dream days(做梦的日子)-第7章
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be trees。 But they're BLUE。〃
〃They ARE trees；〃 I replied with severity； 〃and they ARE blue。
They've got to be blue； 'cos you stole my gamboge last week； so I can't
mix up any green。〃
〃DIDN'T steal your gamboge；〃 declared Selina； haughtily； edging
away； however； in the direction of Harold。 〃And I wouldn't tell lies；
either； if I was you； about a dirty little bit of gamboge。〃
I preserved a discreet silence。 After all； I knew SHE knew she stole
my gamboge。
The moment Harold became conscious of Selina's stealthy approach；
he dropped his pencil and flung himself flat upon the table； protecting thus
his literary efforts from chilling criticism by the interposed thickness of
his person。 From somewhere in his interior proceeded a heart rending
compound of squeal and whistle； as of escaping steam；long…drawn； ear
piercing； unvarying in note。
〃I only just want to see；〃 protested Selina； struggling to uproot his
small body from the scrawl it guarded。 But Harold clung limpet…like to
the table edge； and his shrill protest continued to deafen humanity and to
threaten even the serenities of Olympus。 The time seemed come for a
demonstration in force。 Personally I cared little what soul…outpourings of
Harold were pirated by Selinashe was pretty sure to get hold of them
sooner or laterand indeed I rather welcomed the diversion as favourable
to the undisturbed pursuit of Art。 But the clannishness of sex has its
unwritten laws。 Boys； as such； are sufficiently put upon； maltreated；
trodden under； as it is。 Should they fail to hang together in perilous times；
what disasters； what ignominies； may not be looked for？ Possibly even
an extinction of the tribe。 I dropped my paint brush and sailed shouting
into the fray。
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The result for a short space hung dubious。 There is a period of life
when the difference of a year or two in age far outweighs the minor
advantage of sex。 Then the gathers of Selina's frock came away with a
sound like the rattle of distant musketry； and this calamity it was； rather
than mere brute compulsion； that quelled her indomitable spirit。
The female tongue is mightier than the sword； as I soon had good
reason to know； when Selina； her riven garment held out at length；
avenged her discomfiture with the Greek…fire of personalities and abuse。
Every black incident in my short； but not stainless； careerevery error；
every folly； every penalty ignobly sufferedwere paraded before me as in
a magic… lantern show。 The information； however； was not particularly
new to me； and the effect was staled by previous rehearsals。 Besides； a
victory remains a victory； whatever the moral character of the triumphant
general。
Harold chuckled and crowed as he dropped from the table； revealing
the document over which so many gathers had sighed their short lives out。
〃YOU can read it if you like；〃 he said to me gratefully。 〃It's only a
Death…letter。〃
It had never been possible to say what Harold's particular amusement
of the hour might turn out to be。 One thing only was certain； that it
would be something improbable； unguessable； not to be foretold。 Who；
for instance； in search of relaxation； would ever dream of choosing the
drawing…up of a testamentary disposition of property？ Yet this was the
form taken by Harold's latest craze； and in justice this much had to be said
for him； that in the christening of his amusement he had gone right to the
heart of the matter。 The words 〃will〃 and 〃testament〃 have various
meanings and uses； but about the signification of 〃death…letter〃 there can
be no manner of doubt。 I smoothed out the crumpled paper and read。
In actual form it deviated considerably from that usually adopted by
family solicitors of standing； the only resemblance； indeed； lying in the
absence of punctuation。
〃my dear edward （it ran） when I die I leave all my muny to you my
walkin sticks wips my crop my sord and gun bricks forts and all things i
have goodbye my dear charlotte when i die I leave you my wach and
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cumpus and pencel case my salors and camperdown my picteres and
evthing goodbye your loving brother armen my dear Martha I love you
very much i leave you my garden my mice and rabets my plants in pots
when I die please take care of them my dear〃 Coetera desunt。
〃Why； you're not leaving me anything！〃 exclaimed Selina；
indignantly。 〃You're a regular mean little boy； and I'll take back the last
birthday present I gave you！〃
〃I don't care；〃 said Harold； repossessing himself of the document。 〃I
was going to leave you something； but I sha'n't now； 'cos you tried to read
my death…letter before I was dead！〃
〃Then I'll write a death…letter myself；〃 retorted Selina； scenting an
artistic vengeance： 〃and I sha'n't leave you a single thing！〃 And she went
off in search of a pencil。
The tempest within…doors had kept my attention off the condition of
things without。 But now a glance through the window told me that the
rain had entirely ceased； and that everything was bathed instead in a
radiant glow of sunlight； more golden than any gamboge of mine could
possibly depict。 Leaving Selina and Harold to settle their feud by a
mutual disinheritance； I slipped from the room and escaped into the open
air； eager to pick up the loose end of my new friendship just where I had
dropped it that morning。 In the glorious reaction of the sunshine after the
downpour； with its moist warm smells； bespanglement of greenery； and
inspiriting touch of rain…washed air； the parks and palaces of the
imagination glowed with a livelier iris； and their blurred beauties shone
out again with fresh blush and palpitation。 As I sped along to the tryst；
again I accompanied my new comrade along the corridors of my pet
palace into which I had so hastily introduced her； and on reflection I began
to see that it wouldn't work properly。 I had made a mistake； and those
were not the surroundings in which she was most fitted to shine。
However； it really did not matter much； I had other palaces to place at her
disposalplenty of 'em； and on a further acquaintance with and knowledge
of her tastes； no doubt I could find something to suit her。
There was a real Arabian one； for instance； which I visited but rarely
only just when I was in the fine Oriental mood for it； a wonder of silk
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hangings； fountains of rosewater； pavilions； and minarets。 Hundreds of
silent； well…trained slaves thronged the stairs and alleys of this
establishment； ready to fetch and carry for her all day； if she wished it； and
my brave soldiers would be spared the indignity。 Also there were
processions through the bazaar at odd momentsprocessions with camels；
elephants； and palanquins。 Yes； she was more suited for the East； this
imperious young person； and I determined that thither she should be
personally conducted as soon as ever might be。
I reached the fence and climbed up two bars of it； and leaning over I
looked this way and that for my twin…souled partner of the morning。 It
was not long before I caught sight of her； only a short distance away。 Her
back was towards me andwell； one can never foresee exactly how one
will find thingsshe was talking to a Boy。
Of course there are boys and boys； and Lord knows I was never
narrow。 But this was the parson's son from an adjoining village； a red…
headed boy and as common a little beast as ever stepped。 He cultivated
ferretshis only good point； and it was evidently through the medium of
this art that he was basely supplanting me； for her head was bent
absorbedly over something he carried in his hands。 With some
trepidation I called out； 〃Hi！〃 But answer there was none。 Then again I
called； 〃Hi！〃 but this time with a sickening sense of failure and of doom。
She replied only by a complex gesture； decisive in import if not easily
described。 A petulant toss of the head； a jerk of the left shoulder； and a
backward kick of the left foot； all delivered at oncethat was all； and that
was enough。 The red…headed boy never even condescended to glance my
way。 Why； indeed； should he？ I dropped from the fence without
another effort； and took my way homewards along the weary road。
Little inclination was left to me； at first； for any solitary visit to my
accustomed palace； the pleasures of which I had so recently tasted in
company； and yet after a minute or two I found myself； from habit；
sneaking off there much as usual。 Presently I became aware of a certain
solace and consolation in my newly…recovered independence of action。
Quit of all female whims and fanciful restrictions； I rowed； sailed； or
punted； just as I pleased； in the Chocolate…room I cracked and nibbled the
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hard sticks； with a certain contempt for those who preferred
