dream days(做梦的日子)-第3章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
chunks of wood； 'n' anything you can find。 Look herein the kitchen…
garden there's a pile of old pea…sticks。 Fetch as many as you can carry；
and then go back and bring some more！〃
〃But I say；〃 began Harold； amazedly； scarce knowing his sister； and
with a vision of a frenzied gardener； pea…stickless and threatening
retribution。
〃Go and fetch 'em quick！ 〃 shouted Selina； stamping with impatience。
Harold ran off at once； true to the stern system of discipline in which
7
… Page 8…
DREAM DAYS
he had been nurtured。 But his eyes were like round O's； and as he ran he
talked fast to himself； in evident disorder of mind。
The pea…sticks made a rare blaze； and the fire； no longer smouldering
sullenly； leapt up and began to assume the appearance of a genuine bonfire。
Harold； awed into silence at first； began to jump round it with shouts of
triumph。 Selina looked on grimly； with knitted brow； she was not yet
fully satisfied。 〃Can't you get any more sticks？〃 she said presently。 〃Go
and hunt about。 Get some old hampers and matting and things out of the
tool…house。 Smash up that old cucumber frame Edward shoved you into；
the day we were playing scouts and Mohicans。 Stop a bit！ Hooray！ I
know。 You come along with me。〃
Hard by there was a hot…house； Aunt Eliza's special pride and joy； and
even grimly approved of by the gardener。 At one end； in an out…house
adjoining； the necessary firing was stored； and to this sacred fuel； of which
we were strictly forbidden to touch a stick； Selina went straight。 Harold
followed obediently； prepared for any crime after that of the pea…sticks；
but pinching himself to see if he were really awake。
〃You bring some coals；〃 said Selina briefly； without any palaver or
pro…and…con discussion。 〃Here's a basket。 I'LL manage the faggots！〃
In a very few minutes there was little doubt about its being a genuine
bonfire and no paltry makeshift。 Selina； a Maenad now； hatless and
tossing disordered locks； all the dross of the young lady purged out of her；
stalked around the pyre of her own purloining； or prodded it with a pea…
stick。 And as she prodded she murmured at intervals； 〃I KNEW there
was something we could do！ It isn't muchbut still it's SOMETHING！〃
The gardener had gone home to his tea。 Aunt Eliza had driven out for
hers a long way off； and was not expected back till quite late； and this far
end of the garden was not overlooked by any windows。 So the Tribute
blazed on merrily unchecked。 Villagers far away； catching sight of the
flare； muttered something about 〃them young devils at their tricks again；〃
and trudged on beer… wards。 Never a thought of what day it was； never a
thought for Nelson； who preserved their honest pint…pots； to be paid for in
honest pence； and saved them from litres and decimal coinage。 Nearer at
hand； frightened rabbits popped up and vanished with a flick of white tails；
8
… Page 9…
DREAM DAYS
scared birds fluttered among the branches； or sped across the glade to
quieter sleeping…quarters； but never a bird nor a beast gave a thought to the
hero to whom they owed it that each year their little homes of horsehair；
wool； or moss； were safe stablished 'neath the flap of the British flag； and
that Game Laws； quietly permanent； made la chasse a terror only to their
betters。 No one seemed to know； nor to care； nor to sympathise。 In all
the ecstasy of her burnt… offering and sacrifice； Selina stood alone。
And yetnot quite alone！ For； as the fire was roaring at its best；
certain stars stepped delicately forth on the surface of the immensity above；
and peered down doubtfullywith wonder at first； then with interest； then
with recognition； with a start of glad surprise。 THEY at least knew all
about it； THEY understood。 Among THEM the Name was a daily
familiar word； his story was a part of the music to which they swung；
himself was their fellow and their mate and comrade。 So they peeped；
and winked； and peeped again； and called to their laggard brothers to come
quick and see。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。
〃The best of life is but intoxication；〃 and Selina； who during her brief
inebriation had lived in an ecstasy as golden as our drab existence affords；
had to experience the inevitable bitterness of awakening sobriety； when
the dying down of the flames into sullen embers coincided with the
frenzied entrance of Aunt Eliza on the scene。 It was not so much that she
was at once and forever disrated； broke； sent before the mast； and branded
as one on whom no reliance could be placed； even with Edward safe at
school； and myself under the distant vigilance of an aunt； that her pocket
money was stopped indefinitely； and her new Church Service； the pride of
her last birthday； removed from her own custody and placed under the
control of a Trust。 She sorrowed rather because she had dragged poor
Harold； against his better judgment； into a most horrible scrape； and
moreover because； when the reaction had fairly set in； when the exaltation
had fizzled away and the young…lady portion of her had crept timorously
back to its wonted lodging； she could only see herself as a plain fool；
unjustified； undeniable； without a shadow of an excuse or explanation。
As for Harold； youth and a short memory made his case less pitiful
9
… Page 10…
DREAM DAYS
than it seemed to his more sensitive sister。 True； he started upstairs to his
lonely cot bellowing dismally； before him a dreary future of pains and
penalties； sufficient to last to the crack of doom。 Outside his door；
however； he tumbled over Augustus the cat； and made capture of him； and
at once his mourning was changed into a song of triumph； as he conveyed
his prize into port。 For Augustus； who detested above all things going to
bed with little boys； was ever more knave than fool； and the trapper who
was wily enough to ensnare him had achieved something notable。
Augustus； when he realized that his fate was sealed； and his night's
lodging settled； wisely made the best of things； and listened； with a
languorous air of complete comprehension； to the incoherent babble
concerning pigs and heroes； moles and bonfires； which served Harold for a
self…sung lullaby。 Yet it may be doubted whether Augustus was one of
those rare fellows who thoroughly understood。
But Selina knew no more of this source of consolation than of the
sympathy with which the stars were winking above her； and it was only
after some sad interval oftime； and on a very moist pillow； that she drifted
into that quaint inconsequent country where you may meet your own pet
hero strolling down the road； and commit what hair…brained oddities you
