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dream days-第2部分

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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 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。  Harold was up and off in a moment;

forgetting Nelson; forgetting the pig; the mole; the Larkin

betrayal; and Selina's strange fever of conscience。  Here was

fire; real fire; to play with; and that was even better than

messing with water; or remodelling the plastic surface of the

earth。  Of all the toys the world provides for right…minded

persons; the original elements rank easily the first。



But Selina sat on where she was; her chin on her fists; and

her fancies whirled and drifted; here and there; in curls and

eddies; along with the smoke she was watching。  As the quick…

footed dusk of the short October day stepped lightly over the

garden; little red tongues of fire might be seen to leap and

vanish in the smoke。  Harold; anon staggering under armfuls of

leaves; anon stoking vigorously; was discernible only at fitful

intervals。  It was another sort of smoke that the inner eye of

Selina was looking upon;a smoke that hung in sullen banks round

the masts and the hulls of the fighting ships; a smoke from

beneath which came thunder and the crash and the splinter…rip;

the shout of the boarding party; the choking sob of the gunner

stretched by his gun; a smoke from out of which at last she saw;

as through a riven pall; the radiant spirit of the Victor;

crowned with the coronal of a perfect death; leap in full

assurance up into the ether that Immortals breathe。  The dusk was

glooming towards darkness when she rose and moved slowly down

towards the beckoning fire; something of the priestess in her

stride; something of the devotee in the set purpose of her eye。



The leaves were well alight by this time; and Harold had just

added an old furze bush; which flamed and crackled stirringly。



〃Go 'n' get some more sticks;〃 ordered Selina; 〃and shavings; 'n'

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 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; 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
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