the golden age(金色时代)-第7章
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hedged him round with protecting bayonets。 But I dreaded sore lest he
should begin again with his questions。 As I gazed in dumb appeal on the
face of unresponsive nature； the sound of nearing wheels sent a pulse of
hope through my being； increasing to rapture as I recognised in the
approaching vehicle the familiar carriage of the old doctor。 If ever a god
emerged from a machine； it was when this heaven…sent friend； recognising
us； stopped and jumped out with a cheery hail。 Harold rushed up to him
at once。 〃Have you been there？〃 he cried。 〃Was it a jolly fight？ who
beat？ were there many people killed？〃
The doctor appeared puzzled。 I briefly explained the situation。
〃I see；〃 said the doctor； looking grave and twisting his face this way
and that。 〃Well； the fact is； there isn't going to be any battle to…day。 It's
been put off； on account of the change in the weather。 You will have due
notice of the renewal of hostilities。 And now you'd better jump in and I'll
drive you home。 You've been running a fine rig！ Why； you might have
both been taken and shot as spies！〃
This special danger had never even occurred to us。 The thrill of it
accentuated the cosey homelike feeling of the cushions we nestled into as
we rolled homewards。 The doctor beguiled the journey with blood…
curdling narratives of personal adventure in the tented field； he having
followed the profession of arms （so it seemed） in every quarter of the
globe。 Time； the destroyer of all things beautiful； subsequently revealed
the baselessness of these legends； but what of that？ There are higher
things than truth； and we were almost reconciled； by the time we were
dropped at our gate； to the fact that the battle had been postponed。
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THE FINDING OF THE
PRINCESS。
It was the day I was promoted to a tooth…brush。 The girls；
irrespective of age； had been thus distinguished some time before； why；
we boys could never rightly understand； except that it was part and parcel
of a system of studied favouritism on behalf of creatures both physically
inferior and （as was shown by a fondness for tale…bearing） of weaker
mental fibre。 It was not that we yearned after these strange instruments
in themselves； Edward； indeed； applied his to the scrubbing…out of his
squirrel's cage； and for personal use； when a superior eye was grim on him；
borrowed Harold's or mine； indifferently； but the nimbus of distinction
that clung to themthat we coveted exceedingly。 What more； indeed；
was there to ascend to； before the remote； but still possible； razor and
strop？
Perhaps the exaltation had mounted to my head； or nature and the
perfect morning joined to him at disaffection； anyhow； having breakfasted；
and triumphantly repeated the collect I had broken down in the last
Sunday'twas one without rhythm or alliteration： a most objectionable
collecthaving achieved thus much； the small natural man in me rebelled；
and I vowed； as I straddled and spat about the stable…yard in feeble
imitation of the coachman； that lessons might go to the Inventor of them。
It was only geography that morning； any way： and the practical thing was
worth any quantity of bookish theoretic； as for me； I was going on my
travels； and imports and exports； populations and capitals； might very well
wait while I explored the breathing； coloured world outside。
True； a fellow…rebel was wanted； and Harold might； as a rule； have
been counted on with certainty。 But just then Harold was very proud。
The week before he had 〃gone into tables；〃 and had been endowed with a
new slate； having a miniature sponge attached； wherewith we washed the
faces of Charlotte's dolls； thereby producing an unhealthy pallor which
struck terror into the child's heart； always timorous regarding epidemic
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The Golden Age
visitations。 As to 〃tables；〃 nobody knew exactly what they were； least of
all Harold； but it was a step over the heads of the rest； and therefore a
subject for self…adulation and generally speakingairs； so that Harold；
hugging his slate and his chains； was out of the question now。 In such a
matter； girls were worse than useless； as wanting the necessary tenacity of
will and contempt for self…constituted authority。 So eventually I slipped
through the hedge a solitary protestant； and issued forth on the lane what
time the rest of the civilised world was sitting down to lessons。
The scene was familiar enough； and yet； this morning； how different it
all seemed！ The act； with its daring； tinted everything with new； strange
hues； affecting the individual with a sort of bruised feeling just below the
pit of the stomach； that was intensified whenever his thoughts flew back to
the ink… stained； smelly schoolroom。 And could this be really me？ or was
I only contemplating； from the schoolroom aforesaid； some other jolly
young mutineer； faring forth under the genial sun？ Anyhow； here was the
friendly well； in its old place； half way up the lane。 Hither the yoke…
shouldering village…folk were wont to come to fill their clinking buckets；
when the drippings made worms of wet in the thick dust of the road。
They had flat wooden crosses inside each pail； which floated on the top
and （we were instructed） served to prevent the water from slopping over。
We used to wonder by what magic this strange principle worked； and who
first invented the crosses； and whether he got a peerage for it。 But indeed
the well was a centre of mystery； for a hornet's nest was somewhere hard
by； and the very thought was fearsome。 Wasps we knew well and
disdained； storming them in their fastnesses。 But these great Beasts；
vestured in angry orange； three stings from whichso 't was averred
would kill a horse； these were of a different kidney； and their warning
drone suggested prudence and retreat。 At this time neither villagers nor
hornets encroached on the stillness： lessons； apparently； pervaded all
Nature。 So； after dabbling awhile in the wellwhat boy has ever passed
a bit of water without messing in it？I scrambled through the hedge；
avoiding the hornet…haunted side； and struck into the silence of the copse。
If the lane had been deserted； this was loneliness become personal。
Here mystery lurked and peeped； here brambles caught and held with a
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purpose of their own； and saplings whipped the face with human spite。
The copse； too； proved vaster in extent； more dire
