diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:33:06 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:33:06 -0700 |
| commit | 49597d60e540e8fc03d8eff69e374aa302595099 (patch) | |
| tree | 37d7cefe9d8649f946a41d3bda339154cfd6b3c7 | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26869-8.txt | 8110 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26869-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 133618 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26869.txt | 8110 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26869.zip | bin | 0 -> 133584 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
7 files changed, 16236 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/26869-8.txt b/26869-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fdaa5c8 --- /dev/null +++ b/26869-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8110 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tale of Lal, by Raymond Paton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Tale of Lal + A Fantasy + +Author: Raymond Paton + +Release Date: October 10, 2008 [EBook #26869] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF LAL *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + +THE TALE OF LAL + +_A FANTASY_ + + +BY + +RAYMOND PATON + +AUTHOR OF "THE DRUMMER OF THE DAWN" + + + + + BRENTANO'S CHAPMAN & HALL LTD. + NEW YORK LONDON + +1914 + + + + +AN EXPLANATION AND AN APOLOGY + +Upon behalf of Ridgwell and Christine the author has been urged to +explain that three things--facts, common-sense, and probability--have +of necessity been throughout entirely omitted in relating this story. +The children, however, have comforted the author by declaring that +these particular things are not required at all in any book of the +present day, but are merely an old-fashioned survival of the past, +which is gradually dying out. + +One of the sole remaining examples we possess of fact, common-sense, +and probability being the celebration of the 5th of November, which has +somehow become a day of national thanksgiving, and is without doubt one +of the most important dates in the calendar, and very dear to the +hearts of the English people. + + + + +A PREFACE + +The aspect of Trafalgar Square, like everything else in the world, +depends largely upon how it is viewed, and through whose eyes it is +seen. + +A Japanese artist, for instance, visiting London, immediately selected +Trafalgar Square seen by night-time as a subject for a picture. He +thoughtfully omitted any suggestion of either omnibuses, taxi-cabs, or +the populace. + +He likewise decided that all the statues were most unpicturesque, and +the varied and flashing electric advertisements to be seen hung up on +high around the Square were not only hideous but impossible. + +Consequently this imaginative being flung upon his canvas a mysterious +blue space, void of anything save the brilliantly coloured lanterns of +his own land, swung upon bamboo poles, trembling in the darkness at +picturesquely convenient distances. The effect was quite beautiful, +but of course it could not in any way be considered as a reasonable +likeness of this particular Square. + +A French artist also selecting this portion of London for a picture, +determined at once that it would be more becoming, not to say +diplomatic, to paint only one end of the low stone wall surrounding the +Square; yet entertaining doubts afterwards that it might not perhaps be +recognised, he added the central stone cupola of the National Gallery, +appearing over all like a hastily bestowed blessing, but covered the +remaining space upon his canvas with imaginary stalls of glowing +flowers, and even more imaginary flower-sellers. His picture was +greatly admired, and very much resembled the Market Square in Havre +upon a Monday morning. + +A Spanish artist chancing to pass the same way, likewise hastily +completed a picture of Trafalgar Square as he wished to see it, adding +by way of a decorative effect a lattice-work of trellised vines like +unto his beloved vineyards of Andalusia. Dwarf oranges grew in +profusion and hung their coloured golden globes over the squat stone +walls. A brilliant Southern sun beat upon both, baking the walls +red-hot and ripening the oranges at one and the same time. This +picture the artist named Trafalgar Square when the Sun Shines. + +A Cubist painter, not to be outdone with regard to his point of view of +such a subject, covered an immense canvas with wonderful heaving +squares of ochre and green, viewed from a background suggesting endless +mud. This suggestion, however, may have been in the nature of a small +tribute to the usual condition of the London streets. This production +which the Cubist artist was optimistic enough to name simply Trafalgar +Square, was instantly bought by a famous geologist, who to this day +indulges in the beautiful belief that he possesses the only indication +of what this particular portion of the world was like before ever the +earth was made. + +Last of all arrived a Futurist painter, who painted _everything_ in +Trafalgar Square, and nothing that did _not_ appear in it. The +painter, however, selected a really wonderful aspect of the Square, +seen from a most strange angle, a sort of bird's-eye view of it, which +could only have been obtained from a balloon. So remarkable was the +perspective that the entire Square, as seen in the picture, appeared as +if it were being gradually drawn sideways up to Heaven. The great +Nelson column and all the four lions could be viewed simultaneously, +and the artist had painted _all the four lions alike_. + +Now a Writer whose chambers overlooked Trafalgar Square, and who was +acquainted with its every aspect, by night as well as day, knew full +well that the Futurist artist was wrong when he painted all the four +lions _alike_. The Writer knew that one Lion was totally different +from all the others; so the Writer smiled and kept his own counsel. + +I will wait, said the Writer, until somebody else has made the same +discovery that I have made. I will remain completely silent concerning +one square patch of fairyland placed within the very hub and centre of +the Universe, within the busiest part of a great city. When some other +traveller finds the key to the mystic place, we shall both discover it +is possible to talk about something which nobody else understands, and +be enabled to compare notes. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAP. + + AN EXPLANATION AND AN APOLOGY + A PREFACE + + +BOOK I + +WHAT RIDGWELL AND CHRISTINE DECLARED + + I THE PLEASANT-FACED LION + II BY ORDER OF THE LION + III THE GOLDEN PAVILION + IV PREPARING FOR A VISITOR + + +BOOK II + +WHAT THE WRITER AND THE LORD MAYOR DECLARED + + V THE WRITER APPEARS ON THE SCENE + VI TWO DICK WHITTINGTONS + VII THE LION MAKES HIS SIGN + VIII AN UPSETTING ARTICLE IN THE MORNING PAPER + IX THE WRITER PLANS WICKED PLANS + + +BOOK III + +WHAT THE PUBLIC HEARD ABOUT + + X THE LION GOES TO COURT + XI THE END OF THE MATTER + + + + +BOOK I + +WHAT RIDGWELL AND CHRISTINE DECLARED + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE PLEASANT-FACED LION + +Ridgwell always told Christine afterwards that he thought the Lion +first spoke to him in Trafalgar Square, the day when he was lost in the +fog. + +Ridgwell never knew how he became separated from the rest, but like all +other unpleasant experiences it was one step, so to speak, and there he +was, wandering about lost. The fog appeared to have swallowed up the +friends he had been walking with a moment before; he could only hear +voices as if people were talking through a gramophone, and see looming +black shadows which did not seem to be accompanied by any bodies; then +whack--he walked right into something big which did not move. At this +point Ridgwell was seriously thinking about commencing to cry. + +"Stop that," said a gruff voice. + +"What?" faltered Ridgwell. + +"Going to cry." + +"I am not sure," said Ridgwell, "that I was." + +"I am," said the gruff voice. "I saw the corners of your mouth go +down. Now can you climb up? No, of course you can't, you are too +small. Here, catch hold of my paw! There you are!" grunted the Lion, +when Ridgwell was seated safely. "You just fit nicely; all the +children fit in here. Knock those rolled-up policemen's capes off, +they annoy me every day when they put them there. They tickle me, and +I can't scratch about with my paws either." + +Ridgwell was now lost in amazement, and regarded the Lion in +open-mouthed astonishment. + +The Lion purred contentedly. It was a nice homely sounding, domestic +purr, and many times deeper and more impressive than that of a cat. +"What's your name?" demanded the Lion, whilst Ridgwell was still +gasping. + +"Ridgwell." + +"Very appropriate too," said the Lion. "Here you are sitting in safety +on the Ridge with me, and you are Well, aren't you?" + +"Yes, thank you." + +"There you are then," said the Lion. "_Ridge-Well_, what more do you +want? Now I suppose you wish to know who I am? Well, I don't mind +telling you. I am the Pleasant-Faced Lion. I am the only real Lion of +the four, consequently I have a more intelligent expression than the +others. The other three are only just common lions, and are always +asleep. Now _I_ come to life once in every generation and have a talk +to the children, or to any one grown up who is imaginative enough to +understand me. I like children, they are a hobby of mine. I am not in +my usual spirits to-day," continued the Lion, "I have caught cold." + +"Have you?" said Ridgwell. "I am very sorry." + +"Yes, they washed me for Trafalgar Day in some beastly solution which +was most unsuitable to me. I cannot shake off the cold. Hang on!" +shouted the Lion suddenly, "I am going to sneeze, and I may shake you +off the pedestal." Whereupon the Lion grabbed Ridgwell gently with his +paw to steady him, and after sneezing heavily, proceeded. "After +washing me for Trafalgar Day, which was most unnecessary, they hung a +ridiculous wreath round my neck with a large N in leaves upon it. To +add to the injury, an absurd person stood staring at me and explained +to her children that the N stood for Napoleon. Bah!!!" growled the +Lion. "Bah!!! Ignorance!" + +"What did it stand for?" asked Ridgwell. + +"Nile," grunted the Lion. "Short for Battle of the Nile." + +"But I am so astonished. I did not know that you could talk, Mister +Lion." + +"Oh, for Heaven's sake don't call me Mister Lion, call me Lal." + +"Why Lal?" inquired Ridgwell. + +"Short for Lionel," whispered the Lion. "Lionel is my proper name." + +"Oh, I see, but, Mister----" + +"There you go again," said the Lion. "Call me Lal and be friendly." + +"Indeed I am very friendly, Mister--I mean Lal; but there are so many +things I don't understand." + +"Common complaint of little boys," grumbled the Lion, "and you are +going to see a lot more things in a minute that you will find most +amazing. For instance, would you like to see a tournament?" + +"Rather, Lal, I've always longed to see a tournament, but they never +have such things now, do they? Aren't they all ended in England?" + +"On the contrary," declared the Lion, "one is about to begin." + +"Where?" + +"Here in front of your eyes, and if you like you shall stay and see it. +St. George outside Westminster has challenged the Griffin at Temple Bar +to fight. All the really important Statue folk will be present. King +Richard I from outside the Houses of Parliament will ride up to see +fair play. Charles I. will come over from Whitehall across the road; +Oliver Cromwell will most likely put in an appearance, if he can only +make up his mind to leave his mound outside the Commons in those big +boots of his." + +"But, Lal," questioned Ridgwell, "surely Charles I. and Cromwell won't +come to the Tournament together? Will they speak and be friendly?" + +"No, no," confessed the Lion, "we still have great trouble with those +two, they never speak. You see Cromwell is jealous of Charles, because +Charles is mounted upon a nice horse, and rides past Cromwell and never +notices him at all. Now Cromwell has to go about on foot, squeaking +and squelching in those big boots, so that he never gets up to Charles, +which annoys Cromwell very much." + +"Why?" + +"Well, you see, Cromwell wants to shout out 'Ha!!!' at Charles, and he +never gets a chance. Cromwell gets left out very much in the cold," +continued the Lion, "Richard I. never notices him either." + +"Why is that?" asked Ridgwell. + +"It's like this," said the Lion, "and it's only reasonable when you +come to think of it. Richard I. spent nearly the whole of his time +fighting to preserve a shrine, whilst Cromwell spent most of his time +destroying them. Of course that annoys Richard, so Richard simply +looks through Cromwell whenever they meet. Nothing would induce him to +notice Cromwell." + +"I should think that must annoy Cromwell," debated Ridgwell. + +"It does," agreed the Lion, "but Cromwell always shouts out Ho! at +Richard; he thinks Ho! is more appropriate to Richard's period. +Richard, however, with perfect self-possession which is beyond all +praise, never appears to hear him at all. Cromwell will always keep +turning his head round to stare most rudely at Richard and Charles as +they gallop past, hoping that Richard will hear him shout Ho! and +Charles will hear him shout Ha!, and that irritating habit of his, +together with Charles's treatment of the matter, was probably the +origin of the terms, 'Roundhead' and 'Cavalier.'" + +"Really!" said Ridgwell. + +The Lion coughed slightly. "Not really," said the Lion, "only perhaps." + +"But, Lal, if the statues of London move about and are coming here for +a tournament as you say, won't people miss them?" + +"Good gracious goodness, no," exclaimed the Lion. "Why! the people of +London wouldn't miss them in a year, let alone a few hours! Then +perhaps some person might notice something wasn't in its usual place +and would write to the papers asking what it meant, and the London +County Council would hold an inquiry." + +"But, Lal, will General Gordon, George III. and Nelson take part in the +Tournament?" + +"Bless me, child, how you mix up your history," observed the Lion, "of +course not. They are only moderns, the others are ancients. Two Kings +waiting to see fair play between a Griffin and a Saint who are about to +have a fight, belong to quite another time. George III. and General +Gordon are moved out of the way before the combat starts; and as for +Nelson, he was frozen long ago up there; it is a ridiculous attitude +for so great a man, and a worse altitude, but there he is, and you +cannot alter it; however he is frozen and mercifully doesn't feel +anything or see anything that is going on." + +"But if they are going to fight and charge one another, won't the +fountains be in the way?" inquired Ridgwell anxiously, as he looked up +into the Lion's good-humoured face. + +"If you look again hard," grinned the Lion, "you will find that the +fountains and the stone lakes around them have disappeared." + +Ridgwell immediately looked in the direction the Lion indicated, and +was amazed to find only a big, wide, open space of stone, one of the +largest spaces in London. + +"But how did they----" commenced Ridgwell. + +"Hush!" said the Lion, "you really mustn't chatter any more. Here they +come, and I have to be Judge of the Tournament, also the Referee; and +to be a Referee," sighed the Lion, "is always a thankless task." + +At this moment, amidst a clatter that was indescribable, the Griffin, +looking a most ungainly object, came gallumping into the open space. + +The Griffin appeared to be all wings, and scales, and claws, yet this +somewhat grisly appearance was entirely misleading, for he possessed an +amiable, although foolish disposition, whilst his expression owed much +of its peculiarity to a habit he had acquired of breaking into broad +smiles of astonished self-appreciation. The Griffin was very vain, and +the one thing he craved for was notoriety. + +"Good evening, Lionel; where's George?" demanded the Griffin. "I don't +see him." + +"You'll see quite enough of him before he's finished with you," +retorted the Pleasant-Faced Lion, loftily. "However, here he comes." + +St. George at this moment entered the wide stone space immediately in +front of the Lion, to whom he made a profound salute. + +St. George looked very handsome in his scaly armour, and his short +bright sword glistened blue in the half light. Ridgwell had little +time to notice other details, for two horsemen came galloping in. + +Both were in armour and both were mounted upon beautiful horses. + +"Who are they?" asked Ridgwell. + +"Don't you see?" whispered the Lion. "King Richard I. and King Charles +I. Ah," sighed the Lion, "what a noble figure Richard is! He is my +special favourite; you see," explained the Lion, "he is named after me." + +"Is he?" + +"Of course. Is he not called Richard Coeur-de-Lion? I am de-Lion," +announced the Lion proudly. "He carried a picture of me on his shield +once. You may notice," proceeded the Lion, "that King Charles +unfortunately rides slightly upon one side. It is not his fault, but +owing to the fact that he has no girth to his saddle." + +The horsemen wheeled one to either end of the arena before bringing +their horses to a standstill. + +The two opponents, St. George and the Griffin, stood facing each other +in the centre, waiting for the combat to commence. + +"Before we start," announced the Lion, "I am the Judge. There is, of +course, to be no bloodshed; indeed," he added, in his wisest and most +judicial manner, "bloodshed is impossible. The Griffin is almost +over-protected (if I can use such a term) with scales, St. George is +fully covered with armour. The Griffin possesses his remarkable claws, +St. George a flat sword, so both are well matched. Therefore the +contest resolves itself into a trial of skill and strength. Both shall +be weighed in the scales." + +"He! he! he!" sniggered the Griffin, "if my scales cannot crush the +scales of George's blatant armour may I live to bite my own nails. +Why, I will squash him as flat as an empty meat tin." + +"Swank," murmured St. George, nonchalantly. + +"The reason of the contest," continued the Lion in a loud voice, as if +he were reading from some document which he had committed to memory, +"is owing to a ridiculous assertion made by the Griffin. The Griffin +claims to be the older established of the two. St. George laughs at +this claim derisively. The Griffin sorely provoked to it, +unfortunately fell back upon dates, and his memory being very weak he +hoped to conceal his shakiness about dates, with phrases. He therefore +declared that Temple Bar where he now stands, once possessed two gates +which have since been removed. Nevertheless the Griffin contends that +he is still there and Temple Bar is still there; in this he is +undoubtedly right; yet, not content with this, he further asserts that +this is the whole cause and origin of the phrase, 'Two to one, Bar +one.' St. George here present, who knows something about horses, +immediately called him a--well, it is not a nice word," broke off the +Lion in parenthesis, "anyway St. George intimated that the truth was +not in the Griffin. Hence a trial by combat. Are you ready?" roared +the Lion; "then commence." + +From his quite comfortable seat between the Lion's paws, Ridgwell now +watched the strangest combat he would ever be likely to witness. + +The Griffin advanced towards St. George with about as much grace as a +dancing camel would possess. His excessive angularity was accentuated +by his extraordinary clumsiness. St. George did not appear at all +disconcerted by the flapping of the Griffin's wings, but managed to +avoid his clumsy clutches with great skill. Had St. George not slipped +upon a piece of orange-peel, inadvertently left upon the floor of the +arena, it is doubtful if the Griffin would ever have touched him. As +St. George slipped, the Griffin hugged him tightly. Ridgwell held his +breath, for it almost seemed as if St. George's armour must indeed +crumple up. + +"Meat tins," shrieked the Griffin. + +"Break away," commanded the Lion. + +"Here, I say," snorted the Griffin, "I'd only just got him." + +"Break away," ordered the Lion, "no hugging." + +The Griffin retired to his corner pouting. + +When the second bout started, Ridgwell noticed that there was something +like a smile upon St. George's face, and he soon understood the reason +of it. St. George had found out his adversary's weak spot. + +The Griffin advancing with a rush upon his hind legs, with his front +claws doubled up reaching high over St. George to pull him down, was +brought to a sudden standstill. + +There was a rapid sound of "Whack! whack! whack! whack!" four times. + +St. George had hit the Griffin with the flat of his sword upon the most +tender part of the Griffin's claws. The Griffin's mouth trembled. + +"Whack! whack! whack! whack!" came four more swashing blows, whilst the +Griffin hesitated. Then the Griffin broke down completely, and wept +aloud bitterly. + +"He's broken my knuckles," sobbed the Griffin. + +"Do you give in?" asked the Lion. + +"Oh yes," sobbed the Griffin. "Oh! my poor paws." + +"Shall he chase you round the arena?" demanded the Lion. + +"No," whimpered the Griffin; "I'll go home quietly." + +Thereupon King Richard raised his sword and saluted to indicate that +the fight was over, and followed by King Charles, who still swerved +slightly to one side in his saddle, the two Kings rode out of the +Square. + +"Shake hands?" asked St. George of the Griffin, before he departed. + +The Griffin shook his head dolefully instead, whilst great tears +coursed down his cheeks. + +"Oh no," sniffed the Griffin, "I don't think I shall ever shake hands +again." + +When everybody had gone, the Griffin slowly hobbled to his feet, and +moving towards home, half sobbed and half sang in a way that was +intensely comic-- + + "Oh! Temple Bar, Oh! Temple Bar, + With broken knuckles you seem so far. + And all my claws are broken too; + Oh! Temple Bar, what shall I do? + To _hit_ me with a sword held flat, + 'Twas grim of George to think of that." + + +"Now you have seen the tournament," observed the Lion to Ridgwell, "I +suppose you will have to get home somehow." + +"Yes, please, Lal." + +"And of course," said the Pleasant-Faced Lion, "you will want to come +again." + +"Rather," laughed Ridgwell. + +"Well, to-morrow night there is a very different sort of entertainment. +I and the Statue folk are going to give an evening party, the grandest +you have ever seen, or will ever be likely to see." + +"Oh, Lal, can I come and bring Christine?" + +"Who is Christine?" inquired the Lion, cautiously; "you know we cannot +admit everybody." + +"Christine is my little sister. At least," added Ridgwell, "Christine +is older than I am, but she is little all the same." + +"I see." + +"And she would so enjoy it, Lal," pleaded Ridgwell. + +"Very well," said the Lion, "both come just this once. Now for home. +Come," commanded the Lion, "jump up. I learned that common expression +from the people who every moment of the day mount upon the horrid Buzz, +Buzz, things." + +"Don't you like the Motor Omnibuses then?" + +"The Buzz Buzzes you mean, child. No, I dislike them intensely, they +make such a noise both day and night that I cannot hear myself purr +even. Jump up. Where do you want to go to?" + +"To Balham, please, Lal." + +"Ah, that's the man with the Ass, isn't it?" demanded the Lion. + +For a moment Ridgwell looked quite shocked. "Oh no, Lal, you are +thinking of Balaam." + +"Spelt the same way," snapped the Lion, who did not like being +corrected upon historical matters. + +"No, Lal, there is an H in Balham and people never drop it." + +"Glad to hear it," grunted the Lion. "I only wish the people who +collect the pennies from the passengers upon the Buzz Buzz things would +say the same. Day by day," added the Lion in an aggrieved tone, "I +hear them shout out the expressions--'Olloway, 'Igate, 'Arrow. The +Board Schools," continued the Lion in his wisest tones, "are +responsible for a most imperfect system of education." + +"But, Lal," pleaded Ridgwell, "you will take me to Balham, won't you? +I do not know how I should get home if you didn't take me there." + +"Yes," said the Lion, "of course, I shall take you home, but you +mustn't come to see me too often, you know, it's outside the four-mile +radius. However," concluded the Lion, "I shall follow the tram lines. +Jump up," once more commanded the Lion, "and hang on, because you know +I go at a good pace when once started." + +Whereupon Ridgwell clambered upon the Pleasant-Faced Lion's back, and +convulsively hugging him half round his great neck, buried his head in +the Lion's mane and shut his eyes, whilst the Lion took a bold jump +from off his pedestal, and started in a brisk trot for Balham. + +When they had arrived at their destination outside Ridgwell's home, the +Lion stood in the road and wagged his tail contentedly. + +"Thank you for bringing me home, Lal," said Ridgwell as he clambered +off the Lion's back. + +"Good-night," whispered the Lion hoarsely, for after his long run he +was almost out of breath. "Mind you close the hall door safely after +you." + +The Pleasant-Faced Lion, who appeared to be pleased at having brought +his little charge home, stood in the road and purred quite loudly for +some time. + +But none of the neighbours, who heard the deep sound echoing through +the quiet road, thought of looking out of the window. They merely +believed the sound proceeded from some powerful motor car which had +stopped in the vicinity. + +Then the Pleasant-Faced Lion jogged home to his pedestal in Trafalgar +Square, well pleased with his night's work. