a horrid dull bit of road。 I'm always
having to go up and down it； and I know it so well； and I'm so sick of it。
So whenever I get to that corner； I justwell； I go right off to another
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DREAM DAYS
place！〃
〃What sort of a place？〃 she asked； looking round her gravely。
〃Of course it's just a place I imagine；〃 I went on hurriedly and rather
shamefacedly： 〃but it's an awfully nice placethe nicest place you ever
saw。 And I always go off there in church； or during joggraphy lessons。〃
〃I'm sure it's not nicer than my home；〃 she cried patriotically。 〃Oh；
you ought to see my homeit's lovely！ We've got〃 〃Yes it is； ever so
much nicer；〃 I interrupted。 〃I mean〃I went on apologetically〃of
course I know your home's beautiful and all that。 But this MUST be
nicer； 'cos if you want anything at all； you've only GOT to want it； and you
can have it！〃
〃That sounds jolly；〃 she murmured。 〃Tell me more about it； please。
Tell me how you get there； first。〃
〃Idon'tquiteknowexactly；〃 I replied。 〃I just go。 But generally
it begins bywell； you're going up a broad； clear river in a sort of a boat。
You're not rowing or anythingyou're just moving along。 And there's
beautiful grass meadows on both sides； and the ri