dream days(做梦的日子)-第13节
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in addition to the excitement of the plot； one always possessed a personal
interest in some particular member of the cast； whose successes or rebuffs
one took as so much private gain or loss。
For Edward this was satisfactory enough。 Claiming his right of the
eldest； he would annex the hero in the very frontispiece； and for the rest of
the story his career； if chequered at intervals； was sure of heroic episodes
and a glorious close。 But his juniors； who had to put up with characters
of a clay more mixednay； sometimes with undiluted villainywere hard
put to it on occasion to defend their other selves （as it was strict etiquette
to do） from ignominy perhaps only too justly merited。 Edward was
indeed a hopeless grabber。 In the 〃Buffalo…book；〃 for instance （so named
from the subject of its principal picture； though indeed it dealt with varied
slaughter in every zone）； Edward was the stalwart； bearded figure； with
yellow leggings and a powder…horn； who undauntedly discharged the fatal
bullet into the shoulder of the great bull bison； charging home to within a
yard of his muzzle。 To me was allotted the subsidiary character of the
friend who had succeeded in bringing down a cow； while Harold had to be
content to hold Edward's spare rifle in the background； with evident signs
of uneasiness。 Farther on； again； where the magnificent chamois sprang
rigid into mid…air； Edward； crouched dizzily against the precipice…face；
was the sportsman from whose weapon a puff of white smoke was floating
away。 A bare…kneed guide was all that fell to my share； while poor
Harold had to take the boy with the haversack； or abandon； for this
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occasion at least； all Alpine ambitions。
Of course the girls fared badly in this book； and it was not surprising
that they preferred the 〃Pilgrim's Progress〃 （for instance）； where women
had a fair show； and there was generally enough of 'em to go round； or a
good fairy story； wherein princesses met with a healthy appreciation。 But
indeed we were all best pleased with a picture wherein the characters just
fitted us； in number； sex； and qualifications； and this； to us； stood for
artistic merit。
All the Christmas numbers； in their gilt frames on the nursery… wall；
had been gone through and allotted long ago； and in these； sooner or later；
each one of us got a chance to figure in some satisfactory and brightly
coloured situation。 Few of the other pictures about the house afforded
equal facilities。 They were generally wanting in figures； and even when
these were present they lacked dramatic interest。 In this picture that I
have to speak about； although the characters had a stupid way of not doing
anything； and apparently not wanting to do anything； there was at least a
sufficiency of them； so in due course they were allotted； too。
In itself the picture； whichin its ebony and tortoise…shell framehung
in a corner of the dining…room； had hitherto possessed no special interest
for us； and would probably never have been dealt with at all but for a
revolt of the girls against a succession of books on sport； in which the
illustrator seemed to have forgotten that there were such things as women
in the world。 Selina accordingly made for it one rainy morning； and
announced that she was the lady seated in the centre； whose gown of rich；
flowered brocade fell in such straight； severe lines to her feet； whose cloak
of dark blue was held by a jewelled clasp； and whose long； fair hair was
crowned with a diadem of gold and pearl。 Well； we had no objection to
that； it seemed fair enough； especially to Edward； who promptly
proceeded to 〃grab〃 the armour…man who stood leaning on his shield at the
lady's right hand。 A dainty and delicate armour…man this！ And I confess；
though I knew it was all right and fair and orderly； I felt a slight pang
when he passed out of my reach into Edward's possession。 His armour
was just the sort I wanted myself scalloped and fluted and shimmering
and spotless； and； though he was but a boy by his beardless face and
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golden hair； the shattered spear…shaft in his grasp proclaimed him a
genuine fighter and fresh from some such agreeable work。 Yes； I
grudged Edward the armour…man； and when he said I could have the
fellow on the other side； I hung back and said I'd think about it。
This fellow had no armour nor weapons； but wore a plain jerkin with a
leather poucha mere civilianand with one hand he pointed to a wound
in his thigh。 I didn't care about him； and when Harold eagerly put in his
claim I gave way and let him have the man。 The cause of Harold's
anxiety only came out later。 It was the wound he coveted； it seemed。
He wanted to have a big； sore wound of his very own； and go about and
show it to people； and excite their envy or win their respect。 Charlotte
was only too pleased to take the child…angel seated at the lady's feet；
grappling with a musical instrument much too big for her。 Charlotte
wanted wings badly； and； next to those； a guitar or a banjo。 The angel；
besides； wore an amber necklace； which took her fancy immensely。
This left the picture allotted； with the exception of two or three more
angels； who peeped or perched behind the main figures with a certain
subdued drollery in their faces； as if the thing had gone on long enough；
and it was now time to upset something or kick up a row of some sort。
We knew these good folk to be saints and angels； because we had been
told they were； otherwise we should never have guessed it。 Angels； as
we knew them in our Sunday books； were vapid； colourless； uninteresting
characters； with straight up…and…down sort of figures； white nightgowns；
white wings； and the same straight yellow hair parted in the middle。
They were serious； even melancholy； and we had no desire to have any
traffic with them。 These bright bejewelled little persons； however；
piquant of face and radiant of feather； were evidently hatched from quite a
different egg； and we felt we might have interests in common with them。
Short…nosed； shock headed； with mouths that went up at the corners and
with an evident disregard for all their fine clothes； they would be the best
of good company； we felt sure； if only we could manage to get at them。
One doubt alone disturbed my mind。 In games requiring agility； those
wings of theirs would give them a tremendous pull。 Could they be
trusted to play fair？ I asked Selina； who replied scornfully that angels
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ALWAYS played fair。 But I went back and had another look at the
brown…faced one peeping over the back of the lady's chair； and still I had
my doubts。
When Edward went off to school a great deal of adjustment and re…
allotment took place； and all the heroes of illustrated literature were at my
call； did I choose to possess them。 In this particular case； however； I
made no haste to seize upon the armour…man。 Perhaps it was because I
wanted a FRESH saint of my own； not a stale saint that Edward had been
for so long a time。 Perhaps it was rather that； ever since I had elected to
be saintless； I had got into the habit of strolling off into the background；
and amusing myself with what I found there。
A very fascinating background it was； and held a great deal； though so
tiny。 Meadow…land came first； set with flowers； blue and red； like gems。
Then a white road ran； with wilful； uncalled…for loops； up a steep； conical
hill； crowned with towers； bastioned walls； and