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +BY ORDER OF THE LION + +"Hullo, Lal!" said Ridgwell, as he looked up at the Lion the following +evening. + +"Hullo!" rejoined the Lion huskily. "Who is that you have brought with +you?" + +"This is Christine," said Ridgwell. + +"How do you do?" said the Pleasant-Faced Lion, and he seemed to look +even more pleasant than usual. The Lion stretched himself, descended +from his pedestal, and held out his paw to shake hands with Christine: +Christine responded to these greetings shyly. + +Ridgwell really thought the Lion was one of the most amiable creatures +he had ever met. + +"If you do not mind," the Lion observed to Christine, "you might walk +upon the other side of Ridgwell and not next to me." + +"Oh, Lal, why?" asked Christine. + +"Who asked Christine to call me Lal?" inquired the Lion, as he lifted +his head up with an intensely comical air of self-importance. + +"I did," said Ridgwell; "you told me always to call you Lal." + +"Quite right," replied the Lion. "But do you always do exactly alike, +you two?" + +"Yes, always," said Ridgwell. + +"Humph!" grunted the Lion. "Suppose there is only one apple and you +both want it, what happens?" + +"We exactly divide it," said Ridgwell. + +"Mathematically correct," said the Lion. "Good." + +"But please why can't I walk next to you, _Mister_ Lion?" + +"Ha!" shrieked the Lion, "there she goes, Mister Lion. You taught her +that too, I suppose." + +"Hush, Lal," said Ridgwell, "don't get excited. Christine will soon +get out of the habit and call you Lal, directly she knows how pleasant +you are." + +"You haven't answered my question, Lal," objected Christine. + +"Well, little Christine, it is like this," and the Lion pondered deeply +for awhile. "If you walked _next_ to me and rested your hand upon my +mane as you are doing now, anybody who saw us might take us for Una and +the Lion, otherwise Beauty and the Beast, and oh! my dear child," +implored the Lion, "you surely could not wish me ever to be called a +_beast_." + +"Of course not," said Christine; "we wouldn't hurt your feelings for +worlds. So, Ridgie, you walk next to Lal, and I will walk the other +side of you." + +"A most reasonable child," muttered the Lion, "really quite reasonable." + +"Did you bring the sulphur tablets?" asked the Lion mysteriously. + +"Yes, here they are. Christine has them wrapped up in a packet," +explained Ridgwell; "but, Lal, what can you want with sulphur tablets? +You promised me we should both be asked to the party, but sulphur +tablets do seem such an odd thing to want as a start. I have thought +over it, and Christine has thought over it, and we cannot really think +what they can be for." + +The Lion chuckled his most pleasant chuckle. + +"Give it up?" + +"Yes," nodded Ridgwell. + +"So would any one else," grinned the Lion, "except me. Have you ever +thought how the thick yellow London fogs come?" inquired the Lion +insinuatingly. "Do you know what causes them?" + +"No," said Ridgwell. "I don't think anybody knows that." + +"I do," replied the Lion. + +"What causes them, then?" asked Ridgwell. + +"The yellow fogs are caused solely by the habit the other three lions +have of sucking sulphur tablets whilst they are asleep," declared the +Lion. "They are always sleeping, and directly two sulphur tablets are +placed in the corner of each one's mouth they go on sleeping and +breathing, sleeping and breathing. The result is a thick yellow fog." + +"I never knew that was the cause of London fogs," mused Ridgwell. + +"One of them," sighed the Lion; "and who can wonder at it? Just look +at the size of their mouths." + +"But your mouth is as large as theirs, is it not?" debated Christine. + +"Yes," said the Lion, "but there is a particular reason for my mouth +being large." + +"Why?" asked the children. + +"On account of all the wisdom I utter," replied the Lion loftily. + +"Anyway," said Ridgwell, "it does seem a horrid preparation for a party +to start with a fog. Surely nobody would see what was going on." + +"Hush, hush, my children," remonstrated the Pleasant-Faced Lion. "Just +gather round and listen, and do not interrupt. You will be amazed at +all the things you are about to see and hear, for you are going to be +present to-night for a few minutes at the most wonderful party ever +given in the whole world." + +"That will be lovely," said Ridgwell and Christine. "And oh! Lal, +really we have looked forward to it so much." + +The Lion patted each of the children in turn affectionately upon the +head with its paw, and they remembered afterwards that his paw was as +soft as velvet, and really wasn't heavy at all. + +"Chatter, chatter, chatter," said the Lion, "just like the magpies and +the sparrows, and the fashionable Society people for that matter, but +you must not interrupt. I am just like one of those guides that do all +the talking, and if I am interrupted I lose my place, get all my +thoughts out of order, and all the ceremony will be wrong. Then King +Richard and King Charles will both be down upon me, and say the party +was rotten, and that I was to blame; and as for Boadicea, she has a +nasty temper, and will probably hit me over the head with her reins." + +"Oh, Lal, do you mean to say that King Richard and King Charles and +Boadicea are coming to the party?" + +"Yes, all of them," grunted the Lion. "Now be quiet, and just listen. +The sulphur tablets which seem to cause you so much mystification are +simply to cause a fog upon the _outside_ of Trafalgar Square, and to +shut out the sight of the most wonderful party in the world from the +gaze of all the other people who have not been invited to it. Imagine +the millions of people who would flock to see such a sight, if it were +not screened off. Drivers of the Buzz Buzz things they call +motor-buses and taxis, loafers, tramps, idlers, City men, work-girls, +curious women--and, by the way, remember that women are always +curious--would flock in millions, attracted by the lovely lights, which +will be brighter than anything you have ever seen, by the jewels, which +will be more dazzling than anything you have ever dreamed of, to say +nothing about the gorgeous costumes that will rival anything displayed +upon the Field of the Cloth of Gold, outdo the splendours of any court, +and put the pageant of the grandest pantomime ever witnessed to shame. +Follow me," commanded the Lion, "and you will see what you will see +only once in your lives, and it all begins with the sulphur tablets." + +Ridgwell and Christine followed, and were dumb with amazement. The +Lion gently took the packet of sulphur tablets from Christine and +thanked her for providing them. Gingerly he approached each of the +other three sleeping lions in turn and insinuatingly placed two in the +mouth of each lion; one tablet each side between each lion's big front +teeth and its tongue. + +"It's a dreadful habit," said the Pleasant-Faced Lion, "to suck sulphur +tablets in your sleep, but I suppose it's soothing. Now watch," +observed Lal maliciously. "Sleeping and breathing, sleeping and +breathing, the sulphur tablets will soon commence to work." + +Slowly as they watched, thick jets of yellow vapour commenced to rise +upward and all around. + +"Come," whispered Lal, "the thick fog stops like a wall at the back of +their pedestals and all round Trafalgar Square. As I told you," +chuckled the Lion, "the fog is only upon the _outside_ of where the +party will take place." + +He now quickly drew the children out of the fog inside the immense +charmed circle of Trafalgar Square, where the atmosphere was quite +clear, but as yet quite dark. + +The Lion lifted up his head and gave a most piercing and peculiar +whistle; once, twice, three times and yet a fourth he repeated this +signal. + +The signal was answered in a curious manner. The whole space commenced +to vibrate with a strange humming sound which resembled violins, +violoncellos, flageolets and flutes being played upon very faintly. +The sounds were so weirdly fascinating that any one might have imagined +it proceeded from a little group of Eastern musicians playing upon +reeds in order to charm some snake to uncoil and become sociable after +a lengthy seclusion in its wicker-work basket. + +"What is that music?" asked Ridgwell. + +"The eight Dolphins of the fountains are humming happily. They are +waiting to carry out my commands," answered the Lion. + +Once again the Lion whistled four times. + +Ridgwell and Christine, who were listening intently, could hear the +scurrying of flying feet racing along. The sound drew nearer and +nearer, until several dark forms were jostling each other immediately +in front of where they stood, and they could feel the warm breath of +some living things upon their hands. Suddenly in the darkness there +was a chorus of hoarse laughter. + +Ridgwell and Christine started slightly. + +"Are they spirits?" inquired Ridgwell, with a note of anxiety in his +voice. + +"No," vouchsafed the Lion, "only the four merry laughing little Lions +from outside Westminster Abbey. They are the most ridiculous creatures +in all London. + +"Stop laughing," commanded the Lion. + +"Hear me, Gamble, Grin, Grub, and Carry-on-Merry, and hearken +attentively. + +"Carry-on-Merry, have you all stopped laughing?" demanded the Lion. + +"Yes, mighty Lal, we are simply grinning at present, which is as near +to being serious as we can ever become. We are only waiting for your +commands." + +The Lion lifted up his mighty head and called, "Silence, Dolphins." + +Immediately the curious sounds of humming ceased. + +"The party I give is to be the most beautiful in the world, displaying +wonders such as no Emperor can procure. Each of the Four Seasons shall +appear before us, perfect in every way, to be followed by the Pavilion +of Gold." + +"It shall be done, O Lal." + +"My guests will be all the stray children of London. Call them from +every street and court, from out every by-way, alley, and lane." + +"They are all here waiting, O Lal." + +"Good. Also gather together all the lost and stray dogs of London, +every single one who is wandering about to-night." + +"They have all been summoned, O Lal." + +"The Royalty present will include Queen Boadicea, King Richard I., King +Charles I., and St. George." + +"Each has received a royal invitation, O Lal, and the Royal personages +will all be pleased to attend." + +"Each boy and girl is to be dressed in the most costly costume, +according to their taste." + +"All is prepared for them, Lal, and even as you desire, great splendour +awaits them, and nothing will be lacking for their perfect enjoyment." + +"Good; see that all is well done, and be ready to begin when I give the +signal. You understand?" + +"We understand," laughed the four merry Lions. + +"We obey," squeaked the Dolphins. + +"Only one thing remains to be done, to dress you, Ridgwell, and you, +Christine." + +"What shall we be dressed in?" inquired Christine. + +"Shut your eyes," said the Lion gently, "and stretch your hands over +the lake of the fountain and take what the Dolphins give you. They +know what you want, and their taste in such matters is exquisite." + +The children shut their eyes and obeyed. The Lion leant over the rim +of the lake and whispered to the Dolphins-- + +"Dress the boy like a prince, and the girl like a little queen. The +richest stuff, mind, five guineas a yard. Give her a crown of the +whitest daisies with shell pink petal tips for a crown. No jewels, no +pearls, no, no. + + Take, oh take the pearls away, + For they bring tears, the wise men say. + +chanted the Lion in his rich double bass. "Give them both jewelled +shoe buckles; give the boy jewelled levée buttons for his satin +breeches, a plain gold circlet for his head. A train for the girl from +her shoulders, of pure cloth of gold; bring it light, so that it does +not weigh heavily. White satin for the boy, with richest figured +velvet doublet set with cloth of gold. Hang round their necks now, +with all its luminous jewels, the highest order in the world, the Order +of Great Imagination," commanded the Lion, "For by the Order of Great +Imagination they shall see things that no one else can see, they shall +be able to listen to things that no one else shall be able to hear. +They shall delight in the exquisiteness of things as no one else can +delight in them, who has not received this order. For I declare to you +all that a child who has this glittering order shall know of things +that nobody else in the whole world shall know of. Everything is +ready." + +"Let us have Spring," commanded the Lion. + +Immediately the words were uttered there came the soft beating of +birds' wings over Ridgwell's head. The atmosphere instantly became +fragrant with the myriad scents of wild flowers. + +A mist seemed to swim for a second before their eyes, and, as it +cleared away, they were standing together with many other children +knee-deep in unending banks of bluebells and primroses. + +They were in the midst of the most perfect wooded dell they had ever +beheld. + +Thousands of delicate flower-stems thrust their tiny spears from earth +and emerald moss, blossoming with flowers before their wondering eyes. + +The spiral hedges slowly shook out dappled clusters of white hawthorn. + +The interlaced trees above them, amidst which all the birds in +Christendom appeared to be carolling simultaneously, gently outspread +friendly arms, overladen with powdered red and white may blossom. + +Butterflies with gaily painted wings hovered tenderly overhead, and +tiny silver thistledown balls sailed across the blue sky spaces, like +little wayward balloons without anybody in charge of them. + +"You can all pick as many flowers as you like," suggested the Lion. +"Flowers were meant for the children to pick, so make yourselves +nosegays, garlands, and crowns galore. There are no notices _here_ to +keep off the grass. You can also chase the butterflies if you like, +but I warn you that you will never catch them. As a matter of fact +that is the one thing I don't permit. Any butterfly with really nice +feelings objects most decidedly when a pin is run through its body, as +much as a happy fish hates to be caught upon a hook. I sympathise with +both of them, and consider such practices ought to be stopped." + +Ridgwell, well-nigh immersed in a bank of bluebells, listened in a +semi-enchanted condition to the Lion's words of wisdom, and watched the +brilliant-coloured butterflies chasing each other in the pearly spaces +above him. + +Christine, grasping a great yellow bunch of primroses in each hand, +ceased picking flowers and watched the bright-eyed squirrels and +rabbits gambolling everywhere around. + +"Ridgie, have you noticed all the rabbits and squirrels are quite tame?" + +"Of course they're tame," agreed the Lion, "Nobody here to hurt them; +why, they will come and eat out of your hand." + +"Why is that?" asked Ridgwell. + +"No guns or traps," chuckled the Lion. "Any animal respectably brought +up is indignant at the very thought of a gun or a trap; consequently +they keep themselves to themselves, and seldom go out into society." + +Ridgwell's gaze roamed over the lovely spring landscape, and rested +upon the masses of flowers the other children were picking. + +"Everything here is just as it ought to be, isn't it, Lal?" + +"Every single thing," answered the Lion. "But it is going to change, +you know, almost directly." + +"Change?" echoed Ridgwell. "Why, Lal?" + +The Pleasant-Faced Lion chuckled softly, and lifting his head, called +out, "Summer." + +Immediately the Lion said "Summer," everything around commenced to +alter most strangely. + +Banks of primroses became stretches of sparkling golden sands, and the +great masses of bluebells, after swaying once or twice, dissolved +themselves into the misty rippling waves of a summer sea. + +Christine and Ridgwell, looking hopelessly perplexed, found they were +each in a tiny boat with a pearly sail, skimming over shallow blue +waters that sparkled like sapphires. + +The sky over their heads had changed to the burning blue of a summer +day. The air was filled with the sweet salt spray of the sea, which +descended in delicious showers upon all of them. + +"Have all the children got boats?" demanded the Lion. + +"All," shrilled the Dolphins. "Their boats can't upset, Lal, and the +waters are transparent, and shallow enough for them to fish up coloured +shells, coral, and mother-of-pearl. There's a sunken treasure-ship +half buried in the sands far upon the other side, Lal, if they sail for +it." + +"They'll all make for that safe enough," answered the Lion. "Push +their boats off, Dolphins, and help them all to land upon the far +shore." + +The Dolphins, splashing the water into little white frothy waves, +accompanied the little bobbing fleet of pearl-boats, and sang gaily as +they swam alongside. + + "Blue and gold on the summer sea, + Each little mast with a sail of pearl, + Each dipping boat holds a boy or girl, + A most enchanting argosy. + A ship one's longed for most perhaps + That cannot anyhow collapse. + + We'll sail away to the golden strand, + And maybe discover No Man's Land; + Each one of us will get a peep + Into the wonders of the deep, + Dredging for shells of brilliant hue, + And discovering mermaids too. + + Sing ho! for a galleon of Spanish gold, + With jewels and ivory in the hold. + What treasure we'll find upon the main! + What triumph when we sail home again! + The wonder of every lad and lass + Will be the booty we amass." + + +After a short but entrancing voyage, and even whilst Ridgwell and +Christine stood with the other children waist-deep in the great carven +hold of the sunken Spanish galleon, shovelling out golden doubloons and +precious jewels, the sound of Lal's voice came across the water to them. + +"Autumn, ahoy!" shouted Lal. + + * * * * * + +"Isn't it bewildering, Chris?" lamented Ridgwell. "Only a second ago +we were enthroned in a castle of golden coins and precious stones, and +now, without any sort of warning whatever, we are standing upon the top +of a waggon-load of newly-mown hay." + +"Yes, Ridgie, and look at Lal across there, laughing about it like +anything." + +"He certainly does play tricks with us, Chris. See, he is sending all +the children racing across to draw our hay-cart with those ropes of +acorns and leaves they are holding. Hullo!" broke off Ridgwell, +"somebody is throwing things at me, and if they continue doing it I +shall jolly well start throwing back again." + +Christine looked up from the stack of loose hay surrounding her in the +cart upon which they stood. + +"Why, it's apples," announced Christine. + +"Where?" inquired her brother. + +"Look, Ridgie, overhead, hundreds of them hanging from every tree. We +can reach them quite easily." + +There could be no doubt about the matter. Rosy apples ripened by the +sun dangled in clusters overhead, and gently fell down at the very +moment when any one felt disposed to eat them. + +Within easy reach grew trailing brambles smothered with ripened patches +of fragrant blackberries. + +The Pleasant-Faced Lion lifted up his voice and inquired if the company +present desired anything better, at the season they were now passing +through, than unlimited apples, blackberries, and hay. + +"No," came a simultaneous chorus from all the children. + +"Good," replied the Lion. "After you have all eaten as many apples and +blackberries as you want, the battle of the new-mown hay will start. I +shall be the umpire. If Ridgwell and Christine can throw enough hay +from their big cart to bury all the children around them, they will +have won. If the other children can throw up enough hay to completely +smother the cart, Ridgwell and Christine will have lost. Now start," +laughed the Lion. + +"Look here, Chris, we must get to work, so here goes." + +Whereupon Ridgwell seized a big armful of loose hay and awaited the +attack. + +"We have the advantage of height," observed Christine, as she hastily +gathered as much hay as she could hold, "and you know, Ridgie, it is +much easier for us to throw down than it is for them to throw up." + +"How about numbers?" objected Ridgwell; "why, it's two against +hundreds, Chris." + +Then the battle commenced. That engagement was a memorable one amidst +the scented hay. Not infrequently it happened that only a laughing +eye, or the tip of a small nose was anywhere visible to show who might +be the victor. Nobody will ever be quite sure who won, and it is +doubtful if the point was ever decided. + +Ridgwell, feeling very smothered up, was remarking to Christine in +muffled tones that he thought they must have lost, when the voice of +Lal announced "Winter." + +"Don't you feel buried, Chris?" + +"Yes," came the unexpected reply, "I am. I'm simply buried in furs and +snow!" + +"Furs and snow?" repeated Ridgwell incredulously. "What on earth do +you mean, Chris? Oh, good gracious, Chris, I've got an extraordinary +feeling I'm falling over a sort of precipice." + +"So we are," rejoined Christine philosophically. "Don't you see, +Ridgie, that Lal has changed everything again. We are on a toboggan +sleigh, and just starting down no end of a steep hill." + +Ridgwell rubbed the finely powdered snow out of his eyes. + +An entrancing winter scene lay below them. Giant blue-green pine-trees +were dotted about over the glistening snow which flashed with a million +diamond sparkles. All the children were clad in beautiful furs. + +Some of them were sliding and skating, others snowballing and tumbling +in the snow. + +"Hang on, Ridgwell and Christine," shouted the Lion, "your toboggan has +started at a pretty good pace. Hold tight." + +Ridgwell and Christine shut their eyes, and as neither of them had any +breath during that wild descent, they could only compare notes +afterwards as to the amazing sensations they experienced during these +moments. + +When the toboggan had finally brought itself to a standstill Ridgwell +extricated himself and viewed the snow-powdered spaces in front of them +a trifle apprehensively. Bounding along towards them raced a pack of +animals. Their eyes were glistening and their tongues hanging out. + +"Wolves!" muttered Ridgwell. "Oh! I say, Chris, I don't think I quite +care about meeting wolves. Do you? They don't look very friendly +either, by the way they are coming along." + +"It's the stray dogs," shouted Christine; "and look, Carry-on-Merry is +putting little teams of them into sleighs to draw us along." + +"Sleigh races about to start," called the Lion. "Take your seats, +shake the reins and you will hear the silver bells tinkle. The first +sleigh to reach the farthest pine-trees wins the race. Off you go." + +Away flew the dogs, drawing the children over the powdered snow tracks. + +After the race Carry-on-Merry collected all the children together. + +"I propose a snowball match," grinned Carry-on-Merry. "Gamble, Grin, +Grub, and myself upon one side, against all you children." + +"Ho, ho, ho!" laughed the Pleasant-Faced Lion. "My goodness, what a +beating all you children are going to have. Why, Carry-on-Merry and +his lot can manufacture snowballs as quick as lightning." + +The battle commenced without delay, and it was a terrific conflict. + +Hundreds of little snowballs whizzed through the air. + +"Ha! ha!" laughed the Pleasant-Faced Lion, "the children are +retreating. Carry-on-Merry, Gamble, Grin, and Grub, I believe you are +the champion snowballers of the world. I think myself you must have +acquired the gift from some unusually impish urchins whose methods you +have closely observed round Westminster way. I consider your skill +quite in accordance with the best street traditions." + +The children were eventually snowballed to a standstill, and flinging +away their remaining ammunition rolled themselves over on the snow to +avoid any more of the unerring missiles of Carry-on-Merry and his band. + +"Give in," demanded the Lion pleasantly. + +"Never!" laughed the children. + +"But you're beaten, you know," insisted the Lion. "Carry-on-Merry, you +can take them all prisoners and escort them to the Pavilion of Gold." + +Even whilst the children were tumbling in the snow the atmosphere +became inky black. + +The darkness was not in any way alarming; it had taken place so +gradually that they scarcely noticed it, which only intensified the +marvellous change which was to follow. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE GOLDEN PAVILION + +Christine and Ridgwell never forgot the sight that met their eyes when +the strange transformation took place. It was dazzling in its beauty +and it was some seconds before they could realise the full wonder of +it. The dimness of the light changed to the most exquisite +illuminations imaginable. + +Christine and Ridgwell realised that the party was to take place in a +gorgeous golden pavilion. + +The fountains, which had slid to either end of the pavilion, shot up +brilliant globes of changing light which hovered in the air like tiny +coloured air balls, whilst the tops of the fountains spraying a golden +mist, were echoed again in the lustrous glow of walls and roof. + +From the pearly dome whose outline was only faintly suggested overhead, +and upon every side, hung myriad stacks of flowers, which now and again +fell in fragrant jewelled showers upon the children, just as soon as +each blossom had grown into perfection. + +Upon a golden dais at one end were King Richard and King Charles clad +in glittering silver armour, with Queen Boadicea arrayed in purple, in +the centre; whilst St. George stood beside them in shining golden +splendour. + +Ridgwell and Christine stood beside the Pleasant-Faced Lion upon +another dais immediately facing the royal personages. The Lion was no +longer a dull, copper green hue; his whole body had changed to the +colour of burnished gold and his great mane shone like a sun. + +Forty children dressed in the vermilion and black of Beef-eaters from +the Tower with halberts in their hands, lined the way up the shallow +golden steps to each dais, twenty upon either side. + +The Lion gave his last orders for the ceremony-- + +"Gamble, Grin, Grub, and Carry-on-Merry, sound the Merry Fanfare on +your silver trumpets!" + +The four little lions gaily arrayed in scarlet and gold advanced into +the centre of the great space and executed a remarkable fanfare, which +without being entirely a march, or wholly a waltz, was nevertheless +delightful to listen to. + +Immediately a procession of the most lovely children entered, dressed +in every brilliant costume imaginable. + +The delicious fragrance of the scented golden mist, diffused from the +two fountains, filled the air as the happy and beautiful children, boys +and girls, danced into the pavilion. They all paused to bow to the +Royalty present, and St. George; then they advanced to where Ridgwell +and Christine stood beside the Pleasant-Faced Lion. + +They greeted the Lion as an old acquaintance and blew him kisses as +they passed. + +As they moved along, glittering in costly silks and satins, winding in +and out with the changing colours of a rainbow, Ridgwell spoke to the +Lion-- + +"Lal, Christine and I have never seen so many lovely children before. +Surely these are not the stray ragged children of London? Why, their +faces are the colour of the new roses that are falling everywhere about +us, and look how bright their eyes are!" + +The Lion smiled, then pointed to the scented golden spray being +showered from the two fountains. + +"They look lovely as you see them," said the Lion, "because perpetual +health, and love, and happiness are being diffused upon them from the +fountains. Outside they were different," continued the Lion; "but here +the dark circles disappear from beneath their eyes, which become bright +and full of love, as they ought to be, the little puckers of care and +want are sponged out of their faces by the spray from the fountain. +The pallor of their faces changes to rosy health and beauty as it +should; the pinched look many of them wear, gives place to roundness +and the happy laughing curves of childhood that doesn't know or reckon +of any care." + +"But, Lal, where do all these wonderful things come from?" questioned +Ridgwell; "the great canopy, the golden carpet, all the costumes and +the jewels?" + +The Lion chuckled. "They all come out of the fountains, straight from +the warehouses of the merchants. The Dolphins bring them. Everything +comes from the fountains." + +"You see," proceeded the Lion, "there is going to be plenty to eat and +drink and everything of the best." Once again the Lion pointed towards +the two fountains: "See the eight golden dolphins with their golden +trays, they hand up delicious cakes, the best fruit, ices, lemonade, +chocolates, sandwiches, anything you want." + +"Shall we have some of those delightful things to eat too?" asked +Ridgwell. + +"Oh, be reassured, my child," smiled the Lion, "the Dolphins won't +forget either you or Christine, they will dance up to you with their +trays filled with everything you want." + +"If all those other children look so very beautiful, what do _we_ look +like?" Ridgwell asked the Lion in a whisper. "You see there are no +looking-glasses, are there?" + +For the first time the children remembered to look at one another. + +Christine was the first to speak, and it was with a cry of great +delight she turned to Ridgwell-- + +"Oh, Ridgie, you are lovely," said Christine. + +"Course he is," said the Lion. + +"I don't know about that," said Ridgwell hesitatingly. "I think you +have made a mistake in the excitement." + +"I've not," insisted Christine; "why, you look like a beautiful little +Prince." + +Here Ridgwell, who, overcome with modesty at these tributes, had been +examining his jewelled shoe-buckles with downcast eyes, looked up at +his sister. + +"Well, how about you?" exclaimed Ridgwell. "Why, you look like a +lovely fairy queen----" + +"Course she does," said the Lion. + +"Don't be silly, Ridgie," said Christine, severely. + +"I'm not," asserted Ridgwell. "I've never seen you look like that. +Perhaps," added Ridgwell, "these glittering orders we wear round our +necks have something to do with it." + +"You're right," said the Lion, "the priceless Order of Great +Imagination enables you to see everything that is beautiful as it +really is, and, of course, everything here is beautiful, so," added the +Lion logically, "why should you both be different from anything else?" + +The Lion beckoned to one of the Dolphins. + +"Here," said the Lion, as the Dolphin approached them, "hold up your +burnished golden tray and let the boy see himself." + +The Dolphin held up the polished tray and Ridgwell looked into it +wonderingly. + +"My goodness," said the Lion, "I thought girls were vain, but boys are +worse!" + +"That _can't_ be me," said Ridgwell. + +"Well, it isn't me," grumbled the Lion, "that's certain." + +Christine peeped over the shoulder of Ridgwell's golden tunic. + +"It's like us," said Christine, "but yet it isn't us at all." + +"That is what people always say when they see their own photographs for +the first time," observed the Lion wisely. "Ha!" broke off the Lion, +"here come the dogs." + +"Have you placed the two long troughs at the far end for them?" +demanded the Lion. + +"Yes," chorussed the little lions. + +"What have you filled them with?" questioned the Lion. + +"Finest mutton and chicken bones in one," laughed Carry-on-Merry, +"water in the other." + +"Have you remembered their special strip of comfortable carpet?" asked +the Lion anxiously. + +"It's there," grinned Carry-on-Merry. + +"Why are the stray dogs to have a strip of special comfortable carpet?" +asked Christine. + +"Because they like to pick the bones afterwards upon the carpet," said +the Lion; "it's a little habit of theirs, and they are not so highly +trained as we are." + +A most extraordinary procession now made its appearance before them. +The children might have thought it was a Noah's Ark, only the dogs +advanced in fours. Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, Mastiffs, Retrievers, +every conceivable dog down to tiny fox terriers, Spaniels and Yorkshire +terriers. They all looked very happy and their coats shone as if they +had been lately washed and had afterwards dried themselves in the +golden rays of the warm sun, which even now seemed to linger over them. + +"Lovely creatures," said Christine. + +"Ripping," said Ridgwell, "they are dears." + +"Started to munch their bones already," grunted the Lion. "Well, +they're not so highly educated as we are. A party to them is a party, +and they don't wait for anybody, which, after all, is the proper thing +to do. Where's the Griffin?" demanded the Lion of Carry-on-Merry, +after that intelligent creature, having acted like a verger (a habit he +had probably acquired from a life-long proximity to Westminster Abbey), +had shown all the dogs to their places along one side where the +comfortable carpet formed a sort of aisle. + +"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Carry-on-Merry, "the Griffin is late." + +"He's always late," grumbled the Lion, "his head's weak, and he never +can remember what time a party starts." + +"Here he comes," grunted Carry-on-Merry, "and, oh! my goodness, what +_does_ he look like?" + +"Absolutely ludicrous as usual," said the Lion. + +The Griffin presented an intensely comical appearance. Wishing to keep +up the dignity of the City, he had chosen for his party-dress a scarlet +Lord Mayor's robe, edged with fur, which he had folded around himself +in an exceedingly ridiculous fashion. + +Upon his head, as he believed it to be becoming, he had placed jauntily +sideways, an immense green dunce's cap from one of the children's giant +crackers, which the Griffin had pulled as he entered the doors. + +The Griffin had decided to adorn his front feet with strips of scarlet +flannel, because he declared that he had chilblains, and furthermore, +his paws were exceedingly tender after his encounter upon the previous +evening with St. George. + +It was thus that the Griffin ambled in trailing his Lord Mayor's robes +behind him, and smiling aimlessly from right to left upon everybody +present. + +"Has everybody missed me?" sniggered the Griffin. "I fear I'm late!" + +"Nobody has missed you at all," retorted the Pleasant-Faced Lion. + +The Griffin looked hurt for a moment. + +"Oh, surely, Lal," entreated the Griffin; "_surely_ some one missed me!" + +"No," said the Lion firmly. + +The corners of the Griffin's mouth trembled. + +"Now then," said the Lion, sternly, "no emotion." + +"No! no! Lal," faltered the Griffin, "but when I think of that lovely +saying, 'Everybody's Loved by Some one'----" + +"There are exceptions to every rule," snapped the Lion. + +"Oh," sniggered the Griffin, "then it does apply even to me, for I +myself am an exception. There is only one of me," ended the Griffin +eagerly, "only one in all London." + +"Some things don't bear repeating," said the Lion. + +The Griffin's weak memory came to his aid at this awkward moment: + +"That must particularly apply to your last remark," simpered the +Griffin. + +"You have heard somebody else say that," objected the Lion. + +"True," sniggered the Griffin, "and it will not be the first time that +the remembrance of other people's sayings have passed for wit; and I +have always so longed to be a wit," sighed the Griffin. "Don't you +think, Lal, that I might one day be a wit?" inquired the Griffin +anxiously. + +"No," said the Lion, "I don't; you have none of the necessary +qualifications." + +Once again the Griffin's mouth trembled piteously. + +"Oh, Lal," implored the Griffin, "think, only think again." + +"I couldn't," answered the Lion, "some things don't bear thinking +about." + +The Griffin, with two tears trembling in his eyes, clasped his +flannel-wrapped foreclaws together beseechingly and changed the nature +of his supplication: + +"Very well, Lal, then perhaps as you have never seen me act, I might +arrange some theatricals and amuse the children and the company +present. Of course," simpered the Griffin, "I should play the chief +funny part myself; wouldn't it be wonderful if I played the chief funny +part myself?" + +The Lion looked at the Griffin contemplatively for a second: "You will +never be funnier than you are now," remarked the Lion, "and we are not +going to have any theatricals at all, the children are going to dance." + +"The very thing," agreed the Griffin. "I will lead them; I dance so +beautifully." + +"No," said the Lion firmly, "if any one leads them it will be +Carry-on-Merry, but they won't want any leading at all. The best thing +you can do is to keep quite quiet and make yourself useful." + +"Oh, Lal, don't ask me to be useful," shuddered the Griffin. "It is +such a dreadful word, and _anybody_ can be useful." + +"You think so," said the Lion, as he smiled his wisest smile. + +"I must be something far better than that," remonstrated the Griffin, +"and it has just struck me that I had better go round and find out from +everybody what they would like me to do," and the Griffin moved off +eagerly to gather the opinions of everybody present as to this most +interesting point which concerned him so closely. + +"Always dying to show off," grunted the Lion. "You can see in the +Griffin the absolute type of one who being weak in the head and totally +unable to do anything, is nevertheless always longing to show off +before others, who are cleverer than himself." + +"Perhaps he will find somebody who wants him to do something," +suggested Ridgwell, hopefully; "but why didn't he want to be useful?" + +"Because the poor Griffin believes himself to be extremely ornamental, +and therefore, like all conceited people, he will never be able to see +himself as he is in reality. He wishes to lead before he has been able +to learn." + +Carry-on-Merry, Gamble, Grin, and Grub had by this time fixed up a +strangely decorated Maypole; it was nothing less than St. George's +Pillar, but so bedecked with hanging flowers and brilliant silken +corded ribbons that the children had some difficulty in recognising it +again. + +Then the four laughing lions could be seen racing along with a most +wonderful piano-organ, into which Gamble, Grin, and Grub were +harnessed, whilst Carry-on-Merry turned the handle. + +It must at once be admitted that this particular musical instrument +differed very considerably from any piano-organ ever heard in the +streets, and it could never have come anywhere from the neighbourhood +of Saffron Hill. + +It discoursed the sweetest music in the nature of a dance tune that was +irresistible, and the feet of all the children present started in time +to it simultaneously. + +"Now, Ridgwell," said the Lion, "take Christine and dance with her. Or +would you sooner stay here and look on at the sight?" + +"I shall do both," asserted Ridgwell, "dance first and look on +afterwards." + +"Good," assented the Lion; "an able definition of eating your cake and +having it at the same time. Off you go then." + +"Won't the Kings, Boadicea, and St. George dance too?" asked Christine. + +"No, George doesn't dance," said the Lion, "neither do the Royalty; +they graciously look on. I don't dance either, I do not consider it +dignified, so I sit here, conduct the ceremony, and beat time to the +music with my paw." + +That dance was the wildest, gladdest, merriest thing the children ever +remembered, and the threads of golden light filtering through the flash +of the coloured costumes as they wound in and out, added tints of +splendour as of an ancient pageant. + +Who could keep from dancing to such an exquisite tune, and who could +help being glad when ropes of lovely flowers were being twined round +lovelier childish faces, flower-like themselves, flushed with gay +excitement, with perfect health, with gladness? + +Ribbons of changing light they threaded in and out, round and through, +no one could tell how many times, and over all the golden scented dew +of perfect health and beauty fell from the two fountains upon the +up-turned faces. + +It is true the Griffin made several ineffectual attempts to break +through the laughing, whirling ring, under the impression that the +circle was incomplete without him, but Gamble, Grin, and Grub were +always at hand to pull him back, and prevent this amiable but mistaken +intrusion. + +From the piano-organ which he turned so gaily, Carry-on-Merry found it +was necessary to caution the Griffin after his last frantic attempt to +break through the ring of dancing children. + +"I want to dance," urged the Griffin. + +"I think you want a keeper," grinned Carry-on-Merry, "or a policeman or +something, to keep you in order." + +The Griffin turned pale. + +"Oh! no," implored the Griffin, "not a _policeman_." + +"Well, then, behave," grinned Carry-on-Merry. + +"Very well," sulked the Griffin, "as I am not wanted I think I shall go +home and give a party to myself." + +"Don't go," grinned Carry-on-Merry, "I have thought of something you +could do presently." + +The Griffin flushed with delight. + +"Will it be something grand?" asked the Griffin breathlessly, +"something that will show me off, something that will make me talked +about, something so big that it won't be like anything else?" + +"Rather," grinned Carry-on-Merry; "you bet it won't be like anything +else, at least," added Carry-on-Merry truthfully, "it won't be like +anything else I have ever known." + +"Oh, thank you, thank you," gushed the Griffin. "I could swoon with +joy, I feel so overwrought that I shall go to one of the fountains and +ask the dear Dolphins for some light refreshment." + +"No, you don't," instantly objected Carry-on-Merry, "the dance is +nearly over, and the children are all going there immediately; you +would only be in the way, but," added Carry-on-Merry, with a wicked +twinkle in his eyes, "I have a much finer idea than that." + +"Really?" inquired the Griffin. "Really a fine idea?" + +"Ripping," responded Carry-on-Merry, as he mysteriously produced from +an inside pocket of his royal scarlet coat a big white damask dinner +napkin. + +"What _can_ it be for?" simpered the Griffin; "and will it help to show +me off to advantage?" he anxiously inquired. + +"Rather," said Carry-on-Merry. "Listen! Put this dinner napkin over +your face, sit in a corner and go to sleep. Now the _most_ remarkable +thing you could do in an assembly like this to attract attention, would +be to go to sleep." + +The Griffin for a moment looked dubious. "Then," said Carry-on-Merry +with a still more wicked gleam in his mischievous eyes, "I will tell +every one that you are 'The Sleeping Beauty' and everybody will +immediately want to see you." + +"How lovely," sighed the Griffin, "and I shall look the part and be the +part; in fact," added the Griffin, "I shall be _the_ thing of the +evening." + +"_You will_," rejoined Carry-on-Merry enigmatically, "but that is not +all. When I wake you up at last, of course all the children will +laugh." + +"What at?" inquired the Griffin suspiciously. + +"Why, for joy at the discovery." + +"Humph!" debated the Griffin, "only joy--not admiration?" + +"Oh, yes," glibly replied Carry-on-Merry, "admiration, of course, and +the sheer beauty of the thing. Ha! ha! ha!" + +"Yes, yes," eagerly interrupted the Griffin, "sheer beauty sounds +better, sounds more like me." + +"Of course it does," laughed Carry-on-Merry. "Then perhaps I shall ask +you to sing." + +"Oh! Carry-on-Merry," faltered the Griffin in a broken voice, "you +have touched my heart--that is the very thing I was waiting for +somebody to ask me to do. To sing," rhapsodised the Griffin--"to be +like one of those great singers out of the opera, to pour out one's +heart tones, to be gazed at by every eye, to be listened to by every +ear, to be the adored of all. How can I thank you? How can I repay +you?" + +"Don't, please," implored Carry-on-Merry, who appeared to be choking +inwardly, "don't thank me any more now, I can't bear it--some other +time." + +"Yet stay," cried the Griffin, with unexpected and dramatic suddenness, +"who is going to kiss me?" + +"Kiss you?" echoed Carry-on-Merry blankly, "kiss you? Good gracious! +I give it up." + +"Yet," pondered the Griffin, "somebody had to kiss the Sleeping Beauty!" + +"You won't find anybody to do it," said Carry-on-Merry decisively. + +"Why not?" asked the Griffin sharply. + +"I mean," amended Carry-on-Merry, "nobody could be found for the moment +of sufficient importance." + +"Oh, I see," replied the Griffin, "yet perhaps Boadicea would oblige." + +"Out of the question," said Carry-on-Merry. "Besides you know she +never takes part in any--any--er--_festivities_ at all." + +"True," lamented the Griffin, "and yet assuredly I must be kissed for +the thing to be natural." + +Carry-on-Merry turned away his head, for Carry-on-Merry almost felt +that he could not trust himself to speak at that moment. Then one of +his many bright ideas occurred to him. "I know," rapidly explained +Carry-on-Merry, "I have it; I will find some important personage +present to give you a rap." + +"Where?" moaned the Griffin, "not on my knuckles. You know I cannot +stand anything of that nature on my knuckles." + +"No--no----" grinned Carry-on-Merry. "I mean a tap, just a little tap." + +"I see," agreed the Griffin. "Very well, one little tap, a tap as +dainty as if a feather had brushed me in my sleep." + +"Or a floating piece of thistledown," laughed Carry-on-Merry. + +"Oh yes," said the Griffin. "Thistledown sounds more romantic, and +then I shall wake from my dream." + +"I don't think myself you ever will," observed Carry-on-Merry, quite as +if he were thinking of something else. + +"What!" said the Griffin. "Never wake?" + +"Yes, yes," interrupted Carry-on-Merry hastily, "but you have to go to +sleep first, you know, and you had better hurry up whilst the children +are eating, then you won't be observed." + +"But I want to be observed," objected the Griffin. + +"Of course you do," insisted Carry-on-Merry, "but that comes later on. +Go at once." + +The amiable Griffin departed accordingly to carry out his part of the +programme, and forthwith lumped himself in a distant corner, with the +grace of a camel who had found sudden and unexpected opportunities of +benefiting his health through sleep. From this slumber the Griffin +found it necessary to rouse himself after a little while, upon hearing +the children all shouting his name. The entire party having partaken +of the delightful refreshments provided according to the various +requirements of their constitutions, were watching a moving series of +cinematograph pictures of London. + +One of the great golden spaces of the walls formed the screen, Gamble, +Grin and Grub, full of laughter, manipulated the cinematograph machine, +whilst Carry-on-Merry gaily pointed out the pictures with a big golden +wand. + +All the children loved the pictures, for they were faithful portraits +of themselves as they appeared every day in the London streets, when +they were not arrayed in gorgeous robes for a Princely Party. + +The streets they knew only too well but yet they loved them. Were they +not always in the streets--were they not passing every day of their +lives the very scenes they were now watching flung upon the screen? +The picture being shown at the moment the Griffin heard his name +called, was a Royal Procession passing Temple Bar. + +Instantly the children recognised the Griffin and called him by name. + +The Griffin awoke, saw himself being shown upon the moving picture +film, and gave a shriek of delight. + +"Stop! oh, stop!" shrieked the Griffin, as he ambled across to +Carry-on-Merry and seized the Gold Wand. "Please don't hurry past this +beautiful picture. Of course," cried the Griffin with a silly laugh, +"of course it's me, _ME_ with Royalty passing me. Is it not +beautiful?--you can all see for yourselves. I am sitting higher up +than Royalty itself. Notice the way the Royal personages bow and laugh +as they pass me." + +"They laugh right enough," agreed Carry-on-Merry. + +"Eh?" said the Griffin suspiciously. + +"The Griffin ought to have been a showman," observed the Pleasant-Faced +Lion. + +"Now we pass on to the next picture," called Carry-on-Merry. + +"Oh, _don't_ hurry," implored the Griffin. "Don't pass the most +beautiful of all the pictures in such haste." + +"_Next_ picture," laughed Carry-on-Merry. + +The Griffin, after bestowing a hurt look upon Carry-on-Merry, retired, +and again composed himself for sleep. + +His slumber this time was not destined to be of long duration. + +A grey sombre figure suddenly strode into the brilliant flower-draped +pavilion; a slouch hat made the figure look very sinister, and a sword +clanked at his side. + +The figure strode on and scowled darkly at King Richard sitting +gracefully upon his charger. "Ho! ho!" called the sombre man in a loud +voice. "Ho! ho!" he repeated with a mirthless laugh. + +King Richard neither moved not took the faintest notice. + +On strode the figure towards King Charles seated upon his charger, and +who was regarding the children with the pleasantest expression possible. + +"Ha!" shouted the figure as it strode along. "Ha! I say, Ha!" + +King Charles still smiled gravely and took no notice. The striding +figure that shouted "Ha!" might never have uttered a word for all the +notice King Charles took of him. + +"Ha!" shouted the figure for the last time. + +Then, seeing that nobody took any notice of him, the figure looked +glum, and folding his arms espied the Griffin peacefully asleep, the +white dinner napkin covering his fond, foolish face, waiting to be +awakened, so the Griffin fondly hoped--awakened by a gentle tap as +Beauty. The Griffin's slumber seemed to annoy the sombre man +intensely, for without uttering a syllable he drew his sword and smote +the Griffin hard upon the red flannel paws that were folded with a view +to pictorial effect beside the Griffin's covered face. + +There was a shriek of anguish, and the Griffin awoke. + +The pain the Griffin suffered from the blow upon his tender paws was as +nothing compared to the blow to the Griffin's feelings when he realised +that his ineffably touching picture of the Sleeping Beauty had been +spoiled for the evening. A great surge of sudden hatred swept over the +Griffin at the swaggering intruder who had dared to strike him, and +simultaneously the Griffin remembered something he had once heard said +by a man in blue wearing a helmet close to where he always stood in +Fleet Street. + +The Griffin seized Carry-on-Merry's golden wand for the second time +that evening and approached the sombre man of the top boots and the +slouch hat menacingly. "Move on," shouted the Griffin, giving a +lifelike imitation of the man in blue with a helmet. "Move on, d'ye +hear?" + +The sombre figure backed a little way in astonishment. + +"Move on," said the Griffin, "out of this; we don't want you here. +Orff you go!" The sombre figure retreated a little more. "If I catch +you here again," said the Griffin pompously, "I will run you in; no +loafing here!" The sombre man gave one scowl, sheathed his sword with +a clank, and hurriedly took his departure without once looking back or +uttering any further remark. + +"Bravo!" muttered the Lion, "that is the first useful thing the Griffin +has done all the evening." + +"Who was that dismal looking man muffled up like a brigand?" asked +Ridgwell. + +The Lion smiled. "That was Oliver Cromwell. He came to try and spoil +the party." + +"Why?" asked Ridgwell. + +"He doesn't like the extravagance," said the Lion; "he hates any +display, and cannot bear to see children happy." + +"Thank you, Griffin," said Christine. + +"Listen, all of you," simpered the Griffin, "some one has thanked me. +Oh! Fancy anybody thanking _me_. Has everybody heard me publicly +thanked?" asked the Griffin anxiously. + +"Yes, everybody," said the Lion; "we don't want any more of it." + +The Griffin looked sulky. + +"As long as everybody knows what I did," said the Griffin. "Nobody +else thought of doing it. Do you think it was better than my being the +Sleeping Beauty?" inquired the Griffin eagerly. + +"Yes," replied the Lion, "it was more realistic." + +"Fancy that, more realistic! how beautiful!" and the Griffin sidled +away, sniggering with self-gratified pride at his own achievement. + +"I am afraid," explained the Lion to Christine and Ridgwell, "that he +intends to sing." + +"But can he sing?" inquired Ridgwell. + +"No," said the Lion, "it is a wretched performance; yet, like all other +people who cannot really sing, he is dying to be asked to do so, and I +feel sure that some one will be misguided enough to ask him. You see," +explained the Lion, "the Griffin cannot sing in tune, but like most +people afflicted in the same way, he is totally unconscious of his +failing, and really believes his own singing to be quite beautiful." + +Christine and Ridgwell both laughed. "It must be very funny," they +said. + +"It is so funny," answered the Lion, "and so deplorable at the same +time that it is almost beyond a joke." + +Almost before the Lion had finished speaking Carry-on-Merry, with a +particularly wicked laugh, danced to the centre of the bright ball-room +and said he thought that perhaps the Griffin might be persuaded to sing. + +"I thought so," groaned the Lion. + +The Griffin gurgled with pleasure, and immediately started to look coy, +and playfully tap the golden carpet spread upon the ground with his +forepaws, as if he had suddenly discovered some new beauty in the +pattern of the luxurious floor covering. + +"Really," said the Griffin, "I do not think I could. Oh! really _no_." + +"Showing off," grunted the Lion; "he'll sing in the end, safe enough. +Worse luck!" + +"With all these beautiful singers here," smirked the Griffin, "to ask +_me_. Oh!--really!" + +"Oh, please sing," everybody murmured politely. + +"Oh--oh!--really," simpered the Griffin, trying in vain to blush. "You +see, I am not perhaps in my usual form." + +"What on earth will it be like, then?" ventured the Lion. + +"I am sure you will honour and delight the company," laughed +Carry-on-Merry, with his wickedest laugh. + +"Besides," demurred the Griffin hesitatingly, "I have two chilblains +and such tender paws, I don't think I could really." + +"We did not ask you to _play_," interrupted the Lion shortly. + +"No, no," replied the Griffin hastily, "to sing--I understand. Yes, to +sing. Oh--fancy asking _me_ to sing. Well, well, perhaps a few bars." + +"Now we are in for it," said the Lion, "and I don't suppose you will +ever hear anything like it again." + +"I do so want to hear the Griffin," said Ridgwell, "and I really cannot +think what it will be like." + +"Like?" echoed the Lion, "it will be like the effect of the first early +gooseberries of the year without sugar or milk; it will be like slate +pencils squeaking upon slates; like a trombone that somebody is +learning to play for the first time. However, nothing short of an +earthquake will stop him now, for, as I tell you, he is simply dying to +sing the moment he thinks anybody at all will listen to him, and that +he can show off. However," added the Lion, "when it gets beyond all +human endurance, I make a sign to Richard I. Now the Griffin is +terribly frightened of Richard I." + +"Why?" asked both the children. + +"Because the Griffin is afraid that Richard will advance and hit him on +the paws with the big sword he carries." + +"And will he?" asked the children. + +"Yes," said the Lion, "if it gets too bad." + +Everybody stopped talking now, for the Griffin, after much further +pressing, had made up his mind what he was going to sing. He decided +to make a start in a key which was indescribable, and with a voice that +resembled the twanging of a banjo that had not been tuned. + +And thus the Griffin sang-- + + "Of a merry, merry king I will relate + Who owned much silver, gold and plate, + And wishing to be up-to-date + Within his city, + Placed a handsome Griffin outside the gate, + A creature pretty. + + "Yet one thing, the merry, merry king forgot + That it would be his Griffin's lot + To be very, very cold, or very, very hot, + High up in Fleet Street. + So slowly the faithful creature got + Chilblains upon his feet. + + "The Griffin grew prettier day by day + Directing the traffic along each way, + With always a pleasant word to say + All along Fleet Street. + One trouble alone caused him dismay, + His very tender feet. + + _Chorus--_ + + "Oh! my poor tender feet! + Of what use are England's laws, + Unless they protect my claws + And keep me warm in the street? + Nothing so young and fair, + Ever sniffed Fleet Street air, + Ever sang like the Dove-- + And--All that I ask is love." + + +At this point the Griffin was so overcome by his own performance that +he burst into tears; and despite the excessive hilarity of every one +present, to say nothing of Carry-on-Merry, who was rolling upon the +floor in his mirth, the Griffin continued to sob, and from time to time +wiped away the big tears that rolled down his cheeks with the fur upon +the Lord Mayor's mantle that he wore. + +"It always affects me," sobbed the Griffin. + +"Yes," answered the Lion, "it has affected all of us strangely." + +"Nearly been the death of me," gulped Carry-on-Merry. + +"I think I will go home now," said the Griffin, as he surreptitiously +wiped away the last tears and prepared to depart. + +"Oh, don't think of leaving us yet," said the Lion. + +"Very well," sniffed the Griffin; "perhaps I may be asked to sing +again." + +"Not if I know it," whispered the Lion in an undertone; "one +performance of that nature is quite sufficient for one evening." + +At this moment Carry-on-Merry announced that the dogs, wishing to +return thanks for the general pleasantness of the party, and being +unable to sing themselves, had deputed one of their number, a most +intelligent bob-tail sheep-dog, to compose an ode. + +This particular dog, it was thought, had some claims as a poet, since +he was a lineal descendant of the canine companion who invariably +accompanied Robert Burns in all his wanderings. + +The three laughing little lions would now sing the ode the bob-tailed +sheep-dog had composed, with the general permission of the company. + +"Let us hear it," said the Lion. + +"Oh! fancy singing after me," remarked the Griffin. + +"Yes," agreed the Lion, "it shows great courage." + +Gamble, Grin, and Grub arranged themselves in order, and Gamble +commenced-- + + "Cross Chelsea Bridge, by Chelsea town + There is a place called Battersea. + The very name to Christian dog's + Will make them shudder fearfully." + + +Here Grin took up the solo. + + "A place where gloomy prison doors + Do shut up homeless dogs + If ever they get lost, or stray + During the London fogs." + + +Grub hereupon came forward. + + "When once inside that citadel + Within three days or four, + They send you to a dreadful room + Where you never bark no more." + + +Then came the Chorus-- + + "Pleasant-Faced Lion, our thanks to thee + For having avoided Battersea." + + +"Very well sung," admitted the Lion. "I suppose that, being always so +close to Westminster Abbey, the little lions have taken some useful +hints from what they have heard going on inside. + +"The time has come for the party to finish," announced the +Pleasant-Faced Lion, "but before it is ended----" + +"Has it got to end now?" Ridgwell asked wistfully. + +"Everything has to come to an end some time," replied the Lion quietly, +"from ices and parties to empires and the world. However," he added +encouragingly, "one can always look forward to some possible and +pleasant continuation of almost everything, although, perhaps, on +different, not to say advanced lines. Before you children go I shall +be able to show you the most wonderfully coloured transformation scene +you have ever witnessed. Watch carefully the long wall of the Pavilion +which you are facing," commanded the Lion. + +Carry-on-Merry romped up at this moment laughing as merrily as when the +evening commenced. + +"Time?" inquired Carry-on-Merry. + +The Pleasant-Faced Lion nodded. + +"Yes, now," he said. + +Slowly the golden wall and the roof with its masses of brilliantly +hanging flowers seemed to fade away. + +The children knew it was Trafalgar Square they were looking at once +again, yet a Trafalgar Square transformed out of all resemblance to its +usual familiar aspect. + +As the walls appeared to drop before their eyes a brilliant golden +bungalow palace with the children dressed as Scarlet Beefeaters grouped +down its shining steps glimmered through the rose-pink light in which +they beheld it. Surely it could not be the National Gallery! + +All the children present passed and repassed before it in their +dazzling costumes, making vivid splashes of colour, as changeful and as +fascinating as a kaleidoscope. + +The fountains still sprayed their mists of violet, amethyst and gold. + +"Mark the changing colours well," said the Lion, "and take in all the +picture well, for you will not see it ever like this again." + +The happy fresh voices of the children were still singing with a rare +outburst of melody-- + + "Pleasant-Faced Lion, our thanks to thee, + For all your hospitality." + + +"Amen!" said the Lion. "Come, Ridgwell and Christine, jump on!" +commanded the Lion, as he sank down in order to enable the two children +to get on his back. "Home now!" + +Both the children looked back many times, of course. They saw the +golden bungalow palace for the last time in all its changing lights. +Noticed that Queen Boadicea stood majestically upon the topmost step +with King Richard upon one side of her and King Charles upon the other. +St. George stood with his armour flashing a few steps below. The four +merry dogs were gathered around him, whilst Carry-on-Merry was resting +his laughing head in one of St. George's hands. + +The coloured lights grew paler, a mist danced before their eyes, then +twinkled and disappeared. + +"It is gone," said Ridgwell, "and oh! how dark the streets look now!" + +"But _what_ a party," said Christine. + +"And what a feast," added Ridgwell. + +"Yes," replied the Lion philosophically, "it is really remarkable how +times have changed. In the olden days, long, long ago, everything was +reversed. For instance, it was the Lions who were then provided with +the feast, and the children who were eaten." + +"Horrid!" shivered Ridgwell. "You mean, Lal, those wicked Roman +Emperors who let the poor Christians be eaten?" + +"My child," announced the Lion gravely, "free meals have invariably +been productive of much unpleasant discussion and inquiries afterwards. +But see now," he added coaxingly, "the perfect state of perfection the +world has arrived at. The Pleasant Lions give the banquet themselves +now. Every single thing to-night was provided by Lions. I gave the +party--I, the Pleasant-Faced Lion. The four laughing lions from +Westminster helped. Richard Coeur-de-Lion presided, and Messrs. Lyons +provided all the refreshments." + +"Any rate, Lal," observed Ridgwell, "although Christine and I both love +you, of course--lions must have been very cruel and savage once, +otherwise they wouldn't have _thought_ of eating anybody, would they?" + +"Ah, my little boy," replied the Pleasant-Faced Lion softly, "if you +were kept without food for days and days I wonder what you would do." + +"Tuck in like mad the first chance I got," announced Ridgwell with +conviction. + +"Perhaps the lions did the same thing," observed Lal gently. "However, +I feel I cannot offer any excuse for their past conduct; yet," +continued the Pleasant-Faced Lion wisely, as he jogged contentedly on, +homewards towards Balham, "I have a fair proposition to make to you, +although it may seem somewhat in the nature of a riddle to you both at +the present moment." + +"What is it?" asked the children in a breath. + +"Suppose," said the Lion--"I only say suppose--both of you ever had a +chance of eating me, of--ahem! in short, devouring your old friend Lal, +would you do it?" asked the Lion, with an odd tremble in his voice. + +The question seemed to be so odd, not to mention out of place, that +both the children laughed. + +"Why, Lal," chuckled Ridgwell, "how ridiculous you are. How could +Christine or myself ever possibly eat even a little bit of you?" + +"No," answered the Lion, "I believe you are both little Christian +children, and yet," he added with a sigh, "you might both become +Pagans." + +"What's a Pagan?" asked Ridgwell. + +Again the Lion sighed. "My child," he said, "you have a very great +deal to learn, and among the many things at present hidden from you is +the fact that both you and Christine will see me once again and once +only." + +"Where?" asked the children. + +"At your home in Balham." + +"Good gracious," said Ridgwell, "will you knock at the hall door?" + +"No," said the Pleasant-Faced Lion. + +"Or appear sitting in the raspberry bushes in the garden?" ventured +Christine. "If so, you will spoil them, you know!" + +"No," said the Lion, "certainly not." + +"Then how will you come?" asked Ridgwell. + +"You will see me again once more," asserted the Lion, "in three days +from now, and moreover inside your own home." + +"Three days from now is Ridge's birthday," ventured Christine; "of +course, it would be very nice to see you, but I do wonder how you will +come, and I do wonder how we shall be able to explain you away." + +The Pleasant-Faced Lion laughed his gruffest laugh. + +"I don't think you could very well _explain_ me away, little Christine." + +"Suppose you sat on the hearth-rug and people seemed a little distant +or awkward?" commenced Ridgwell. + +"Yes," broke in Christine, "or some of those dreadful long pauses +occurred when nobody speaks and every one looks at every one else and +feels uncomfortable--would you _say_ something?" + +"Yes," said the Lion. "I have plenty of tact, but really there won't +be any need," and the Pleasant-Faced Lion again chuckled softly to +himself. + +"There is only one thing I want you to do," said the Pleasant-Faced +Lion, and he still seemed to be choked with merriment as if a sudden +idea had occurred to him. + +"What is it, Lal?" inquired both the children. + +"Upon Ridgwell's birthday night, before you both go to bed, I want you, +Ridgwell, to remember a little rhyme and say it to yourself." + +"A hymn?" asked Ridgwell. + +"Not exactly a hymn." + +"After we have said our prayers?" + +"Certainly," replied the Lion obligingly, "any time before you go to +bed will do; will you promise to remember?" + +"Of course, Lal." + +"Well, this is the little rhyme," whispered the Lion mysteriously; and +somehow it seemed to Ridgwell as if the Lion was still laughing at him +as he repeated the following extraordinary rhyme-- + + "Christian child or Pagan child, + Which is my denomination, + Have I eaten dear old Lal + In my birthday celebration?" + + +Ridgwell repeated the mysterious rhyme after the Lion, then he shook +his head. + +"Don't understand it, do you?" grinned the Lion. + +"Not a bit," answered Ridgwell. + +"I give it up, too," said Christine. + +"Are you laughing at us, Lal?" inquired Ridgwell anxiously. + +"Ah!" said the Lion, "I wonder; however, he who laughs last, laughs +last; that saying is true without a doubt; and," he concluded with a +chuckle, "I bet you both anything you like that I have the last laugh. +In fact, one day when you pass me you may hear me laugh, although I +shall never speak to either of you again in public. And that reminds +me of something I want to warn both of you about particularly. Never +appear to notice me in public or speak to me whenever you chance to +pass me in Trafalgar Square; you would only collect a crowd, make me +very uncomfortable, and convey the unfortunate impression to everybody +within earshot that you were mad. The same thing applies to +Carry-on-Merry; he has a most provoking face, and the happy laugh +always to be seen upon it might tempt you both to suppose that he was +listening; now mind you never give way to the temptation of addressing +either of us in public, and never refer to anything that has happened +even in private, for you will only be misunderstood. Remember," +concluded the Lion, "that the Great Order of Imagination is only given +to a very few people; those who do not possess it do not understand it. +See, your own has faded already!" + +Both the children clasped their hands simultaneously to their necks +where the glittering order had hung and shone only a few minutes before. + +Then they stared blankly at the place where it had been. Alas! the +luminously lighted jewels of the order were no longer there. + +"Oh, Lal," said Ridgwell, "shall we never have it again?" + +"Only the memory of it," replied the Lion gently; "that never fades." + +"Only the memory," echoed Ridgwell thoughtfully. + +"Nobody can ever take that away from you," said the Lion. + +"Did any other little boy ever have the Great Order of Imagination, +Lal?" + +"Yes," said the Lion, "there was _one_ who had the highest and greatest +order of all, the Pure Soul of Imagination itself." The Lion paused +and seemed to be thinking. + +"Where is he now?" whispered Ridgwell, for unconsciously he seemed to +have lowered his voice. + +The Lion lifted his great and noble head, and looked upwards towards +the silver stars above them. The Lion shook his head doubtfully, and +the children noticed that there was something very like a tear in his +eyes. + +"I don't know which particular star," said the Lion, "but somewhere +there, I think; but then, you see, I'm only a Pagan." + +The Lion stopped and purred; they were outside the familiar windows of +their own home. + +"Oh, Lal," whispered the children, "how shall we remember all we've +seen to-night; how shall we be able to think about it and go through it +all again, if the Order of Imagination has been taken away from us and +if we are never to speak to you again, and only to see you once more? +Even then you cannot tell us _how_ we are going to see you." + +The Lion smiled. "I can arrange that easily. Be of good heart, little +Ridgwell and Christine. I know a writer--he comes and talks to me at +night sometimes, though I never answer him--and I will suggest he +writes it all down for you. I can ask him things without saying a +word." + +"Will you?" pleaded the children. "Oh, please ask him, Lal!" + +"Yes," said the Lion, "I will; good-night." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +PREPARING FOR A VISITOR + +Upon the third day after bidding good-bye to their strange friend, the +children felt they had every reason to be excited as to what events the +day would bring forth, to say nothing of endless speculations as to the +manner in which their most uncommon visitor might choose to appear to +them. + +Consequently after Ridgwell had opened his birthday presents the first +thing in the morning, he held a sort of council of war with Christine. + +"You see, Chris, fortunately the house hasn't any underneath part," +explained Ridgwell, "so that we can keep watch, both of us, all on one +floor so to speak. You take guard of the French windows in the +drawing-room where you can see the greater part of the garden, and I +will watch the windows of the dining-room, where I can see the road +both ways up to the house." + +"Shan't we get tired of always looking at the same spot?" objected +Christine. + +"I have thought of a plan for that, Chris. When either of us want a +change, just shout out, 'Sister Ann, sister Ann, do you see anybody +coming?'" + +"I see," nodded Christine, "everybody will only think we are playing a +game." + +"Then," pursued Ridgwell, full of inspiration, "if Lal isn't looming in +sight anywhere, the other will shout out, 'Not a sail in the offing,' +then we change over rooms." + +"Anyway Lal couldn't sail, could he?" queried Christine. + +"You don't know how he might come," whispered Ridgwell. "He might even +come in a motor car, and anyway it's only so that other people shan't +understand." + +"It seems to me," remarked Christine logically, "that people won't +understand him anyway, and less when they see him than when they don't." + +"It's an anxious time, isn't it, Chris?" + +"Very," assented Christine, "and anyhow we shall have to drop Cookie a +hint, because you see her window in the kitchen looks over a part of +the garden that we can't see from the drawing-room." + +"Of course," mused Ridgwell, "the weak spot about Cookie is that she +gets shocks so quickly." + +"She's sure to get one to-day," commenced Christine hopefully, "when +Lal comes." + +"Very well then, we'll give her a sort of hint," suggested Ridgwell. + +Now Cookie, beloved of the children, to say nothing of the household +generally, was a fat person, with very red cheeks, and very +good-humoured rolling green eyes that somehow always looked as if they +had been originally intended for gooseberries, which had boiled and +bubbled during her many cooking operations and had never been permitted +to simmer. + +"What do you children want in the kitchen?" commenced Cookie. "Master +Ridgie, you know quite well that your birthday cake ain't to be ready +till tea-time." + +"But, Cookie dear," commenced Ridgwell insinuatingly. + +Cookie dear continued the mystic rights over which she presided as high +priestess, her vermilion red hands and arms continued to splash about +in a very big basin, where she contrived to throw up little waves of +very white flour as if she were about to take a morning dip in it, yet +hesitated before taking the plunge. These mysterious rites having been +accomplished and the flour having as it were received a final blessing +from Cookie's hands, Cookie commenced to beat up eggs. + +"I know you've come wheedling for something," objected Cookie, "and you +ain't going to 'ave it, Master Ridgie. Why, you've only just finished +your breakfast." + +"I don't want anything to eat," announced Ridgwell. + +Cookie eyes boiled and rolled ominously, whilst a sort of faint concern +appeared upon the surface of them. "If you can't eat, Master Ridgie, +then you must be ill and want some medicine." + +"No, no," hastily interposed Ridgwell, "I don't want any medicine, we +only came in to ask you a question." + +"Well, you can't ask me any of your questions now, I'm busy," asserted +Cookie. "Ain't got no time." + +"Oh, Cookie dear, you can listen whilst you beat up an egg," +expostulated Ridgwell. + +"_Egg!_" shouted Cookie indignantly, "three blessed eggs for your cake, +and 2 1/2d. each, new laid too, and I only bought a dozen of 'em." + +"Yes, yes, Cookie dear. I meant three eggs, the number doesn't matter, +and it won't take a minute for us to tell you. It's just this. +Suppose a great big beautiful Lion came and sat in the middle of the +raspberry canes just outside your kitchen door, what would you do?" + +"Is this a conundrum?" demanded Cookie. "If so, I don't know no answer +to it, Master Ridgie." + +"It isn't a riddle, Cookie, at all. If a Lion really came to see you, +what would you do?" + +"I should fetch a policeman at once," announced Cookie. + +Ridgwell smiled. "A policeman wouldn't be any good, Cookie! Really, +you know, he couldn't do anything." + +"Then I should fetch two policemen," said Cookie, shortly and +conclusively. Cookie, at this point in the argument, beat the three +new-laids at such a furious rate, that the foam of them whirled round +and round very much like the agitated thoughts of Cookie herself at +being confronted with such an outrageous problem the first thing in the +morning. + +"'Owever," amended Cookie, "afore I went to fetch them policemen, I'd +throw all the boiling green water over him, from the window first, and +see if that wouldn't shift 'im." + +Both Ridgwell and Christine laughed outright, the idea was too +ridiculous. To think of their friendly and Pleasant-Faced Lal coming +to make a society call and having boiling cabbage water thrown over his +stately head, was altogether too much for their gravity. + +"How indignant he would be," laughed Ridgwell. "Oh! Chris only think +how hurt he would feel as he shook the stuff off his mane and whiskers!" + +This imaginary picture, however, seemed to be too much for Christine, +so she determined to speak seriously to Cookie. + +"Cookie," said Christine in her most earnest manner, "a lion may arrive +outside this door (pointing to the article in question in a most +impressive fashion) at any moment to-day." + +"Yes," added Ridgwell, "and we only want you to be prepared." + +Cookie's eyes seemed to boil a little faster for a moment, appeared to +swell in fact and be altogether overdone, as she fixed her orbs upon +the door in question, then up went Cookie's apron over her head, and +alas! down went the three new-laid at 2 1/2d. each, all spilled upon +the floor, and the cup broken as well. + +At this moment the children instinctively realised that discretion was +sometimes the better part of valour, and made speedy preparations to +vacate in favour of other quarters of the house, not, however, before +they could hear Cookie moaning beneath her apron: + +"Escaped I s'pose, oh! mighty 'Eavens! escaped from the Crystal +Palace, or the Zoo, or a circus or somethink, oh, it ain't safe living +in England! Blowed if I don't bolt the kitchen door, and nobody warned +me or told me it was in the morning papers. Thank goodness I've taken +in the milk, and them three eggs all spoiled. Only nine left now," +moaned Cookie, "and cutlets and pancakes for lunch too." + +"Come, Chris," whispered Ridgwell. "You see we can't expect much +support from Cookie." + +"No," agreed Christine, as they departed for the dining-room. "How +about Mother? Let's hear what she says." + +"Yes," assented Ridgwell. "You see Mother is very nice and kind always +to anybody who calls, and perhaps if she spoke to Lal and welcomed him +a bit when he comes, he might feel at home at once." + +"I can't think where we are going to ask him to sit, can you, Ridgie? +You see," explained Christine, "it's so inhospitable to leave him in +the hall, and if he walks into the drawing-room and swishes his tail +even contentedly, all the china would go over at once." + +"No, Chris, Lal is much too well mannered to do anything like that, but +I'm afraid the only place for him will be the hearth-rug in front of +the fire. Stop a minute, Chris, I've got it. Of course, the sofa in +the drawing-room. Nobody must sit on the sofa at all to-day, then it +will be all ready for him when he comes, and we shall only have to tuck +him in a bit at the sides if he's too big." + +Matters were not much better understood in the drawing-room, for a lady +visitor had just called and was waiting for Mother to come down. Mrs. +Tallcat was a lady who always deemed it her duty to call once a week +upon everybody, whether people wished to see her or whether they did +not wish to see her. + +Had a census of opinion been taken concerning Mrs. Tallcat's calls, +Mrs. Tallcat would have found, much to her astonishment no doubt, that +she possessed very few votes, and no votes at all from children. + +"Would you very much mind if you didn't sit upon the sofa?" commenced +Ridgwell gently. + +Mrs. Tallcat, always inclined towards huffiness at a moment's notice, +consequently selected a chair. + +"Is the sofa likely to give way?" inquired Mrs. Tallcat suspiciously. + +"No," explained Christine, "it is because it is so strong and firm on +its legs that we have chosen it." + +"I never allow _my_ boy to play upon the sofa," sniffed Mrs. Tallcat, +as if she were referring to a piano. + +"It isn't to play upon," remarked Ridgwell, "but we are expecting a +very, very solid visitor." + +Mrs. Tallcat sniffed for the second time. "I never allow my boy to +make any remarks whatever upon visitors who call," responded Mrs. +Tallcat icily. + +"Oh, Lal doesn't mind," said Christine cheerfully. + +"Who is Lal?" inquired Mrs. Tallcat, "a gentleman friend of your +father's?" + +"No," said Ridgwell, "Lal is a lion, and Father doesn't know him yet." + +"Tut, tut, tut," snapped Mrs. Tallcat crossly. "Directly _my_ boy +begins to talk nonsense I send him straight to bed." + +"It's bad for the health to go to bed at the wrong time," suggested +Ridgwell pensively. + +"My boy always does as he's told," announced Mrs. Tallcat triumphantly; +"if he doesn't, he is whipped." + +At this point a new idea suddenly struck Ridgwell. "Chris," he +whispered audibly, "we must somehow get the old cat out of the way." + +Mrs. Tallcat instantly bridled, and her face became inflamed with +anger. "How _dare_ you!" commenced the indignant lady. + +"I mean the _other_ cat," explained Ridgwell, "our own cat." + +The explanation, although convincing, was perhaps ambiguous. It was +undoubtedly fortunate that Mother timed her appearance at this point to +a nicety, and so prevented any further complications. + +"Dreadful time her boy must have, don't you think, eh, Chris?" asked +Ridgwell. + +Christine nodded. + +"Only fancy, Chris," pursued Ridgwell, "calling her little boy Tom. +Tom Tallcat; why, he'll be chaffed no end at school. I do feel sorry +for him; and then the way she dresses him, coloured velvet and a +brigand's hat with a feather in it, just as if he was part of a circus. +I'm glad Mother doesn't dress me like that. The other day I met him +and he'd got a bow and arrow. She'd actually sent him into the street +with a bow and arrow. I said 'Hullo, Robin Hood,' not meaning +anything, and he began to cry; it was awkward, and I'm sure he feels +it. Father said that the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children +ought to interfere, but I think that was perhaps only one of Father's +jokes." + +"I think," suggested Mother, who had caught audible fragments of this +conversation, "I think you children had better run away now and play." + +The morning appeared to go quite quickly up to the cutlets and the +pancake stage. + +The late afternoon shadows threw their creeping patterns over both +lawns, and still there was no sign whatever of their eccentric friend +Lal. + +Tea-time came and passed, and then the shadows grew deeper, first blue, +then violet, then black, the trees and shrubs could scarcely be +distinguished at all; and, as ill luck would have it, there was no moon. + +At length the time arrived when the family not unreasonably suggested +that the blinds of the house should be pulled down. Here was a +dilemma. How was it possible to warn the household of the +Pleasant-Faced Lion's approach if the blinds were pulled down? When +Ridgwell found, in spite of much lingering, that the last crumb of cake +had been consumed, to say nothing of the last currant which he had made +last quite a long time, and that the third summons to go to bed must +have some sort of notice taken of it, he resigned himself to the +inevitable, and with a hopeless look at Christine, prepared to talk to +Father. + +Father was reading quite quietly, and apparently deeply engrossed in a +book, and somehow that didn't help matters. + +"Please, Father, would you mind very much if the hall door and the back +door were both left wide open all night?" + +Father considered this somewhat odd request for a space, then inquired +with a stray gleam of amusement in his eyes, "Do you consider the house +stuffy? Or have you suddenly adopted one of the Futurist ideas +concerning Health?" + +"No, it isn't that, but Chris and I expect somebody; no, I mean +_something_, and we should be so disappointed if it, no, I mean _he_ +didn't come." + +"Rather a late visitor," said Father, "and rather an inconsiderate one +if this quite Eastern welcome of him includes us all catching our death +of cold. No, Ridgie, I'm afraid he will have to knock." + +"But, Father, I'm not sure he can knock." + +"Then ring," suggested their parent, "nice new electric bell I've just +had fixed up. He's only got to push the button." + +"Perhaps he doesn't understand about electric bells," objected Ridgwell. + +"Your friend seems a trifle old-fashioned," observed Father, +good-naturedly. + +"And then," said Ridgwell, "his paw is so big he might never find the +bell-push." + +"I see; a dog, eh?" + +"No, bigger than a dog, much." + +"Well, then, say a donkey." + +"No, Father, bigger than a dog, and not so big as a donkey." + +"I give it up," said Father, "but I promise whatever he is he shall be +attended to and entertained if possible." + +"I cannot think what you will say to him," debated Ridgwell anxiously. + +"I will do my best, Ridgwell; but from your description I should +imagine the conversation will be a little one-sided. However," +remarked Father drily, "perhaps he can be persuaded to smoke, or drink." + +"No, Father, he never smokes, and he only drinks water." + +"Ah! very abstemious," murmured Father; "perhaps he is a vegetarian as +well, sounds like it, and they are always the most difficult people to +entertain." + +At this moment the conversation was interrupted by a loud knocking at +the front door, and immediately the new electric bell sounded +throughout the house. Ridgwell and Christine nearly tumbled over one +another in order to get to the hall door first. + +"It's Lal after all," shouted Ridgwell. + +"Sure to be," chimed in Christine. + +At length in the struggle the hall door was opened, but it wasn't the +form of the Pleasant-Faced Lion who greeted them, only Mr. Jollyface, a +friend of Father's and a happy, jolly old bachelor, who loved both of +the children. + +"Anybody with you?" inquired Ridgwell anxiously, as he peered either +side of Mr. Jollyface's portly form. + +"No, only me," chuckled Mr. Jollyface. "Whom are you expecting? Glad +to find you children up; I've got something for you in my pocket, +Master Ridgie; your birthday, isn't it?" + +"Yes," confessed Ridgwell, but it could be plainly seen that his former +enthusiasm had died a sudden death. "But do tell me, Mr. Jollyface, +did you see anything as you came along?" + +"Lots of things," replied Mr. Jollyface, cheerily. + +"A lion?" whispered Ridgwell mysteriously. + +"No," debated Mr. Jollyface, "no, I think I may say that a lion was the +only thing I didn't see." + +"Oh, Mr. Jollyface, are you sure?" + +"Yes," replied Mr. Jollyface gravely, "I can really be quite certain +upon that point." + +"If you had seen a great lion, Mr. Jollyface, what would you have done?" + +"I think," debated Mr. Jollyface, as he prepared to disencumber himself +of his great-coat, "I think I should have wished him good-evening and +passed politely, like the--ahem--Levite, on the opposite side of the +way." + +"Oh, Mr. Jollyface," sighed Ridgwell, "if you only knew we have waited +all day long for a lion." + +"Now, that's very funny," whispered Mr. Jollyface, "for I have actually +brought one for you in my pocket, I have really. Here it is," +announced the imperturbable Mr. Jollyface, as he produced a parcel from +his pocket and thrust it into Ridgwell's hand. + +"No, no, not that sort of lion," remonstrated Ridgwell. + +"Well, perhaps this one would do," suggested Mr. Jollyface. "It's the +best sort of lion, you know, really, and made of the very finest +chocolate, too." + +Here a well-known voice was heard to remark: "If I have to speak to you +children once more about going to bed there will be trouble." + +"Scamper off," exclaimed the good-natured Mr. Jollyface; then he added, +"you know you can eat chocolate in bed quite as well as you can +anywhere else. I used to enjoy it as a boy more than I should have +done upon a plate in the dining-room. Off you go; good-night, kids." + +Thereupon Father claimed Mr. Jollyface, and as the children slowly +mounted the stairs they could hear him saying: "So it was you the +children were waiting for, and the animal friend they expected was a +chocolate lion, eh?" + +"Very likely," agreed Mr. Jollyface. "Ha! ha! ha! so they have been +puzzling you, my old friend, eh?" + +"Well, children's riddles are very difficult to guess," said Father, +"and yet they are always so simple." + +"Chris," observed Ridgwell dejectedly, as they reached their room and +turned the handle of the door, "they none of them understand; isn't it +dreadful? and they are grown up, too, and really ought to know." + +"We've waited and waited, Ridgie, and there's nothing else to be done; +Lal won't come now, and he's never broken his word before, has he?" + +"He might come, Chris; let's roll up the blind." + +"No, the garden looks the same as it always does; there isn't a thing +in sight. Suppose we don't go to sleep just yet and keep awake a bit; +Lal might come and throw a stone at the window." + +"Let's eat the chocolate," suggested Chris, who was occasionally +practical, "while we wait." + +Ridgwell untied the small parcel, a wooden box, about half the size of +one of Father's cigar-boxes, and appeared to be made of the same kind +of brown wood. + +Disclosed to view at length, the birthday present was seen to be a +fairly large chocolate lion lying upon a pedestal. The entire +sweet-meat model was covered in thick golden paper; this was quickly +stripped off, and Ridgwell did the honours as possessor. + +"I'll eat his head half, Chris, and give you the other half; I think +that's a fair division." + +"Right," agreed Christine; "we can't eat more than that to-night, and +the pedestal part will do for the morning." + +"I can't understand Lal disappointing us to-night as he has done," said +Ridgwell, as he slowly munched his chocolate. "Can you, Chris?" + +"No--isn't this chocolate good, Ridgie?" + +"Yes, but fancy having to be contented with a chocolate lion when we +know a real one! On my birthday too, and yet he promised faithfully we +should see him again." + +"He has forgotten us," confessed the children as they went to bed. + +"Suppose he has too much to think of," said Ridgie; "he can't remember +everything." + +Christine never knew quite how long she had been asleep that night, +before she distinctly heard muffled mutterings from her brother +Ridgie's bed the other side of their little room. Surely Ridgie +couldn't be saying his prayers at this time of night; then Christine +was certain she heard half-smothered sobs. + +"Ridgie, what's the matter; are you crying?" demanded Christine. The +sobs became very audible now, and even an apparent effort to stifle +them with the bed-clothes did not seem in any way to lessen them. + +Christine pressed the button of the electric light, and in the sudden +illumination regarded her brother across the room. + +"Ridgie, why are you crying? are you in pain? have you eaten too much?" + +"No," sobbed Ridgie, "no, but oh! Chrissie, I've--I've--we've eaten +Lal." + +Christine sat up in bed. + +"Ridgie," demanded Christine, "are you dreaming?" + +"No," whispered Ridgie, between his sobs; "don't you remember-- + + Christian child or Pagan child + Which is my denomination? + Have I eaten dear old Lal + In my birthday celebration? + +Here, overcome by recollections, Ridgwell broke down completely. "I +_have_ eaten him," moaned Ridgwell; "at least, _we've_ eaten him, for +you helped. He said we should eat him, and we've done it. That's how +Lal meant to come to us; now, I remember, it was exactly like him. +Just as--as he is in Trafalgar Square on his pedestal. Oh, Chris, +after all the Christians have eaten a lion; he said we should; we +aren't Christians any longer, we're Pagans, and--and," confessed +Ridgwell with a final outburst, "I feel like a cannibal; it's beastly." + +Christine had become quite pale during this recital; but she thought +for awhile before replying. + +"Perhaps, Ridgie, Lal meant us to eat him--I mean his likeness in +chocolate--all the time, and most likely he isn't angry with us at all. +He might have arranged it all as a joke." + +"It isn't a joke at all," sniffed Ridgwell, "it's horrible. We have +eaten one of our very best friends. Oh! if only the Order of Great +Imagination hadn't been taken away from us!" + +"I am not so sure, Ridgie," observed Christine, with feminine +intuition, "that you have lost _all_ your order of imagination; I think +you have still a lot left, or you would never have discovered Lal's +riddle." + +It was Ridgwell's turn now to sit up in bed, and he asked eagerly-- + +"Do you really think it was only a riddle, Chris, and Lal meant only to +have a joke with us?" + +Christine nodded gravely. + +"I feel very comforted with that," said Ridgwell, "so turn off the +light, Chris, and we'll go to sleep again; but oh, won't I just tell +Lal next time I pass him in Trafalgar Square!" + +Some few moments afterwards in the darkness Christine answered-- + +"You hadn't better make any remarks to Lal in public; you know he +cautioned us about attracting a crowd." + +"Crowd or no crowd, I mean to tell him what I think of him," asserted +Ridgwell before he turned over and went to sleep. + + * * * * * + +The clock in the hall was just chiming twelve, and Mr. Jollyface was +taking his departure. + +Father and Mother were wishing him good-night and thanking him for +bringing the chocolate lion for Ridgwell. + +"It is really quite remarkable how I came to buy it," agreed Mr. +Jollyface; "but I was passing through Trafalgar Square when I +remembered that I hadn't bought Ridgie a present, and the sight of the +corner lion, as I crossed the Square, made me remember a sweetstuff +model of him I had seen in a chocolate shop in the Strand, so I went +and bought it. But really the most wonderful thing about it is the +almost uncanny intelligence of your children. Bless my soul! they +couldn't have known I had bought it; and yet, would you believe it, +they actually expected a lion, and asked me if I had brought one with +me." + +"Yes," agreed Father, "it's very wonderful; they were trying to +describe a lion before you came in. I think at times children must +have second sight, and that is why I am afraid we sometimes do not +understand them. Good-night, Jollyface; come and see us again soon." + + + + +BOOK II + +WHAT THE WRITER AND THE LORD MAYOR DECLARED + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE WRITER APPEARS UPON THE SCENE + +There had been a certain amount of excitement when Father and Mother +had started for their holidays abroad, but nothing in any way to be +compared to the excitement of the day when the Writer made his first +appearance. + +Ridgwell and Christine distinctly heard themselves being asked for by a +visitor, one day when the sitting-room door was open, and to be +inquired for personally was at least something of an event. "I want to +see the children," a voice had said, and there was no mistaking the +significance of the words. Without any undue delay, Ridgwell and +Christine immediately presented themselves. + +The stranger was led in captive, one upon either side of him, and being +placed upon the sofa was regarded steadfastly for some little while. +During a very thorough scrutiny the prisoner smiled affably, produced a +pipe which he lighted carefully and puffed at steadily, and then +inquired casually if they both thought he would do. + +"You look jolly," announced Ridgwell, "only I can't make out who you +are; but you know Father and Mother very well, don't you?" + +"Rather," said the stranger, "great friends of mine." + +"But we've never seen you, have we?" added Christine. + +"No," replied the stranger, "but I thought it was quite time I made +your acquaintance, so I thought I would call upon you. Sorry I haven't +got a card, but you can supply something in its place which will be +quite as good. Where does Father keep his books?" was the sudden and +somewhat unexpected question. + +"It just depends," debated Ridgwell, "what particular lot you want. +Biography, Philosophy, Romance or Poetry." + +"I think the Romance and Poetry department," suggested the stranger. + +"This way," said Ridgwell; "I will show you." + +The stranger ran his finger over the well-stocked orderly shelves, then +he paused at four volumes side by side about the middle of the second +shelf. + +"Of course you both read?" inquired the stranger. + +"Not those sort of books," explained Ridgwell. "We haven't quite got +up to those sort of books yet." + +"Anyway you can read the author's name upon the back of each of them." + +The children nodded. + +"That's me," confessed the stranger. "I have the misfortune to write +books that you don't read." + +"Father does," Ridgwell hastened to explain; "I've often heard him talk +about you. Why, you're quite famous, aren't you?" + +"I hope not," said the Writer. + +"Anyway," concluded Ridgwell, "Father said you wrote jolly good stuff, +only it was over the heads of the people, but Father said one of these +days when you woke up, you would knock 'em, and I've heard him say that +anyway it was better than some of the drivel a lot of people wrote +nowadays. He hoped you'd reform, though." + +The Writer laughed. "A very candid opinion, Master Ridgwell, and I +really must reform and mend my ways." + +"Don't you write fairy tales as well?" inquired Christine upon the way +back to the dining-room. + +"Sometimes," agreed the Writer. + +Without more ado, Christine drew three chairs invitingly round the +fire, almost by way of an invitation to recount some upon the spot. + +The fire was really very cheerful in spite of the fact that it was late +spring. The daffodils nodded their yellow heads quite contentedly, and +filled the bowls upon mantelshelf and table with colour, and the little +room with fragrance, at one and the same time. The coloured crocuses +peeped in from the window boxes outside, whilst the sparrows chirped +and hopped about and hoped that the Writer had something pleasant to +say about them. It was all very peaceful with the sunlight stealing +into the room through the lattice panes, making little patterns upon +the floor, the flickering red of the fire playing at hide and seek with +the diamond patterns and never quite catching each other; the yellow +flowers nodding drowsily over the two childish heads that were now +regarding the Writer most earnestly. The clock upon the mantelpiece +chimed its mellow notes. Three o'clock it said. The afternoon had +seemed almost dull up to that time, but now it all appeared to have +changed in some curious way, ever since the Writer had made his +appearance. + +"I wonder," commenced Ridgwell, "if by any chance you could have been +sent to us; you know we were faithfully promised that a Writer should +come and see us and write down for us something we particularly want to +remember. I wonder if you are the man," ended Ridgwell, quizzically. + +"Shouldn't wonder at all," murmured the Writer; "delighted if I have +had the honour to be chosen for the mission, and it really sounds to me +like one of Lal's very rash promises." + +"What!!!" It was a shriek from two children at once. Two pairs of +arms were suddenly flung around the Writer's neck, two pairs of arms +that were almost hugging him to death. + +The Writer endured this onslaught throughout in the most becoming +manner. + +"Lal _did_ send you then," shouted Ridgwell. "I knew it. How lovely! +Fancy your knowing him! Tell us all about it." + +The Writer smiled. "I have known Lal almost as many years as I can +remember; he is one of my oldest and very dearest friends." + +"Ridgie," said Christine solemnly, at this point, "do you remember the +motto of the cracker we pulled last night? It said-- + + "I'll whisper on this little page + A secret unto you: + The greatest wonder of the age + Shall suddenly come true." + + +But Ridgwell was beyond crackers, and beyond poetry; he felt, not +unreasonably, amidst the development of this new wonder, that he was in +possession of the real thing. + +"I think," said the Writer, "I had better tell you all about it from +the very beginning, but you know really it is quite a long story." + +Ridgwell and Christine arranged themselves comfortably to listen; +sometimes they looked at the fire, but more often at the face of the +Writer, but they never missed one word of his story. + +"I expect," commenced the Writer, "my story is going to be very +different from anything you children may have imagined; in fact, my +life has turned out so utterly different from anything it promised to +be in the early beginning, that at times upon looking back it seems to +be like some wonderful fairy tale--utterly unlike the ordinary fairy +tales, however, one reads in books. + +"The only two good fairies in my case were first and foremost our good +old friend Lal, and, secondly, a gentleman who in the early stages of +my life was always called the Miser, but who since has become one of +the wealthiest, most generous and notable personages in the City of +London. As a rule, whenever I think of my early childhood it is with a +shudder, for I was running about the streets of London minus any shoes +or stockings, with hardly any food save of the smallest and coarsest +description, selling newspapers in the streets until late at night, and +invariably soundly beaten if I did not take back some miserable coppers +at the end of the day. + +"I may say that these pence I had procured with so much toil were +always expended in the public-house by both the man and his wife who +were supposed at that time to provide me with the weird accommodation +they were pleased to call home. My particular portion of this edifice +was a dirty mat by way of a bed, which I shared with a rough-haired +terrier dog called Sam. We two, Sam and I, were roofed in with many +panes of broken glass in a species of outhouse which may at one time +have formed a small conservatory. It must have been a hopeless +failure, I am sure, as a conservatory, for I cannot imagine anything +growing in it at all. + +"One thing I am very certain of, I should never have grown either, but +should most likely have withered and died in it had I remained, like my +possible predecessors the plants, a few blackened and withered sticks +of which could still be seen in some broken red flower-pots upon a +shelf out of my reach. How these people came to have charge of me I +shall never know, but I have sometimes believed, from odds and ends of +conversation they let drop when they were quarrelling, which they were +always doing, that my real father and mother had died when I was a tiny +mite. + +"The woman, who seemed at one time to have been better off, was left a +sum of money to bring me up, as no relations appeared to claim me. At +this time the woman was single, and had not met the man she afterwards +married, the man who used to beat me so cruelly. Whether she spent all +the money left for me, or whether they both spent it, appears to be of +little consequence; anyway, once it was gone I was regarded with black +looks as an encumbrance, and turned out into the streets to make some +money, or do something for my board and lodging, as they expressed it. +I have already told you what the lodging was like. Well, the board +part of it corresponded to the rest of the picture in every way. +Crusts of old dry bread, which they couldn't eat themselves, did for me +and the dog, sometimes a little milk, varied by an occasional awful +form of hard cake which the woman cooked, and which was impossible to +eat unless first soaked in something. In the long hours of waiting +between selling the newspapers I learned to spell, and then to read, +very slowly at first, but still I learned. Then one of the men +employed at the newspaper office I collected papers from, although I +should imagine a very poor man himself, found a few pence every week to +have me taught to write and spell, together with arithmetic, grammar, +history and other things. This rather uncertain method of education +went on for about two years. I was getting on fine, and absorbing +everything I was taught with great rapidity, when my one friend, who +had provided the night school education, departed to another world +where I always hope he found the conditions easier than the one he had +left. I might have been at my miserable home in the slums with the man +and woman for years after this, only a curious form of providence was +working upon my behalf. + +"It had been a bad night for selling papers, I had a few coppers only, +and my heart sank down when I approached the hovel where we all lived. +The man and woman were quarrelling violently. As I slunk in white of +face and with a terrible quaking feeling inside me, I saw at once the +man was worse than he had ever been, and as I entered the door of the +squalid room he struck the woman an awful blow, then he saw me. He +grabbed me, and I think might have killed me that night, but I wrenched +myself away after he had given me the first blows; he pursued me, +catching at my coat, which at the best of times was only rags; he tore +part of the coat away, which was left in his hand, and I ran for dear +life. The man was mad and didn't know what he was doing, maybe, but +the only thing he could lay his hands upon was a broken brandy bottle; +he hurled this at my head. It struck me as I reached the street and +cut the back of my head open. Although I was hurt I staggered on. I +was dizzy and sick and the blood was dripping all over my shirt, but +though I swayed about I never stopped, I would go anywhere away from +the horror of that place. I never meant to go back there again. + +"The next thing I remember was some sort of Square, which I had never +seen until then, for I had never gone so far West in London before. +There was nobody about, and I sank down beside a sort of stone thing +and held my head, which hurt me horribly, and began to cry, I think. + +"I was only about ten or eleven years old at that time, if as much, for +no record of my age had ever been kept. Whether it was the pain, or +simply fright because the few clothes I had were covered in blood from +the wound in my head where the bottle had cut me, I don't know, but +there is no doubt that I lost consciousness, probably for some +considerable time. When I came to myself and woke up, it must have +been very late at night. It was a fairly cold night, but the moon was +shining, and the Square where I was sitting all looked like polished +silver, and the clock of a big church at the side of the Square boomed +out one. + +"I looked about me, and raised myself up painfully upon one elbow and +tried to think. + +"Here I was outside everything--no shelter, no home, alone in London +with a vengeance. True the other place had been a hateful home, yet at +the very worst it had been a shelter, and, moreover, the rough-haired +dog Sam and I had somehow squeezed together to keep ourselves warm, and +Sam was the only thing that was in any way fond of me, and Sam was +really good company. + +"As the thought of him came across my mind, and how I had lost him for +good now, I think I was about to start crying again, when a rather +gruff but quite kindly voice just over my head called out-- + +"'Now then, stop that.' + +"Of course I was only a very common Cockney little street boy at that +time, and I couldn't either speak the Queen's English properly or spell +it correctly, so when the voice said 'Stop that,' I said 'Wot?' 'Going +to cry,' said the voice." + +Here Ridgwell was so overcome with excitement by reason of a strange +coincidence that he interrupted. "Why, that is exactly what Lal first +said to me, and I can guess what the next thing was that he said to +you--wasn't it 'Here, jump up'?" + +The Writer smiled. "Yes," he said, "it is really very wonderful how +history repeats itself. That is exactly what he said, but what I said +is perhaps even more singular. + +"I raised myself slowly and looked up gradually, for my head still +ached and throbbed horribly, and when I saw it was a big bronze lion +that was speaking to me and looking quite pleasant, all I said was-- + +"'Lor lummy, if it ain't a bloomin' lion a-talking to me. 'Alf a +jiffey, cocky,' I said, 'an' I'll 'ave a climb up atween them paws of +yours.' + +"'You mustn't call me cocky,' remarked the Lion, reprovingly, when I +had once landed up safe and sound; 'you must call me Lal.' + +"'Right oh!' ses I. 'Can I sleep 'ere safe without a bloomin' copper +a-coming and diggin' of me art 'alf-way through my nap?' + +"'Yes, of course,' said Lal. 'Sleep here comfortably, and cover +yourself over with the policemen's capes. You'll find three of them +beside you. Hitherto they have always annoyed me by placing them +there, but upon this occasion I am really grateful to them, as they +will be useful for you to keep yourself warm with.' + +"'I fits in 'ere fine,' ses I, 'and so 'elp me I think ye're a stunner. +But I never knowed as lions talked afore.' + +"'My good little boy, there are many things that you do not know,' +answered the Lion, 'one of them being that you do not know how to speak +English correctly. I am afraid you are quite ignorant.' + +"''Ere, 'old on, Mister,' ses I, 'I've been to school, yer know.' + +"'The wrong schools, I fear,' replied the Lion; 'and would you oblige +me by not calling me Mister; in future always call me Lal.' + +"'Do them other three lions talk, Lal?' I asked. + +"'No, I am the only one that talks.' + +"'Then I should say as 'ow you're the best of the 'ole bunch,' I +remarked. + +"Lal sighed deeply. 'How dreadfully wrong,' he said; 'imagine a bunch +of lions! No, you certainly cannot speak at all correctly, so I think +perhaps you had better go to sleep instead.' + +"Well, before I went to sleep I remembered at the night school I had +gone to they always said people ought to say their prayers, so I +thought to myself for a minute, and I'm afraid this is something in the +nature of what I said-- + +"'Please send me as soon as you 'ave it, a goodish-sized lump o' bread +and drippin', or a big baked 'tater, cos' I am as empty as ever I can +'ang together. I don't want nothink tasty, but jist somethink fillin'. +I'm very grateful for lions wot talk and 'elps yer like a pal; and +please don't let no blighted coppers a see me, and lock me up. Don't +forget the drippin'--any sort, beef, mutton, or pork. Amen.' + +"'Humph!' remarked the Lion, when I concluded, 'that is a most singular +petition; to whom is it addressed?' + +"'Up there, Lal,' I answered, looking into the sky; 'they say you gits +everythink from there.' + +"'Dear me,' replied the Lion, 'really most singular. I notice you did +not describe the manner in which you expected these provisions to +arrive.' + +"'I'll get 'em, Lal; if not ter-night, ter-morrer.' + +"The Lion looked down at me quite kindly I thought. 'What is your +name?' he asked. + +"'Ain't got no name that I knows of 'cept Skylark.' + +"The Lion purred softly. 'You will have a name some day,' he said, +'and a great name, too. Why are you called Skylark now?' + +"''Cos I sings and whistles, t'other blokes in the streets calls me +that.' + +"I was just starting to show him how I could whistle, and had done a +bit, when we heard pitter-patter, pitter-patter, and the sound of +flying padded feet over the stone Square. + +"The Lion sniffed. 'It's a dog. What is he doing here to-night? I +suppose he is lost.' + +"I looked out between his paws, and I gave a shout of delight; I was +answered by loud yelps of gladness. + +"'It's Sam,' I shouted. 'Oh, Sam, 'ole cockie, 'ere I is; jump up wiv +me and Lal.' + +"'Is he all right?' asked Lal. + +"'Yus,' I yelled, 'a friend, a fust-class friend. 'Ere, Sam, I'll 'elp +yer up by yer paws,' and he scrambled up and licked my face. Then he +looks at the Lion. + +"'He'll do,' said Lal. 'Tell him not to attract attention by barking +or making any more of that noise. You must both go to sleep; and I +must say that you are a remarkably strange pair. However, here you +are, and here you must stay.' + +"When I woke up in the morning it was just beginning to be daylight. I +spoke to Lal, but he wouldn't answer, he was cold and still, and didn't +look as if he had ever spoken or moved in his life, and never would +again. I folded the policemen's aprons up tight and thin like +truncheons in case they missed them, clambered down, followed by Sam, +and had a wash in one of the basins of the fountains, and got fairly +clean and respectable, except my coat, all torn in half, which I +couldn't help, and then I set out to see what I could find. It was Sam +who nosed out something like a breakfast. + +"Two stale buns in a bag. I should think some child had thrown them +away--penny buns they were. I never tasted anything better, and Sam +had some of them, and he thought they were all right. + +"I made twopence that day, carrying a bag. The man who gave me the job +gave me the unnecessary caution at the same time, not to run away with +it, just as if such a thing was likely. Why, I could hardly lift it, +and I couldn't have run two steps with it. + +"He was an inquisitive man too, wanted to know if I had stolen the dog. +I said no, I didn't steal. 'Well,' he asked, 'if you don't steal, how +do you get a living?' I said, 'I'm getting it now.' He said it must +be a hard job. I replied, 'Golly, you're right, governor, this 'ere +bag is that 'eavy it drags me vitals out; wot's it got inside of +it--bricks?' Then he drove me off and said I was a cheeky little +devil, but he gave me twopence. Sam and I went to an eating-house and +got two big lumps of pudding on the strength of it, and that fed us +bang up for that day. + +"I waited around at night with Sam, and directly I saw the Square was +deserted, I hopped up into my old place and Sam after me. + +"'Hullo!' said Lal, 'you two have turned up again, have you?' + +"'Yuss,' I replied; 'it's the only 'ome we've got, yer know, Lal.' + +"'I must see what I can do for you,' mused the Lion. 'There is a man I +know who could give you work and help you at once, only his heart is +very hard at the present time; unfortunately success hasn't softened +him--he is a miser.' + +"'Ain't a miser a bloke 'oo grabs all wot 'ee gits?' I suggested; 'if +so 'ee wouldn't do nothink 'ansome for Sam and me; the only copper as +we would git art of 'im would be the ones 'eed call up ter give us in +charge. A miser don't seem no good to us, as they wants change out o' +nothing.' + +"'My dear little boy,' said Lal, 'your language may be pithy, but it is +so incorrect; your metaphors, moreover, are so mixed. I think,' said +the Lion, 'it is high time I took the Miser in hand; he is capable of +better things, and if success cannot give him the milk of human +kindness, I must try what sterner measures can effect. Get down now,' +continued the Lion, 'and both of you slip round the other side of the +pedestal and hide yourselves. I expect the Miser to pass this way +shortly, and you are not to interrupt on any account, or come back +until he has gone away, you understand.' + +"'Yuss, Lal, anyfink to oblige. Come on, Sam, and may 'is 'eart +soften,' I said. + +"Well, about a quarter of an hour afterwards, sure enough, a tall, +thin, elderly gentleman, with grey hair, in a top hat and frock coat, +came along, and he paused when he got to Lal, and looking round first +to see that he was not observed, he stopped beside Lal, and greeted him +with, 'Well, my old friend, and how are you this evening? do you feel +inclined to converse with me, or will you remain immovable, silent and +cold as you sometimes choose to be? Indeed I hope you feel disposed to +talk kindly to me, for I am far from happy, in fact it never entered +into my calculations that a highly successful man could ever be quite +so miserable.' After saying so much as this the elderly gentleman +paused, and observing that Lal had not taken any notice of his remarks +whatever, added in a lower tone, as if speaking to himself, 'Ah, not +communicable to-night, only bronze and stone, eh?' + +"Then the Lion spoke. 'I am not the only thing of bronze and stone. +Have you ever thought how the definition might perhaps apply to +yourself, for instance, Alderman Simon Gold?' + +"The tall thin gentleman appeared to be slightly taken aback by the +Lion's words. + +"'You have a front of bronze,' continued the Lion, 'and as hard; you +have a heart of stone and as useless.' + +"'It seems to me, my old friend,' replied the tall thin gentleman, +'that you have some grievance against me by the hard words you are +giving me. I came to you for comfort, but you don't seem to have +anything of the sort to bestow. However, I suppose all of us have our +ill humours.' + +"'True,' assented the Lion, 'save that some of us never change that ill +humour, but continue with it all through life. You yourself are one of +those people.' + +"'Humph! I certainly have displeased you,' vouchsafed the tall thin +gentleman; 'how I really cannot imagine.' + +"'I will tell you,' replied the Lion. 'Listen, therefore, carefully. +Let us go back to the very beginning of our acquaintance. I am correct +in stating that you were a homeless, ragged little urchin prowling the +streets of London.' The tall thin man nodded. 'I gave you the only +shelter you knew; others have used it since, all of them models of +gratitude compared with yourself. My friendship did not stop there. +You wanted work, a home, a name and riches. Who directed you to the +City? who told you how to start, and where you would find all those +things so long as you worked hard and were honest?' + +"'I did all those things,' interrupted the tall thin man; 'I did work +hard, I got a home, name, riches, and I have been honest.' + +"'Until to-day,' purred the Lion, 'until to-day, Alderman Gold.' + +"'To-day,' echoed the Alderman, but he started slightly. + +"'Those shares you bought in the City to-day, a very great number, do +you call that transaction honest?' + +"The Alderman's eyes sought the ground. + +"'Three people will be ruined in that transaction if you keep to it.' + +"'Think of the money.' + +"'Think of your name.' + +"'I must have money.' + +"The Lion laughed. 'You have heaps more than you require. Can you +name one good thing you have done with your money or your influence +since I plainly pointed the way out to you how to acquire them?' + +"There was no answer. + +"'Will you still decide to acquire those shares dishonestly?' + +"'Anybody in the City or on 'Change would do the same thing, it is done +every day.' + +"'Because burglaries may be committed every night, is it any reason why +you should commit one?' + +"'The world is the world,' replied the Alderman. 'I have to live in +it, and I have to fight it with its own weapons.' + +"'You have no wife.' + +"'No, Lal.' + +"'No child.' + +"'No.' + +"'No single soul your wealth can do any good for.' + +"'I need it all for myself.' + +"'You are hoarding money fast.' + +"'I shall need it all when I can no longer work; the value of money +decreases day by day. What is a fortune now will only be a pittance a +very few years hence.' + +"'All for yourself?' + +"'Yes.' + +"'Nothing will change you?' + +"'Why should it? I have only myself to consider, and I mean to make +more and more, and more, and never stop; there shall be no limit to +what I shall acquire, it is the only thing I care about now in life.' + +"'In addition,' said the Lion, 'you are cutting down every little +comfort and every luxury you might enjoy because you are becoming +frightened at every small expense.' + +"'Yes, growing expenses are the worries of my life.' + +"'In fact, you are becoming daily, slowly and surely, a miser.' + +"'It's not a nice word.' + +"'It is the truth. Your clerks are the most ill-paid of any in the +City of London. Only last week you cut down your office boy's tiny +salary from ten shillings a week to seven shillings, although you know +he has to pay two shillings a week for fares to and from your office.' + +"'How can I help his living out of town?' + +"'You know he has to live with his mother and brothers and sisters, +five of them in addition to himself. He only takes home five shillings +every week, but he _gives_ it all up; he is happier than you are.' + +"'Any way, I know how to arrange my own business,' snapped the +Alderman. 'I have prospered so far, and I intend to go on and prosper; +I am not going to change a single thing in my life or my methods of +business. I have prospered up to now, I shall prosper even more.' + +"'And hoard more?' inquired Lal gently. + +"'Yes, you call it hoarding. I call it amassing, and I shall strain +every nerve to amass more and more; it is too late in my life to alter +now.' + +"'We shall see,' said the Lion. 'I was going to ask you to do +something for me, something for some one who is as penniless as you +were once yourself; but if I did ask you a favour now I should only +waste time.' + +"'I have no time for charity,' said the Alderman. 'I heartily begrudge +the subscriptions we have to give from time to time in the City, yet +one is compelled to assist some of those for the sake of business; but +as for any outside charity, pooh! it's all rot, it's been proved long +ago they are all frauds. I shall always decline absolutely to give +anything or do anything for any outside charity. Life is too short.' + +"'We shall see,' said the Lion. 'Good-night.' + +"When Lal's friend from the City had departed, I came out from the +corner where I had been waiting, and Sam and I clambered up into our +old place out of sight. At that time I considered the City Alderman a +very horrid mean old man, and remembering Lal's words that he was a +miser, I made a mental resolution that although this was the first +specimen of the kind I had ever encountered, I never wished to meet +another of the same sort. + +"'Well?' inquired Lal, as I lay and looked up into his face before +settling down for the night. 'What do you think of him?' + +"''Ard-hearted, ain't 'e?' I replied. + +"'Humph! yes, at present,' mused Lal. + +"'Wot will yer give 'im ter take for it?' I asked. + +"Lal smiled. 'Oh, a little prescription of my own.' + +"'That bloke wot's just gone won't do nothink fer me. Can't yer +suggest somethink else, Lal, somebody as I could go to as would give me +some work?' + +"'If you have patience,' answered Lal, 'and look around and get a few +odd jobs, and a little grub for yourself and Sam every day for a little +while, like the small London sparrow that you are--I beg your pardon, I +should have said Skylark--I shall be able very shortly to bring our +friend to a better frame of mind; at the present moment his sense of +proportion is all wrong.' + +"'Wot's sense of proportion, Lal?' I inquired. + +"'If,' replied Lal, 'you persisted in thinking that you were as big as +I am, for instance, your sense of proportion would be bad; if I +imagined that I was as great as St. Martin's Church yonder, my sense of +proportion would be worse.' + +"'Lor' lummy, don't I jist wish I was as big as you.' + +"'Why?' asked Lal. + +"''Cos I'd 'ave a bit more weight to do fings wiv. There ain't no +doubt that strength tells in the end.' + +"Lal only chuckled at what I said, and I again went sound to sleep, as +upon former occasions, in my strange roosting-place. + +"The Alderman was in the habit of crossing Trafalgar Square every +evening upon his way home, although I had never observed him until the +night Lal had pointed him out to me; consequently, a few evenings +afterwards, I first noticed how strangely he was beginning to walk. I +can only describe it as a sort of zigzag from side to side, and +occasionally a sort of stumble, as if he was not quite certain where he +was going. + +"Now I had often noticed the man who used to beat me, and from whom I +had run away, walk something like that, and yet I knew at once it was +not owing to the same reason, and I was rather puzzled to account for +it, as the Alderman had never walked like that before, and had always +been so upright and brisk. + +"As the different evenings went on he grew worse and worse, until one +night I found him slowly groping his way across the Square, with his +hands stretched out in front of him, as if he was frightened of running +into something at every step: that was the first evening I led him +across the Square and over the road the other side; he seemed to +dislike the idea of the steps, and always avoided them, I noticed. + +"I did this for several evenings, and he never gave me anything, but as +he was an old friend of Lal's I did it more for Lal's sake than for the +Miser's, as I now called him; yet he seldom even thanked me for +assisting him, although it was only too evident that he ought not to be +walking by himself. A few days went by with nothing in particular to +remember about them, until the evening arrived that was to be the +turning-point in two people's lives, but at the time I knew nothing of +this, for my small mind was overwhelmed with the first great childish +grief of my life. I hadn't earned even one copper that day, and Sam +and I had not had a crumb to eat. I think we must have both looked +very thin and white. I know that Sam's bones could be seen plainer +than ever through his dear, shaggy old brown coat; but Sam never +complained, he stuck to me closer than ever; nobody ever had a better +friend than he was. + +"As ill luck would have it, Sam and I were crossing the wide street +where the traffic is always heaviest, before turning in at our old +quarters for the night. One of the many omnibuses passed, and somebody +either dropped or threw a small bag of biscuits over the side of it; +some rolled in the road, but a lot were left in the bag. + +"Sam, who was the finest dog for spotting grub I have ever known, went +for it like lightning; he had got it in his mouth, and was scurrying +back to me in triumph with his old ears back, full of the importance of +his find, when a two-horsed mail van struck him down in the road and +went over him. I went in between all the maze of wheels and got him +out; he was whimpering like a hurt child. I didn't wait for anything, +I carried him along towards the old place by Lal; but he only gave me a +lick, and died in my arms before I got there. + +"I couldn't climb up to Lal with Sam in my arms, and I wouldn't leave +him, so I don't know how long it was I crouched down in the shadow and +cried over Sam--bitter tears I wept, I know. I was alone and utterly +wretched, and Sam wouldn't ever speak to me again, would never do any +more of his tricks. When I noticed that even in his death he hadn't +released the bag of biscuits from his mouth, my tears flowed anew, and +I couldn't somehow have touched one of them if I had been twice as +hungry as I was. My grief at the death of Sam was so great that I +didn't seem to want to tell Lal about it, so I lay huddled up by the +corner of the pedestal where the shadow is darkest for what must have +been some considerable time. Then I heard feet groping about and the +voice of Alderman Gold talking. + +"For a long time I didn't care to listen to what he was talking to Lal +about. I heard the man say mockingly, 'Well, I suppose I'm beaten, and +you have been right all the time, my old wise Lion. What cannot be +endured, however, can sometimes be cured, so here's your health.' + +"I heard a low angry growl from Lal, unlike any sound I had ever heard +him make before, then Lal raised his paw and knocked something out of +the Alderman's hand that fell with a tinkling sound of broken glass. + +"I came slowly out of my corner to see what it was all about, and in +time to hear Lal say, 'You fool, oh! you fool, when will your eyes ever +be opened?' + +"'I was going to close them for ever. What's the good of having them +open _when I cannot see_?' + +"The Miser seemed to be angry as well as Lal, for his voice was +trembling with passion. 'Why,' continued the Miser, 'should I remain +_blind_ to please you, in order that all your prophecies may come true? +Why destroy the stuff I had bought just when I had need of it?' + +"The Lion regarded the Miser steadily with those fine great eyes of +his, somehow he seemed to look the Miser right through; then the Lion +sniffed thrice, very contemptuously. + +"'Do you know _why_ you are blind?' he asked the Miser. + +"'No,' answered the man, 'to be going blind is terrible enough without +asking the reason of it; what matter what this or that theory may be, +when the thing is there to speak for itself? I know I cannot see, and +that being the case my life is finished.' + +"'Or perhaps beginning,' ventured the Lion contemplatively. 'You +cannot see, Alderman Gold, because your eyes are filled with the colour +of the thing you have made your God all through your life; it is the +gold dust that has blinded you. The dazzling golden hoard you desired +through life, watched, kept, gloated over. This love that tinged all +your life and thoughts and feelings has poisoned you, has permeated +with its fatal colour everything so that you cannot any longer see the +beauty of the blue sky, the ripple of the moving waters, the tender +bloom of blossoming flowers and trees. Remove the terrible gold-dust +from your eyes that you have worshipped and you will see again, perhaps +better than you have ever really seen before.' + +"'Cease! cease!' broke in the Miser; 'you are only mocking my misery +now, and even if what you say is true, it is too late now to help me.' + +"'Not too late,' returned the Lion, more gently, I thought, than he had +spoken hitherto; 'just in time, I think, just in time.' Then he called +me. 'Skylark,' said the Lion, 'come here.' + +"I came out from my hiding-place, still hugging the body of poor Sam +close to me. The Miser peered at me curiously, though he couldn't see +me very well, or what I was holding, judging from the expression of his +face. + +"'I suppose,' said the Miser, 'this is the ragged little wretch who is +always hanging about here.' + +"'He is very ragged now,' said the Lion patiently, 'but he will be very +great one day.' + +"The Miser laughed his harsh, unpleasant laugh, and peered down to see +what I was carrying so carefully, then he put out his hand and touched +Sam's coat. + +"I pushed his hand away with my own dirty and grubby paw, but in a very +determined way. + +"'Don't yer touch 'im,' I cried. + +"'It's a dog,' said the Miser, 'and it's dead; a dead dog isn't of much +use to any one,' and he laughed again. I felt when he laughed that my +blood was boiling. + +"'Look 'ere, if 'ee's dead, 'ee's gone straight to 'Eaven, which is 'is +proper place, an' where 'e'll 'ave fields an' the country and rabbits +to chase, an' all them fings wot 'e ought ter 'ave 'ad in his life +'ere, an' 'e'll a wait fer me there sure as 'e always waited fer me +'ere, an' don't you say nothink agin Sam, 'cos in 'is life 'e was a +damned sight better than wot you are, so there.' + +"By this time my outraged feelings had so overcome me that I was +shouting at the Miser, who stood stock still saying nothing, for the +suddenness, to say nothing of the impudence, of my attack seemed to +have rendered him speechless. + +"'Steady, Skylark, steady,' said the Lion; 'try and behave a little +more respectfully, and cease to use that distressing street language;' +then Lal added by way of an afterthought, 'Come, climb up here, I want +to talk to you.' + +"I laid Sam down for the first time and complied with his request. + +"'Now,' said Lal, 'what shall I do with Alderman Simon Gold?' + +"''Im?' I asked, pointing to the Miser. + +"'Precisely.' + +"'Well, can't yer jist blow that there gold dust out of 'is eyes wot +seems to be a-choking of 'em as you sed 'e 'ad? You can do most fings, +Lal; 'ave a go, and see if 'e don't get better.' + +"The Lion smiled his very wisest smile, then he asked me, 'Little +Skylark, what have you got round your neck?' + +"'Only rags, Lal, but I can't 'elp them, you knows that.' + +"'Look again, little Skylark.' + +"'Lor lummy,' I said, 'wot is it?' for I was startled by the +unexpectedness of the thing I saw. Something seemed hanging round my +neck that glowed and glistened and sparkled like ever so many jewels. +The sort of gems that had made me wink my eyes whenever I had seen them +in the shop-windows. + +"'Lal, wot is it? 'ow did it get there?' + +"'It is the Order of Imagination,' said Lal solemnly, 'and oh! little +Skylark, there are only a few, such a few in the world who have ever +worn it, even for a few minutes. You will think of this some day, you +will remember my words always. Take it off your neck, Skylark, and put +it over the neck of Alderman Simon Gold for an instant, for he is only +just worthy to wear it. Look, there are two tears in his eyes, tears +of pity, the first he has ever shed in his life, and tears of pity, +little Skylark, are the keys that open the Golden Gates of Heaven.' + +"I did as Lal bid me, and I shall never forget. Simon Gold's face +became radiant. + +"'I can see,' he gasped, 'can see! Oh, Lal, what a brute I have been! +What have I been thinking about? Why am I so different? Why do I feel +that I want to give something to all the world? Why, Lal, I want to +give, I insist upon giving. Lal, why am I a different man, with +different feelings, with a _heart_?' + +"Once again Lal smiled that wise smile of his. + +"'The Order of Imagination does many things,' said Lal. 'If you want +to give, why not give with all your heart now and as long as you live? +Everybody, however, has to make a start. Well, start by giving the +Skylark a home, a good education, help him towards being the great man +that I say he will one day become. You will have found a faithful, +loving, lifelong friend, something as faithful and devoted as the +friend whose life he himself mourns to-night.' + +"'Poor old dog,' said Alderman Gold, 'I can't help him now, I wish I +could, but I'll help the other, by Jove, I will; of course I'll see he +has a good home, I'll see he's educated.' + +"'I think he will repay you for all the money you will spend upon his +education,' said the Lion, significantly. + +"'And I mean to spend money,' said the Alderman. 'I've been a beastly +miser, that's what I've been, but I shall never have that taunt flung +at me again.' + +"'Good,' nodded the Lion. 'Help him bury his pet in the big garden of +your London house, and bury at the same time all the past you want to +forget.' + +"'I will,' said the Alderman. 'Here, come along and get fed. Here, +what's your name?' + +"'Skylark,' prompted the Lion. + +"'Skylark? A very good name,' said the Alderman; 'it suggests Spring, +and--and----' + +"'Going steadily upward,' prompted the Lion. + +"'By Jove, Lal, you're wonderful,' exclaimed the Alderman. 'How can I +thank you for giving me my sight again, for making a different man of +me? and, good gracious, now I come to think of it clearly and +reasonably, every single thing you have told me has always been true.' + +"'If you believe that,' said the Lion, 'listen attentively to the last +thing I tell you, even more upon account of it being the last time I +shall actually _speak_ to either of you.' + +"'Say on, Lal, we cannot do without your help; I know I can't, and I +thought I could do most things.' + +"'You may consider it most inconsequent of me to mention such a +childishly fabled person to you as Dick Whittington, and yet strangely +enough that hero of a nursery legend will have a great deal in common +with both of you in your future lives.' + +"'Shall I be Lord Mayor of London three times?' laughed the Alderman, +who had appeared suddenly to have discovered how to laugh, and it +sounded strange to hear him. + +"'I won't say _three_ times,' said the Lion, 'but you will be one of +the greatest Lord Mayors of London in about fourteen years from now; +you will be knighted, and you will become one of the most beloved and +benevolent men in the whole City of London.' + +"'That sounds fine,' said the Alderman; 'how about Master Skylark?' + +"'Too early to prophesy,' said the Lion, 'with certainty, but I may say +this; I think when he has also found another Dick Whittington, and one +ever so different from yourself, he will become great almost by +accident, but he has to find this Dick Whittington first. He will +never part with Dick Whittington when he has found him, but as a result +of sitting in front of him day by day in great perplexity, he will +suddenly do the first thing that will make his name. You will only +_resemble_ Dick Whittington in your career, the Skylark will _find_ +Dick Whittington.' + +"'By Jove,' said the Alderman, 'that is a pretty difficult riddle, Lal, +and as I shall never solve it we can only wait and see.' + +"The Lion smiled. + +"'I believe you thoroughly love a riddle, Lal, you old Sphinx. Well, +anything else? Tell me, how much more of the future do you see?' + +"'Oh, a lot of things,' answered Lal, 'a very great many of them you +would not understand now, even if I explained them to you, which I +shall not think of doing. For instance, I see a very happy, cheerful +and prosperous elderly gentleman--ahem!--whose acquaintance you will +one day make, and whose amiable personality you in common with others +will thoroughly appreciate. I see a future charming Lady Mayoress +whose--ahem!--friendship you will be most glad of. I see two old +friends falling out about a certain matter of business in all +likelihood, and the _younger_ of the two will be absolutely in the +right. I see an estrangement that doesn't last more than a few years, +then a joyful reconciliation, perhaps all the more joyful on account of +the former separation. Then,' said the Lion, 'I see +something--ahem!--a series of most painful incidents, most unbecoming +to myself as well as yourself.' + +"'Good gracious,' said the Alderman, 'I wonder whatever that can be?' + +"'Like most other things about which there is a great fuss and +commotion, it will rise from a simple cause. There will be a great +meeting held in a public building, and the result of that meeting will +be in your favour.' + +"'In my favour,' echoed the astonished Alderman. + +"'Distinctly in your favour, and it will make the whole of England +laugh.' + +"'At me?' inquired the Alderman, with an apprehensive note in his voice +of quite pardonable nervousness. + +"'No,' said the Lion, 'the laugh will be rather upon your side, I +think.' + +"'Indeed,' said the Alderman; 'well, that sounds a bit better.' + +"'Moreover,' continued the Lion, 'for my own part I regret to say I +shall be taken in a triumphant procession through the streets of +London, guarded upon all sides by the police, and the whole proceedings +throughout will be sufficiently ridiculous to cause me the acutest +discomfort, all of which will be most undeserved and brought upon me by +the extravagant adulation of my would-be admirers. However, I shall +have to comfort myself in that time to come by considering that I am +not the only victim who has been sacrificed from the same cause.' + +"'Apart from the deep mystery attached to your strange prophecies,' +observed the Alderman, 'which I do not pretend at present to +understand, but which nevertheless I know will all come true, I am +truly concerned about one thing. Are you really serious, Lal, in your +intention of never speaking to me again? I feel the loss will be +irreparable, for you have always been my wisest councillor from my +boyhood upwards, and I only wish I had profited by your wisdom before +and listened more attentively to your counsels in the past, whatever +alterations I make in my life for the future.' + +"'I shall never actually speak with either of you again,' replied Lal, +'but you will be able to live all your youthful days over again in +him;' here Lal pointed to me. 'You can help him to avoid all the +mistakes you have made yourself; yet do not misunderstand me, I shall +give both of you a sign, and an unmistakable sign, to show how pleased +I am if you fulfil all the expectations I shall have cherished about +you.' + +"'What sort of sign?' asked the Alderman. + +"'I shall not tell you now, and you will both have to do an awful lot +before I show you the sign that I am satisfied with you eventually.' + +"Now let me see,' mused the Alderman, 'isn't there any little thing we +could do for you to show that we hadn't forgotten you?' + +"'You know what I expect of you,' retorted the Lion, 'keep your +promises.' + +"'Apart from that,' suggested the Alderman, 'some sort of memento, some +sort of recognition.' + +"'Oh, no,' hastily interposed Lal, 'no recognition, please, it is the +one thing I dread most in the world owing to the curious position I +occupy in public life. However, in the years to come, if you can +reasonably and truthfully look back upon all you have accomplished with +a certain amount of justifiable pride and satisfaction, you can come +here quietly one night and place a big wreath of water-lilies; lay them +as an offering between my paws; on no account hang them round my neck +like the other terrible people do upon Trafalgar Day, it only makes me +look ridiculous.' + +"'Why water-lilies?' asked the Alderman. + +"'My favourite flower,' sighed the Lion, 'and, moreover, the one I +never see. You see, the fountains splash about so incessantly that +there is no peaceful place where they can grow, and you wouldn't +believe,' added the Lion earnestly, 'how I sometimes long for those +irritating fountains to stop, and for beautiful water-lilies to grow +there instead.' + +"'It shall all be done as you say, and I will ponder over every single +thing you have mentioned,' promised the Alderman. + +"'Good-bye till then,' said the Lion in his most sepulchral voice, and +then the Lion smiled at me and said, 'Good-bye, little Skylark.' + +"For my own part I had stood by quite silent without saying a word, but +I somehow realized that if I wasn't going to see and speak to my old +friend Lal any more, there were several things I wanted to say, and a +good many more things I wanted to ask. + +"'Ere, 'old on 'arf a mo', cocky,' I shouted. + +"'Oh, _don't_ call me cocky,' entreated Lal, 'and what _do_ you mean by +that expression "hold on"? Is not my whole life a perpetual exhibition +of "_holding on_"?' + +"'You've been a first-class, tip-top pal to me, Lal, an' I wants ter +know first where that there ring wot shined like blazes, and wot 'ung +round my neck and then round 'is, 'as a-gone to? Ain't I to 'ave it no +more?' + +"'You will have the memory of it,' replied Lal; 'you have possessed it +once, and I think you will have quite enough imagination left all +through your life without it; in fact, in the future, at times you will +have rather too much imagination for the comfort of your other +fellow-creatures.' + +"''Ave I got to go with 'im?' I asked; ''ave I got to say good-bye to +you?' + +"'Certainly,' replied Lal in his most stately way; 'you are going to +have a very happy life; you are a fairly respectable kid now, but you +will become more and more respectable until one will hardly recognise +you at all. You are going to have a ready-made Father and Mother which +I have provided you with.' + +"'Ain't 'eard nothink about no Muvver yet,' I said; 'where's the Muvver +come in?' + +"'Ah! you wait and see,' whispered the Lion mysteriously. + +"'Are you a-kiddin' me, Lal? if so, chuck it!' + +"'Oh! dreadful, dreadful expressions!' lamented Lal. 'Undoubtedly the +next time I see you I believe your grammar will have improved, and your +vocabulary have become more select. I hope so!' + +"It was at this point that something about Lal's eyes and attitude gave +me the idea he was going to shut up for good, so to speak, and my +feelings so overcame me, that without thinking I flung my arms round +Lal's neck, that is to say, as far as they would go, and hugged him. + +"Lal opened his eyes again, and somehow I am sure that he was grinning, +such a pleasant-looking, happy grin, but he spoke in his severest +manner to me-- + +"You must really restrain these exhibitions of feeling in public; if a +policeman chanced to observe you I think there would be the greatest +difficulty in offering any adequate explanation. + +"'No, Lal,' I answered; 'all I ses to the coppers when they ses anyfink +to me is "Rats"--always "Rats," and when I ses "Rats" they can fink +what they jolly well likes.' + +"Lal sighed, and said, 'How like Dick Whittington!' and those were the +very last words I ever heard him speak, although I little dreamed how I +was to meet him again." + + * * * * * + +At this juncture Cookie appeared carrying a most wonderful silvern +tea-tray, whereon a bright gilded urn sizzled happily, and a most +inviting-looking pyramid of toasted muffins nestled in apparently +friendly rivalry with the choicest cakes of Cookie's own baking; even a +heaped-up crystal dish of whole strawberry jam could not conceal its +blushes as the firelight played upon it. + +"Fairy tales," said Cookie, "I know; I've listened to them many a time +myself." + +"No, Cookie, you are wrong," ventured Ridgwell in tones of rebuke; "it +is not a fairy tale, every word of it is true." + +"That's what Cinderella always declared, Master Ridgwell," was Cookie's +imperturbable reply, as she prepared to depart. + +The Writer chuckled quietly. + +"Of course it is true, isn't it?" asked Ridgwell and Christine in +unison. + +"Of course," said the Writer, "every word of it, and anyway if it isn't +it ought to be, like all romances." + +"But you haven't finished," objected Ridgwell, whilst he munched a +muffin, and Christine poured out the tea. + +"No," agreed the Writer, "I haven't finished yet, but I warned you that +it would be a very long story, didn't I?" + +"Oh, but we are so anxious to know what happened to the Skylark and the +Miser, I mean the Alderman, for of course he wasn't a miser any more, +was he?" + +"Well, you see," explained the Writer, as he took his tea contentedly, +which he really felt he stood in need of, apart from any consideration +of deserving it, "nobody is able to read a long book all at once, and I +propose to tell both of you the remainder of this extraordinary story +in a few days' time." + +"Anyway, that's ripping," vouchsafed Ridgwell. + +"I think myself," added the Writer mysteriously, "that the great events +Lal spoke of so long ago are about to happen." + +"Do tell us when?" implored Ridgwell. + +"I fancy very soon now; of course, you children don't read the papers, +do you?" + +Ridgwell and Christine shook their heads. + +"Well, in to-day's paper there was one paragraph that threw out a very +decided hint that the present Lord Mayor of London was going to be +knighted by the King, not only on account of his public worth, but +because the wonderful Home for London Children he has built is almost +completed." + +"Of course, the new Lord Mayor is Alderman Gold?" inquired Christine. + +"He was Alderman Gold," said the Writer, "but I think myself before +many days have passed it will be Sir Simon and Lady Gold." + +"Who is Lady Gold? You never told us a word about Lady Gold," objected +Ridgwell. + +"Ah," said the Writer, "that will all come in the second part of my +story. Any way, no name was ever more appropriate than hers. She is +absolutely gold all through, head and heart and everything. Lady Gold +is, I consider, an absolutely suitable name for her, although two +people I know always call her Mum; and, do you know, I think she will +prefer that title, even when she gets the other." + +"Who are the two people who call her Mum?" + +"That's telling in advance," observed the Writer, as he helped himself +to a fourth muffin; "and of course to tell in advance always spoils a +story. But I intend that both of you children shall hear and see the +story to an end. In three days' time from now I am coming to fetch you +both, and you will be able to see the Lord Mayor drive past in state, +for I am giving a tea to celebrate that great occasion and also another +great occasion at one and the same time. I will finish the story then, +and you will both meet the Lord Mayor of London." + +"Will he have his robes on?" inquired Christine expectantly. + +"I don't know that he will wear them, but perhaps I could induce him to +bring them with him to show us." + +"That's fine," said Ridgwell. "Will you really come to fetch us?" + +"Yes, in three days' time." + +"Where do you live?" asked Ridgwell, unexpectedly. + +The Writer pretended to be most mysterious all at once. + +"Where do you suppose I live?" he asked Ridgwell; "I do not think you +will ever guess." + +"Whitechapel?" hazarded Ridgwell. + +The Writer pretended to look almost hurt. + +"Peckham?" suggested Christine. + +"Very bad guesses," laughed the Writer. "You are both wrong. I have a +set of chambers facing Trafalgar Square, where every morning of my life +I can look out of the front windows and see my dear old friend Lal." + +Both the children gave a shout at this astounding piece of information. + +"And we shall see the Lord Mayor go past in state from the windows?" + +"Yes," said the Writer; "but if what I believe is coming to pass, +provided that the right time has come, and I think myself it has, we +shall all see the sign that Lal promised us he would give, so long ago." + +"The sign," echoed Ridgwell breathlessly; "I say, that's something +like!" + +"We shall see what we shall see, and as that is Chapter One of my story +I am going to take my departure." + +After the Writer had left, Ridgwell turned to Christine. + +"It's the jolliest afternoon we've had since Father and Mother left, +isn't it, Chris?" + +Christine nodded; she was considering many things. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +TWO DICK WHITTINGTONS + +The streets of London were alive with an unwonted gaiety, and crowds of +people waited patiently, and with an air of expectancy, to see the Lord +Mayor of London pass in state on his way from the Mansion House to the +Home for Children which he had built--about to be opened that day by +his Majesty the King. + +Ridgwell and Christine sat in the broad, chintz-covered window-seat of +the Writer's chambers overlooking Trafalgar Square, and viewed the +great crowds of people beneath them with astonishment and interest. + +"When the Lord Mayor passes my window," said the Writer, "he has +promised to look out as far as his dignity will permit and nod to me. +That he also intends to nod to our old friend Lal is a foregone +conclusion, for without that recognition upon his part I am sure the +day's ceremony would be incomplete." + +"Will it be like a circus?" inquired Ridgwell. + +"Yes, rather like a circus," admitted the Writer. "That is to say, a +very great deal of gilt and highly coloured horses, soldiers, and +inevitably one brass band playing, probably more than one." + +"We can see Lal perfectly from here," said Christine. + +"What is that large wreath for, placed between Lal's paws?" asked +Ridgwell. + +"That," declared the Writer, "was placed there early this morning by +the Lord Mayor himself. He ordered it from Covent Garden, and he had +great difficulty in procuring it even there. The wreath is entirely +composed of water-lilies, Lal's favourite flower, and is put there in +honour of the occasion. Of course this is undoubtedly one of the great +days in the Lord Mayor's life, and he looks upon it as one of the +crowning features in his whole career." + +A sudden increased agitation among the crowd, a rumble as of cheering +in the distance, and the first sound of trumpets and drums announced +that the procession was drawing near. + +The first sign of the vanguard were some mounted policemen who rode +ahead to clear the way. There appeared to be little need for this +precaution, as the crowds were standing in most orderly rows along the +pavements. + +"I'm sure Lal doesn't like those policemen," said Ridgwell decisively. + +"No," agreed the Writer, "he sees such a lot of them where he is and, +of course, he detests crowds of any sort, they jostle and bump his +pedestal so much that it makes him feel uncomfortable. Here come the +mounted soldiers; they look very smart, don't they? And here is the +band, blowing their trumpets for all they are worth; some of them +almost look as if they would burst with the effort." + +"Is that first carriage the Lord Mayor's?" inquired Christine. + +"No, the first carriages are all the other Aldermen." + +"Six carriages full," said Christine. "And look at those men in red +and gold standing up behind the last coaches." + +"Yes," said Ridgwell, "strap-hangers. I wonder how they keep their +balance and keep all that powder on their heads." + +"I fancy," said the Writer, "they have to practise it; and as for the +powder, I expect it is a secret preparation known only to themselves." + +A burst of renewed cheering greeted the appearance of six cream horses, +richly caparisoned with red and gold trappings, urged on by outriders. + +"Here is the Lord Mayor," exclaimed the Writer excitedly, as he +produced a large red silk handkerchief and waved it wildly out of the +window. + +There could be no doubt whatever that a fat old gentleman with red +cheeks and a white moustache, whose portly form was covered with a +scarlet and fur gown, around which hung a lot of glittering golden +chains, and who had one side of the state coach all to himself, saw the +Writer's greeting and returned it. The children saw him look up at the +window and deliberately bow, then he turned his head in the direction +of Lal, the Pleasant-Faced Lion, and bowed and smiled. + +"Quite gorgeous," observed Ridgwell when the procession had passed, +"but I always thought from what you told us that Alderman Gold was tall +and thin." + +"Ah," said the Writer, "that was at the beginning of the story, and he +was a Miser then, and most misers are thin; but as he grew more and +more cheerful, more and more happy, he grew a bit fatter and a bit +fatter still, and then he got colour in his cheeks, until he became the +jolly, agreeable, fat, old, good-natured gentleman you have seen just +now in the distance. However, you will be able to see him at closer +quarters and make his jolly acquaintance for yourselves presently, for +he will call here and see me after all the ceremony is over." + +"Will he be in time for tea?" inquired Christine. + +"No, much too late for tea, Christine, but there will be a welcome for +him, which I know he is looking forward to, and something I think he +will like better than the big City banquet he has presided at, and it +will be waiting for him here--a good cigar and a drink," and the Writer +indicated a very handsome piece of old oak furniture at the end of the +long room, which contained mysterious little cupboards which opened in +odd angles and unexpected curves. + +"I do hope he will turn up in his robes," ventured Ridgwell. "I rather +want to see what they are like." + +"We must wait and see about that, and as it must be some considerable +time before tea, and a longer time still before His Worshipful the +Mayor can possibly be here, I propose to finish the rest of the story I +told you, right up to the present time. Of course, Lal may give the +sign he promised to-night, or he may not; if he does you will both be +here to see it." + +Thereupon Ridgwell and Christine curled themselves up upon the broad +window seat, and prepared to listen. + +The Writer closed the window, and they all noticed that the crowds +beneath were rapidly dispersing; occasionally some one would stop for a +second and look at the big wreath of water-lilies between the Lion's +paws, but the majority of people passing appeared not to have noticed +it at all. + +"Where did I get to in the story?" asked the Writer. + +"Lal had said his last word to you," volunteered Ridgwell; "and what I +particularly want to know is this: how did that second mysterious +promise about Dick Whittington come true eventually, and did you ever +meet Dick Whittington as Lal declared that you would, and did he really +bring you fame and fortune when you met him?" + +The Writer smiled. "Yes, indeed I met him, but not in any way or +fashion that I should ever have expected. Of course both of you +children know Lal well enough by this time to realise that he loves a +little joke of his own at our expense, and many of his mysterious +promises, although they come true in a way, turn out to be utterly and +completely different from what he would seem to suggest to us by his +words; in fact, Lal is like a great happy conjuror or wizard who dearly +loves to mystify us with a trick. I am convinced he enjoys our +amazement at any of his pet tricks, as much as he enjoys the laugh he +has at our expense." + +"That's right," said Ridgwell; "he tricked Chris and me finely once. I +haven't forgiven him so very long for it, and it made me feel very +uncomfortable for a good while." + +"Everybody forgives Lal in the end," laughed the Writer; "one simply +cannot help oneself, but really his pranks are too absurd, and yet when +I found out how I had been tricked, I couldn't be cross with him, for I +actually loved his funny old ways more than before, if such a thing +were possible. To continue my story where I left off, Alderman Gold +seemed in some miraculous way to have had much more than his sight +restored to him that night. The first thing he did was to lift the +body of poor Sam very gently, and as we left the Square he called a +cab, and whilst we drove to his big mansion in Lancaster Gate, he asked +me to tell him everything I could remember about my short life up to +that time. Of course, I did so in my own peculiar fashion; the +verbiage of the street and the gutter must have been freely sprinkled +about during that narrative. Sometimes he looked thoughtful, and at +other times he lay back in the cab and laughed out loud. When we +arrived at his big house, which seemed to me at that time to be a +mighty great mansion, he first made his way into a very big garden at +the back where there were a lot of trees, and opening a gardening shed, +he got a spade and dug a grave for Sam deep down under the trees, and +it is there with his name, which was afterwards carved on a piece of +wood, until this day. + +"Whilst my childish tears were still flowing as the result of this sad +ceremony, a lady came down the garden path in the moonlight, and as she +joined us I noticed that although she appeared a little startled, she +had a most beautiful face. + +"'I didn't know it was you, sir, I couldn't think who could be digging +in the garden at this time of night, and I grew frightened.' + +"'Mrs. Durham,' said the Alderman earnestly, 'I was digging a grave for +the dead pet of this small piece of humanity here, who will henceforth +be one of your special charges.' + +"Mrs. Durham glanced at the Alderman rather in amazement, I thought, as +if he had suddenly taken leave of his senses, but she looked at me as +she has ever done in a most kindly way. + +"'Skylark,' said the Alderman, 'this is Mrs. Durham, my housekeeper.' +Perhaps the Alderman had seen the expression upon Mrs. Durham's face, +and had interpreted it correctly, for he added, 'Mrs. Durham, I am +somewhat ashamed to say that in the grave of a faithful and most +devoted creature I have here buried metaphorically, for good and all, +as many of the reprehensible habits of my old life as I can cast at +once, therefore, if I seem to you to be very different in the future, +you may know there is a good reason for my being so. Could you +conveniently take this infant and get him something substantial to eat +and drink, and see he is put to bed?' + +"Mrs. Durham said, 'Very well, sir,' and taking my hand led me into the +house; but she still looked amazed, as if she had seen a ghost, I +thought. + +"A good many other people, I fancy, must have looked amazed the next +day, when in the Alderman's big City offices all the clerks found that +their salaries were to be raised. I rather imagine the office boy was +the most astonished of all, for upon discovering that his master had +raised his weekly remuneration to a pound a week, he was heard to +exclaim, 'Well, that knocks all, that is if the Governor hasn't got +softening of the brain!' + +"The Alderman didn't stop there by a long way, for I know that all the +servants in his house commenced to have a different time of it, and his +thoughtfulness, as far as I was concerned, was more than wonderful. + +"I remember a few days after my arrival he called a council of war with +Mrs. Durham, at which I was present, and I may say in passing, that +Mrs. Durham and I were by this time fast friends. + +"'There is one thing that must be done at once, Mrs. Durham,' I +remember him saying during that important interview; 'the youngster +must go at once to school. Now the difficulty is this: I don't want +him to start at a disadvantage from the very beginning, and speaking as +he does now, no ordinary school would take him.' + +"'I'm afraid not, sir,' debated Mrs. Durham. + +"'Very well, then,' said the Alderman, 'at present there is only one +thing to do; we must have somebody here to teach him English, anyway to +speak properly and to write and spell before he goes to a school. It +must be done, but I think myself it is going to take time,' concluded +the Alderman. Then he put on his hat and started for the City. + +"I am not going to dwell upon this youthful period of my life, for +everybody's school-days very much resemble every other person's, but I +do know that the Alderman's belief that my education would take time +proved to be only too true. I shall never forget how long and +painfully I worked and toiled to speak my verbs in their proper tenses, +to stop dropping my aitches, how I longed to drop the Cockney slang, +how my life became possessed with a sort of terror that I should come +out with some expression that would cause concern to either my +benefactor or to Mrs. Durham. + +"Well, I strove, and at last I succeeded so well that I was sent to a +fine school where I received a first-class education, and the only +effect of the great struggles I went through at this time was a sort of +nervousness which I shall have all through my life, and which results, +no doubt, from intense anxiety all those years not to make mistakes. + +"And so I skip along until one night after the school had broken up at +the end of a winter term. I remember it all so well. I had taken the +best prizes in the fifth form, I was barely fifteen, and I rushed home, +tore into the library, and emptied all those beautifully bound books +into my benefactor's lap. He had been smoking his cigar, and was +dozing in front of the fire. + +"'What do you think of that, Dad?' I yelled. I always called him Dad +as a sort of distinction, for although he wasn't my father really, he +had been a ripping father to me. + +"'Bless my heart, my boy,' he said, 'have you taken all these prizes? +Why, I'm proud of you.' + +"'And I proud of you,' I said; then I laughed at him. 'You've tried to +keep a secret from me, Dad,' I cried, 'and you haven't succeeded a bit. +Where's Mum?' + +"'Now how on earth did you know that, miles away at school, too?' +laughed the Alderman. + +"'Read it in the papers days ago. Where is she, Dad? I want to give +her a good hug.' + +"'I'm here, dear boy,' said a voice just over my shoulder, a voice I +knew so well, that had helped me more in my childish hours than I could +ever count, a voice that was perhaps the one that had taught me to +speak correctly in those trying early days. She wasn't Mrs. Durham any +longer, she was Mrs. Gold, but she hadn't altered one bit, and she was +Mum then, as she has always been since. + +"It wouldn't be honest to skip the next part of the story, and yet I +always want to omit this part somehow, because it is entirely composed +of events brought about by my own selfishness, obstinacy and +pig-headedness, although as a young man I never realised the great +grief and the real trouble I was causing to people who had always loved +me and done everything for me. + +"It started after the time I had left the University of Oxford. I had +just commenced to feel my wings, so to speak. Everything there had +helped to increase and nourish my love of literature, the set I mixed +with had placed me on a sort of pedestal which I in no way deserved, +everybody seemed to expect a lot from me, every one seemed to believe I +would do great and wonderful things, and what was more disastrous +still, I believed I should do wonderful things myself. Imbued with +these beliefs, I went home after my last year at Oxford, determined to +be a great writer, mark you, not an ordinary writer, since I was +positively assured of the fact that I had only to make an appearance in +print to be instantly proclaimed one of the immortals. Whilst I was in +this ridiculous frame of mind, Dad unfolded to me the cherished scheme +of his life. It was that I should go into his office and learn the +business, and one day become the head of the firm. + +"I think my blank face must have told them the utter hopelessness of +the scheme, even before I had explained to them all my hopes and +beliefs as to what I intended to be. One of the things I regret most +in my life was the grief I saw only too plainly upon the old Dad's +face. He had been brought up a business man all his life, he didn't +believe in Literature as a living. He never argued, he didn't storm, +hardly said anything, except begging me in an appealing sort of way to +reconsider my decision. But I saw at once that I had dealt a +death-blow to all his hopes, and, like the selfish young brute I was, I +didn't care so long as I got my own way. + +"I must have been utterly mad at the time, or intoxicated with my own +belief in myself, for I even went further, and said I was going away +without any further help of any sort, and that I would make a name, and +not come back until I had done so. I refused all assistance; I only +wanted their good-will and belief in me, and this I knew neither of +them could honestly give me. The Dad implored me to let him assist me; +they both begged me to live at home until I could rely upon myself, +feel my own feet, or lastly, the most fatal sentence they could have +uttered in my state of pride, to remain at home until I realised the +_failure_ I was about to make and alter my mind. + +"What a hopeless and silly thing is pride. It must be a dangerous +thing, too, if it can suddenly choke years of love and devotion. + +"Pride was uppermost then when I left the house where we had all been +so happy, and went out into the world, and I told them both I would +only return when I had made myself famous, and not before. I believe +they both broke down when I left, but I was a selfish young brute, and +I never saw their view of things, nor how bitterly it must have hurt +them. Retribution was not long in coming; I found as time went on that +there were dozens of men, and women too, who could write better than I +could. I found a living was not easy to get. I went even further +still, and found at last that it was impossible to get any living at +all. Education--there were hundreds of men, highly educated men, too, +without any means of earning a living. Inspiration--and I had prated +about inspiration often enough; inspiration only became inspiration +when it was recognised as such. Luck, chance--I found there were no +such things, save as words. Money--I never made any now, and gradually +I went down and down, grew shabby, was passed hurriedly by friends of +my own choosing; then followed shabby rooms and little food, only to +give place in turn to an attic and no food at all. Pride must have +been still at work with a vengeance, for whatever I suffered there was +not a single day or night that I could not have rushed home and been +welcomed like the Prodigal of old, and been rejoiced over. But the +very idea of this gave me a chill feeling of horror. How could I go +home with all my boasts unfulfilled? Was I to creep home a +self-confessed failure, with the alternative of acknowledging it and +mending my ways and becoming the head of a business firm with a heart +embittered for life? I felt I would never do this. I would prefer to +starve upon the Embankment, and when I made that resolution I knew only +too well what I was in for. I had done the same thing in my earlier +life, only it needed a far greater courage to face that life now than +it required then. Things were at their very worst when one day, as I +was wending my way through the poverty-stricken locality in which I +lived, I was hailed by my name. The man was shabbily dressed, but +about my own age as far as I could gather, yet I never remembered +having met him before. + +"'You don't remember me?' he asked. + +"'No,' I replied. + +"'Humph!' he rejoined, 'and yet at school you had quite a slap-up fight +upon my behalf, which ought to have been a lesson to snobs in general, +simply because I insisted upon talking to my own father when he was +driving one of his own furniture vans.' + +"'Murkel Minor,' I murmured. 'Jove, yes, I remember.' + +"'Well, I'm a dealer now, got a place of my own, first-class antiques, +you know, doing rather well, too.' + +"I nodded. + +"'But, I say, how about yourself? you don't look up to much. What are +you doing? You know all the swell chaps at school, who always looked +down on me, used to think you would do no end of things.' + +"Somehow or other a sudden feeling of utter frankness came over me. 'I +am not doing anything,' I said. 'I've never done anything, and I don't +believe now I ever shall do anything.' + +"'What are you supposed to do?' asked Murkel, and he asked it in rather +a nice way. + +"'Writing,' I said. + +"'Books?' + +"'Yes, and stories, and any blessed thing that comes along; that is to +say, when it _does_ come along.' + +"Murkel mused for awhile as we walked along, and to this day I do not +know whether he considered he was paying off an old debt, or whether he +really required my services. Anyway he told me he wanted a descriptive +catalogue written of some of his best antiques, their history +guaranteed and authenticated, and that he would pay me a fair sum for +writing it. + +"I left my one-time schoolfellow Murkel Minor, with the certainty of +work for which I should be paid, and with something like a ray of hope, +and oddly enough I did not lament over the strange fortune which had +prevented any one from accepting any of my books or poems, but had +given me instead the writing of a catalogue of bric-à-brac. There was +one thing I often resented in my own mind, and frequently sneered at +most bitterly whenever I remembered it; that was the fact that Lal had +prophesied that I should become great, and also that I should meet Dick +Whittington. Both these imaginary things I regarded now as being +utterly unreliable, and looked upon as two ghostly myths of the past. +I might have known better. The nervousness from which I suffered, and +which I have already alluded to, was becoming so marked that it greatly +stood in my way, particularly whenever I had any writing to do. I +would fidget, bite my fingers, nibble the pen, break the nibs, a +thousand things sooner than deliberately sit down to write. +Concentration seemed at times to me wholly impossible. One day, after +sacrificing many nibs, and breaking my only ink-bottle, I settled down +sufficiently to finish Murkel's catalogue, and received the sum of five +pounds for the work. It seemed untold riches to me at the time. As I +went homeward through the maze of dirty streets towards where my garret +was situated, I had to pass through one where the outside pavement +stalls were always heaped up upon either side of the way with every +imaginable thing from greengrocery and scrap-iron to old prints and +china-ware. + +"Upon one of these stalls an inkstand immediately attracted my +attention, partly from the fact that I had broken my own ink-bottle, +and had resolved to buy another, but more particularly because this +inkstand appeared to me to be one of the most uncommon receptacles for +ink I had ever seen. It was made in what I judged must be some old +form of china-ware I never remembered to have seen before, and beneath +the dirt which was thickly coated over it I could see that both the +modelling and colouring of it were very beautiful. It represented a +figure lying upon the ground beside a big tree-stump, which, after the +mud should be scraped out of it, was evidently intended to contain ink, +and a milestone, when a similar operation had taken place, would +doubtless contain one pen; a coloured three-cornered hat flung beside +the figure upon the ground was obviously designed to hold a taper. + +"The inkstand attracted me strangely, and I was so fascinated with it +that I could not take my eyes off it. The woman to whom the stall +belonged, doubtless spotting a likely customer, asked me how much I +would give her for it. I deliberated for some time, as I had not the +remotest idea what its value might be in her eyes, so I offered her +eighteenpence as a sort of compromise between the inkstand and other +articles ticketed upon her stall. + +"'Give us two bob, and it's yours,' suggested the stall woman. +However, I was firm, and was upon the point of going away when she +called me back, and thrust it into my hand, carefully holding on to one +of the square corners of it until she saw the money safely deposited. + +"It took me some time to clean it properly when I got it home, but I +must say it fully rewarded all the efforts I made to wash it, and +somehow the more I looked at it the more beautiful I thought it was. + +"There was something about that contemplative figure lying upon the +grass that gave me confidence and reassurance, and I found myself +regarding it as an old friend and talking to it, and when the big +tree-stump was filled with ink I used to sit and write from it for +hours. There always seemed to be encouragement and inquiry in the +laughing face that looked from the figure on the inkstand, as if it +were saying, 'Well, what are you going to write now, and when are you +going to finish it?' I began to imagine that it gave me inspiration +whenever I wrote; whether that was so or not, it certainly answered +much better than its predecessor, the dull old ink-bottle that had been +broken. + +"So day by day I worked hard, and somehow became convinced that the +wonderful little inkstand helped and inspired me in some curious manner +which I could in no way account for, and after a few months I finished +my book, eking out a scanty existence with other odd literary jobs. It +was about this time that Murkel called on me. + +"He stumbled up the winding stairs to my garret one day, smoking a +quite objectionable pipe, and declared that I was the only old +schoolfellow he had ever cared to call upon, as all the rest were +snobs, and wound up by stating that we probably got along so well +together as he came from the people, and he was certain that I came +from the people also, and only those people who came from the people +themselves ever got there eventually. + +"After I had listened patiently to this harangue he came to the point +by declaring he was a great friend of a publisher who sometimes bought +the Murkel curios, furniture, china, pictures, etc., and if I liked he +would get him to read my new book. + +"I was only too thankful to accept this offer, and was saying so when a +curious thing happened. Murkel, whose eyes had been roaming around my +one attic room with the curious instinct of the dealer, and finding +nothing that in any way interested him, suddenly crossed over to my +rickety writing-table, and pouncing upon my inkstand emitted a low and +prolonged whistle which might have been emblematical of either +astonishment or delight. + +"'Don't drop that inkstand,' I said. 'I'm very fond of that.' + +"'Drop it!' almost shouted Murkel, 'drop it! Great Scott, do you know +_what_ it is?' + +"'Yes,' I said, 'of course, it's an ink-stand.' + +"Murkel looked at me almost pityingly. 'Oh, my great aunt,' he said, +'the ways of writers are beyond understanding. Here's one who lives in +a garret, probably hasn't enough to eat, and upon a rickety +three-legged writing-table, which would be a disgrace to a fifth-rate +coffee-house, he has a jewel worth a hundred guineas and more.' + +"'Bosh! you're joking,' I retorted. + +"Murkel gave a queer smile. 'Am I?' he said. 'Well, I am prepared to +go back to my place and write you a cheque for a hundred guineas for +this, now on the spot.' + +"I suppose I still continued to stare at him stupidly, and most likely +the signs of my utter disbelief were plainly to be seen in my +countenance, for Murkel continued hurriedly-- + +"'It's my business, I never make a mistake. This inkstand is Old Bow +china, date--early Queen Anne. My friend, there are not five of these +left in the world to-day, there are not four, and this is probably the +most perfect one in existence; and what makes it so valuable, apart +from its glaze, is that it was done by a fine artist, and it is a +famous legendary figure perfectly executed. In fact, it is none other +than the famous Dick Whittington.' + +"'What!' It was my turn to shout this time. 'Dick Whittington!' I +cried. + +"'Of course,' said Murkel; 'Dick Whittington, only done in the costume +of Queen Anne's day instead of his own.' + +"'Then it is all true,' I shouted. 'By Jove, what a fool I've been; I +see it all now, every bit of it. Oh, Lal! Lal! how impossible you are +to understand.' Of course, this was all so much Greek to Murkel, who +hadn't the remotest idea what I was so excited about; but he was +thoroughly convinced that I meant to jump at his offer, and he thought +I was merely madder than usual when I told him that I wouldn't sell +Dick Whittington for five thousand pounds if he offered it to me. + +"Murkel replaced Dick Whittington regretfully upon the rickety table +and sighed deeply. + +"'I suppose,' he said, 'that some forms of mental derangement are +inseparable from some writers. The annoying part of it is that I +wanted this piece for my own cabinet. If I had bought it I should +never have sold it again. Well, if you want money, you know where to +get it, old chap.' + +"'I do,' I replied, 'and I have as good as found it in an unexpected +quarter.' I took up the MSS. of the new book, lying upon the rickety +table actually in front of Dick Whittington. + +"'I will prophesy to you,' I said, 'and although it is a second-hand +sort of prophecy it is going to come true nevertheless. You see this +manuscript; this is going to make the first lot of money.' + +"Murkel looked at me curiously. Do what he would the poor chap could +not rid his mind of the thought that I was mad, but I will say he was +very patient with me. + +"'Give me the introduction to your publisher friend, and I will bet you +a dinner, or two dinners, he accepts this as a start, and most probably +everything else I write afterwards.' + +"'Of course,' debated Murkel, 'you are a very amazing person. I meet +you one day and you swear that nobody ever wants anything you do, and +is never likely to want any of your work again; and then a few days +after, without rhyme or reason, you swear they will take everything, +even the things you haven't written. I don't pretend to consider you +at all sane, but I am prepared to tackle the publishers for you; and, +by Jove, you are really eccentric enough to have done something really +good, so you may be right. But I cannot and will not understand why +you cannot take a hundred guineas down for that little Dick +Whittington.' + +"'Do you believe in mascots, Murkel?' I asked. + +"'Yes,' he said. 'I've got a black cat in the shop that always sits on +a big Chinese idol whenever I have any luck. I don't know what it is, +but the combination of my black cat Timps and that Chinese idol is +extraordinary, and the greatest mascot I know.' + +"Well, I told him that my mascots were a lion and the china Dick +Whittington. + +"'Where's the lion?' asked Murkel, always on the look-out for curios. + +"'Oh, that is at present in a collection,' I told him, at the same time +fervently hoping that Lal would forgive me for ever referring to him as +being in a collection, for I knew the feeling of majestic toleration +with which he regarded the other three lions. + +"Very little more remains to be told, except that the person who was +most astonished when my first book was instantly accepted was Murkel, +and his astonishment appeared to greatly increase as each of my +succeeding books made their appearance in print, whilst to-day is one +of the red-letter days of my life, for the most important of all my +books was published this morning, and so it is all doubtless intended +to form part of to-day's story; and, by the way, so is to-day's tea." + + * * * * * + +"Ridgwell, would you ring the bell for the housekeeper? I have ordered +all the sort of cakes you and Christine like best." + +"I think it is a more wonderful story than Dick Whittington's," +commented Ridgwell, as he rang the bell; "but before we have tea, we do +so want to see the little china Dick Whittington which made all your +story come true, and which is worth such a lot of money." + +"You shall both see him presently, but at the present moment Dick +Whittington is safely packed up; he is going to be given away this +evening with a copy of my new book." + +"Given away?" echoed the children blankly. + +The Writer nodded. + +"I can't make out how you can bear to part with it," suggested +Ridgwell; "I know I would never give it away. Who is it for?" + +"You will both see presently; and really, you know, if you come to +consider it, it is not of any use giving anybody something one does not +care for, for that is not a gift at all." + +"It seems jolly hard to part with the one thing you like best," +observed Ridgwell. + +The Writer laughed. "Ah! Ridgwell, that is the only kind of gift +worth giving in the world." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE LION MAKES HIS SIGN + +Tea was finished, the remains of it were cleared away, and the heavy +curtains drawn over the big windows overlooking Trafalgar Square. +Having turned on all the electric lights he could find, the Writer led +Ridgwell and Christine by either hand towards the door. + +"The Lord Mayor has arrived," he whispered, "I can hear him coming up +the stairs. Now as he comes into the door let us all bow down with a +low curtsey, and say, 'Welcome, Sir Simon Gold, Lord Mayor of London.'" + +"Bless him, he is still puffing up the stairs," whispered the Writer, +"so we shall have time to rehearse it once before he gets here. Now +then, all together," urged the Writer. "That's fine; why, you children +make obeisance better than I do, but of course I was forgetting you had +both been to the Pleasant-Faced Lion's party. That must, of course, +have been an education in itself. Now then, get ready." + +Outside somebody who was puffing and panting somewhat heavily could be +heard exclaiming between these exertions in a cheery voice: "Good +gracious me, why ever does the boy live in such a place? These stairs +will be the death of me; positively fifty of them if there is one. +Really at my time of life it is most unreasonable; he ought to have a +lift put in, I will make it my business to see he doesn't live up here +in the clouds any longer, whether he always wants to see Lal or whether +he doesn't." + +The Writer grinned at the children, and Ridgwell and Christine gave a +faint chuckle by way of an answer. At last the door was flung open and +the pleasantest-faced old gentleman it would be possible to find +anywhere, with round pink cheeks, merry eyes, a snowy white upturned +moustache and white hair to match, peering through big gold-rimmed +spectacles like a cheerful night-owl, stood in the doorway. + +Thereupon the three people inside the room bobbed down in a most +profound curtesy, and there was a perfectly timed and simultaneous +chorus from three voices, "Welcome, Sir Simon Gold, Lord Mayor of +London." + +"Bless my soul," said the Lord Mayor, "very impressive, upon my word; +but as His Majesty the King has only knighted me twenty minutes ago, +how on earth did you come to hear of it?" + +"Magic," said the Writer. "Besides, Lal prophesied the event." + +"Who are the children?" asked the Lord Mayor. + +"Friends of Lal's and myself," replied the Writer, "and very anxious to +see you in your robes." + +"They are all in this bag," vouchsafed the Mayor, "and it may be vanity +upon my part, but I brought them up on purpose to stand in front of the +window so that Lal could have a good look at them and see the effect of +his own handiwork. And now, you rascal," demanded the Lord Mayor of +the Writer as he helped himself to a comfortable chair, "what excuses +have you got to give me for not coming near either Mum or myself for +ages, and for taking up your abode in this absurdly high flat which is +as bad as mounting the Monument?" + +"I have my excuses all labelled and wrapped up, Dad, and you and Mum +must accept them when you have looked at them." + +Thereupon the Writer fished out of the mysterious odd-fashioned +cupboard two packets very neatly done up, and placed them in the hands +of genial old Sir Simon. + +The old gentleman opened the first packet with evident pleasure; it was +a well-bound book fresh from the printer's press. + +"Open it, Dad, and see whom it is dedicated to," suggested the Writer; +"you will find it upon the first page." + +"Beautiful," murmured the old gentleman, whilst his hands trembled +slightly as he held the book and read out, "Dedicated to my dear Dad, +to whom I owe everything--created Lord Mayor of the City of London in +the year----" + +The old gentleman coughed and wiped his spectacles carefully, and even +suspiciously, for they appeared to be quite misty. "Oh, you bad boy," +he burst out unexpectedly. "How dare you write books and become +famous, when you ought to have been sitting upon a stool behind a glass +partition as a junior partner in my counting-house? However, I believe +Lal was right, he usually is; he said we should disagree, and that the +youngest one would be in the right, and upon my word, my dear boy, I +never believed how very right he was until to-day. Bless me, I'm proud +of you." + +"And I'm proud of you, Dad," was the Writer's answer. + +"Goodness alive," declared the old man, as he turned and beamed upon +Ridgwell and Christine by turns, "do you children know, those were the +very words this rascal here used sixteen years ago, when he deposited a +lot of ridiculous prizes that nobody ever wanted to read in my lap when +I was asleep in front of the fire in my library. Bless me, history +does repeat itself." + +"And prophecies come true," added the Writer. + +"Tut, tut," said Sir Simon, "there was one prophecy our friend Lal made +that never came true. How about that absurd statement of his that you +would find Dick Whittington? That was all a lot of riddle-me-ree, as +you may say, thrown in like the cheap-jack's patter to mystify all of +us." + +"You haven't opened the second parcel," quietly remarked the Writer; +"but when I read in some of the papers three years ago that you had +started collecting valuable old china, I always determined you should +have this piece." + +"It all sounds very mysterious," replied the old gentleman, as he +gingerly prepared to take off the outside wrappings. + +It was at this point that Ridgwell could contain himself no longer, for +he felt as if he were present upon a Christmas Day before the gifts +were opened. + +"It's worth more than a hundred guineas," shouted Ridgwell. + +"Then it is simply disgraceful extravagance," replied Sir Simon, "and I +shall certainly not accept it." + +"I am sure you will," ventured Christine, "it is the thing that he +values most of anything he has got." + +The last wrapping was undone, and the beautifully coloured and modelled +Dick Whittington was disclosed to view. There was not even a spot or +trace of ink anywhere upon his enamelled coat, the tree-stump, the +milestone or the three-cornered hat, he had been washed and cleaned for +the cabinet with a vengeance, and looked as beautiful and as spick and +span as the day the artist had turned him out to an admiring world. + +"Bless my heart!" exclaimed Sir Simon, as he viewed the treasure with +the keen admiration of a connoisseur. "Why, it is perfect; I don't +believe there is another one in existence like it. Where did you get +it, and who is it meant to be?" + +"Why, Dick Whittington, of course, Dad; so you see Lal was right after +all." + +Sir Simon placed the little figure carefully upon the table, and +folding his hands regarded the Writer severely. "Do you happen to know +that it was this particular piece of Lal's nonsense that has worried me +more than anything else all these years?" + +"It worried me for a long time until I found out his trick," confessed +the Writer. + +"Yes, but mine is a most disheartening story," declared Sir Simon, "and +nearly succeeded in alienating me from all my friends; and as for Mum, +I dare not so much as mention Lal's name to her for fear of having my +nose snapped off; she never did and never will believe in him, declares +that the whole thing is a preposterous lot of nonsense, and declines +even to discuss the subject with me at all. You know, my dear boy, +that Mum is very sensible upon other points, but about Lal she is +openly scornful and secretly adamantine; in fact, the mere mention of +Lal is like poison to her, and he was entirely responsible for the only +difference we have ever had in our married lives." + +"Light a cigar, Dad, before you start; and what will you have by way of +a drink?" + +The Writer had opened other compartments in the mysterious old oak +cabinet that seemed to possess more doors than a Chinese temple. + +"These Coronas I remembered you used to smoke, so I got some." + +"Excellent," declared Sir Simon, "and, let me see, why, bless me what a +lot of bottles you have there. I hope you don't drink them all. Some +of that green stuff, my dear boy, if you please, Crème-de-Menthe; yes, +I think a couple of liqueurs of that would be most beneficial to me +after the most indigestible banquet we all partook of at the Mansion +House to-day. The stuff is largely made up of peppermint, I'm sure; +and, of course, peppermint, when it is tastily got up like this +liqueur, is very good for indigestion, isn't it?" + +The Writer lighted the old gentleman's cigar, and placing the +Crème-de-Menthe upon the table, filled a tiny liqueur glass to the brim. + +"Of course," commenced Sir Simon, "from the very first nothing would +induce Mum to believe that the Pleasant-Faced Lion, our old friend Lal, +ever had anything to do with my life, or ever influenced me in any way. +You know, my boy, it is one of women's weaknesses to invariably believe +that they do more than they really do. She declared that everything in +my life was owing to your influence and to hers." + +"Mine?" asked the Writer in astonishment. + +"So Mum always insisted, and so she always undoubtedly believed, and +when the time came that you ran away,--yes, you dog, for you did run +away, don't deny it,--well, what with sorrow for the loss of you, and +trouble with your mother, for she declared I had driven you from home +by not encouraging you to write, and women are most illogical and +unreasonable when they once get a fixed idea into their heads,--well, +between one and the other of you I had a very bad time. The fact +remained that you were gone, never gave us any address, and I got all +the blame for it. But the thing that annoyed Mum more than anything +else was my everlasting habit of going to the Pantomimes." + +The Writer laughed. "Well, I never knew before, Dad, that Pantomimes +were a special weakness of yours." + +"Neither were they, my boy, but as sure as ever Christmas came, and the +inevitable Pantomimes also, so did I go to every one; not only in +London, but every city of the United Kingdom." Here Sir Simon, as if +overcome with emotion, groaned aloud. "My boy, pity me; I believe I am +the only person still alive who has ever sat out every single Pantomime +that has been written for ten years, and oh! what twaddle they were." + +"But what on earth did you go to them for?" asked the Writer, aghast. + +"To find you." + +"Me? Good heavens, at a Pantomime? Dad, were you dreaming?" + +"Yes," answered old Sir Simon, shaking his white head at the +recollection. "I was dreaming of what Lal had prophesied--that you +would make your name and fortune when you met Dick Whittington, and +then you would come back to us. And the more I thought of it, the more +I was convinced that there was only one possible way of meeting Dick +Whittington in the world to-day, and that would be when some lady--and +they were always ladies, plain, fair, ugly, tall, lean, fat, +pretty--who appeared as that character--met you whilst impersonating +Dick. You rascal, I believed that you would meet one of these female +Dick Whittingtons, would ever after write the rubbishy Pantomimes in +which she appeared every Christmas season, train up your children to be +Pantaloons and Harlequins, and have the audacity to appeal to me to +keep the family after having christened the eldest child after me. +There is not one single lady," continued the Lord Mayor, as he mopped +the perspiration from his face, "from here to Aberdeen, and back to +Liverpool and Manchester, who has ever played Dick Whittington that I +have not treated to either port wine or champagne (for those were the +refreshments they all seemed to favour most) in the hope of finding +you; I have spent more than ten times the reputed worth of that Dick +Whittington inkstand, in railway fares and buying stalls and +programmes. Yet the worst of all to relate is, that when Mum saw the +programmes underlined upon my return, she accused me of being enamoured +of these extraordinary ladies who stalked the stage in the most +indescribable costumes, accompanied by cats. My boy, I know every +ridiculous speech, every stupid gag spoken by every Lord Mayor in all +those Pantomimes by heart, and the one dread of my life is that I shall +one day come out with some of it in one of my speeches at either the +Guildhall or the Mansion House." + +The Writer lay back in his chair and roared with laughter. + +"Poor old Dad, I had no idea you were undergoing such an awful penance!" + +"You think it funny, do you?" asked the Lord Mayor indignantly. + +"I think it is the funniest thing I have ever heard, but I am sure that +all the blame rests with Lal for playing us such a trick." + +"Humph! Well, Mum didn't think so, and every time Christmas came there +was a coldness between us. Perhaps she will be convinced when I take +her this inkstand and explain what it is," wound up Sir Simon +triumphantly; "she will believe in Lal then, and believe in me at the +same time." + +Some two hours later Ridgwell and Christine, having viewed the Lord +Mayor in his state robes, were safely despatched home in a carriage +with the Writer's housekeeper in charge, but not before old Sir Simon +had promised to send one of his state coaches, attended by servants in +livery, to fetch them to the Mansion House Children's Ball. + +Upon taking his departure, Ridgwell had inquired most particularly if +the state coach would drive up to their door for them. The Lord Mayor +assured him that this would be the case. + +"I believe," declared Ridgwell, as he said good-bye and made his +departure, "that all the neighbours will believe we have something to +do with fairies." + +"I shouldn't wonder," chuckled Sir Simon, "and I will get the Lady +Mayoress to send you both two costumes that will help the illusion +enormously." + +"I do wonder what they will be like," mused Christine; "I do so love +dressing up." + +"So does the Lady Mayoress, my dear," laughed Sir Simon, "so I am sure +both of you will get on capitally together, and really she is the life +and soul of a children's gathering. I don't know how I should get on +without her." + +"It certainly seems very strange," remarked Sir Simon, when at length +he and the Writer were left alone, "that Lal has not given any sort of +sign; this is undoubtedly the night of all nights that he ought to show +he is pleased." + +Sir Simon helped himself to a third cigar, and a second +Crème-de-Menthe, and after drawing back the curtains, looked anxiously +down into Trafalgar Square for at least the twentieth time that evening. + +The lights of London twinkled gaily, lighting the Square up in +fairy-like brilliancy of colours. Signs were to be seen in plenty; +they burst from the tall roofs of houses, in coloured electric lights, +which worked out advertisements for Foods, Patent Medicines, brands of +Cigarettes, brands of Whisky; nearly everything, in fact, that one +could not be reasonably in need of at that time of night; but still the +Pleasant-Faced Lion remained obdurate and made no sign at all of ever +having been alive. + +"There is one thing that both Mum and I insist upon," commenced Sir +Simon. + +"What's that, Dad?" + +"Directly we leave the Mansion House, and I may say at once that +although it is undoubtedly very stately, and all that sort of thing, we +neither of us feel at home there, and for my part, I would as soon live +in the British Museum--directly we leave, I insist that you come back +to your old home and live with us, and complete the old happy party we +three used to make." + +"All right, Dad, I'll do that, I promise you." + +"And now that you have made a name and fortune for yourself in spite of +my doing everything I could to prevent you----" + +"No, no, Dad, that isn't fair, and really, you know, I don't believe we +could help ourselves, everything has come about exactly as Lal arranged +it." + +"I am very angry with Lal and his tricks, and if I thought he would +listen to me for one minute, I would go down now and--Good gracious +alive!" broke off Sir Simon, as he stared somewhat wildly out of the +window; "what's that?" + +"What's what?" inquired the Writer inconsequently, from his easy-chair +at the other end of the room. + +Sir Simon rubbed his eyes, then he looked out of the window again, then +he rubbed his spectacles in case by any chance they were deceiving him. + +"My dear boy," faltered Sir Simon, "is that--is' +that--ahem!--Crème-de-Menthe you gave me exceptionally strong by any +chance?" + +"No, same as it always is, Dad; why?" + +"Then I'm not mistaken, Lal's eyes have gone a _bright_ green, the same +colour as the liqueur in that bottle. Green," shouted Sir Simon, "and +they are blazing like fireworks. Look! look at them." + +The Writer rushed across the room to the window. + +There could be no doubt about it that the calm eyes of the +Pleasant-Faced Lion, which were wont to gaze haughtily upon the more +commonplace things around him in Trafalgar Square, had suddenly changed +to the colour of living emeralds, and were terrible to behold. + +"Great Scott!" muttered the astonished Writer, "I have never seen him +look like that. He's angry about something." + +"He's more than angry--he's furious," suggested the Lord Mayor +nervously. "What on earth can be the reason of it? Why, yes, I see. +Why, how dare she!" spluttered Sir Simon. "There's a woman dancing, +positively waltzing round the Square with his wreath of water-lilies I +put there for him! I'll stop her, she must bring it back at once." + +Without another word, Sir Simon rushed for the door and downstairs with +the most surprising speed, followed closely by the Writer, who +considered his old friend ought not to be deserted upon such a mission. + +"Ho! hi! stop thief," puffed the Lord Mayor, as he toiled three parts +round Trafalgar Square after the corybantic lady, who was dancing on +ahead with the huge wreath held with both arms, swaying over her, as +she danced a sort of bacchanal in front of the enraged Sir Simon. + +"Hi!" panted the Lord Mayor, as after frantic efforts he came +alongside. "Woman, bring that wreath back at once; how dare you take +it away!" + +"Oh, go on, ole dear," retorted the lady good-humouredly; "ain't it +making me much 'appier than an old lion? Why, bless you, it put me in +mind of the days when I used to play Alice in Pantomimes. Lead, I used +to play, once, yes, s'welp me if I wasn't. What 'arm am I a-doing? +Oh, look 'ere, if you're going to get snuffy, 'ere, take your ole +wreath. I'm blowed if you don't look as if you come out of a Pantomime +yourself, in them red robes! 'Ave yer been playing in a Pantomime?" + +"Certainly not," replied Sir Simon, somewhat stiffly. + +"Why, now I sees the light on your face, I knows you quite well; 'ow do +yer do, ole sport? I'm Alice; don't you remember little Alice in the +Pantomime of Dick Whittington ten years ago at Slocum Theatre Royal? +Why, you gave me a bouquet, and stood me two glasses of port." + +The Lord Mayor groaned. + +"Little Alice," he queried vaguely; "let me see, little Alice?" + +"Yes," averred the lady, who must have weighed fully eighteen stone, +"shake hands, old pal." + +The Lord Mayor felt thoroughly uncomfortable, more particularly as the +Writer joined him at that moment. + +"Ahem! an old Pantomime friend," explained Sir Simon. + +"Yes, my dears," continued the lady, "and I don't get no Pantomimes +now, been 'ard up, I 'ave, for a long time, can't even get chorus now; +but bless your 'earts! coming along to-night, when I gets to Trafalgar +Square, I somehow could 'ave declared I saw that there Lion a-laughing +at me, and then when I sees the wreath, blessed if I didn't want to +dance once again all of a sudden. Look 'ere, old sport, you used to +have plenty of the shinies in the old days, you used to chuck the 'oof +about a bit; I remember you was a-looking for some bloke who +wrote--that you had an idea in your 'ead all us girls wanted to marry." + +The distressed Lord Mayor fumbled in his pockets and produced two +sovereigns. + +"Thank you, ole dear," observed the lady, as she pocketed the gold with +alacrity, "you was always one of the best; and Cissie Laurie, that's +me, you know--Cissie--who used to play Alice, will always swear you are +a tip-top clipper. Lor! when I sees you in them robes, and you ain't +told me yet why you've got 'em on---- + +"An inadvertency," stuttered the Lord Mayor; "most unfortunate." + +"Well, when I sees you in them robes it puts me in mind of the dear old +Pantomime, when little Alice flings herself at the Lord Mayor's feet," +and here, overcome with past recollections of the drama, the fat lady +sunk upon her knees, and dramatically clasping the robes of Sir Simon, +to that worthy old gentleman's utter confusion and consternation, at +the same time gave forth aloud the doggerel lines that had once +accompanied the incident in the play-- + + "Oh! Dad, I'm your Alice, in whom you're disappointed, + And here is Dick Whittington, whose nose was out-of-jointed, + Though your heart be as cold as an icicle king's, + Forgive us and say we are nice 'ikkle things." + + +"Oh, hush! hush! dreadful," implored the Lord Mayor, endeavouring in +vain to extricate himself from the dramatic lady's clutches. + +At this moment a gruff judicial voice, which sent an immediate thrill +down the worthy Lord Mayor's back, broke in upon the scene. + +"Now, then, what's all this? Move on, there!" + +A dark blue policeman stood in the pale blue moonlight. + +The Lord Mayor only shivered. + +The dramatic lady was equal to the occasion. + +"Aren't we a picture?" she asked coquettishly. + +"Get up, then," commanded the policeman dryly, "and be a movin' one." + +"All right, don't get huffy, dear, we're professionals." + +"So I should think," observed the policeman shortly. + +The Writer thought this a most propitious moment to seize the Lord +Mayor by the arm, and hurry him in the direction of his own rooms, +across the almost deserted centre of the Square, without waiting for +any further conversation of any description. + +The policeman stared after them suspiciously as they moved away. + +"What's he doing in them things?" inquired the policeman of the lady. + +"Lor', 'ow should I know? I guess he's a good sort, though, he gave me +some money." + +"Oh, did he?" remarked the policeman in a sepulchral voice. "Well, I +hope he came by it honestly, that's all." + +"Oh, that old chap's all right, old tin-feet," retorted the once time +Lady of the Drama. "I only think 'e's a bit balmy in his 'ead, that's +all. So-long, I'm off 'ome!" + +"Balmy in his head, eh?" grumbled the policeman gruffly. "Ah, I +thought there was a funny look about him; yes. Well, I had better +follow him up, and see that he doesn't get up to no mischief of any +sort." + +"I say, Dad," suggested the Writer, "you had better let me carry the +wreath, whilst you lake off those robes; you know they attract a lot of +attention, even at this time of night." + +"I am afraid they do," confessed the Mayor. "What a dreadful and +degrading scene! That upsetting fragment of a pantomime enacted in the +open air, too, which is only a specimen of the stuff I was compelled to +listen to for so many years!" + +"She evidently regarded you as an old friend, and a patron of the +theatre," laughed the Writer, "without in any way guessing your +identity." + +"It was a terrible situation," groaned the Lord Mayor; "however shall I +be able to tell Mum about such an incident when I arrive home?" + +The worthy Lord Mayor got no further either in his remarks or in +removing his bright robes, for as they approached the position occupied +by the Pleasant-Faced Lion, Sir Simon became aware of another figure +standing menacingly in front of it. + +A short, thick-set man in a sailor's dress was holding his hands to his +head, and regarding the Lion with his mouth and eyes wide open, whilst +an expression of horrified wonder and astonishment appeared to have +petrified his face into a sort of ghastly mask of perpetual +astonishment. + +Whilst the sailor continued to stare and mutter, the Lion's eyes could +be seen to shoot out the most brilliant green fires; they looked like +the flashing of two wonderful green emeralds. + +The Lord Mayor quickened his pace almost to a run. "Look, look! what's +the thing that man is flourishing about in his hand?" + +"It's a big sailor's knife," replied the Writer uneasily. + +"Quick, quick!" shouted the Lord Mayor, "he is going to do Lal some +harm with it! Good heavens! he's swarmed up the pedestal and he is +positively contemplating cutting Lal's eyes out. Stop, you villain," +shouted the Lord Mayor, whilst he ran towards the spot. "Come down at +once; how dare you touch that beautiful Lion's eyes!" + +Without so much as turning his head, and apparently heedless of any +remarks addressed to him, the sailor continued to flourish his +ugly-looking knife, shouting meanwhile in the Lion's face as he did so-- + +"Emeralds, bloomin' emeralds here in London under my very nose. I'll +'ave 'em out," yelled the sailor. "I'll have 'em out in no time. I've +come from Hindia, where they've got jools like these 'ere in the +hidols' eyes. I couldn't get at them there, but I can get these 'ere," +whereupon the sailor made a frantic jab with his knife at the +Pleasant-Faced Lion's right eye. + +He had no time, or indeed any opportunity of continuing his unpleasant +execution, for the enraged Lord Mayor had seized the wide ends of the +sailor's trousers and had dragged him down with such abruptness and +goodwill that the over-venturesome son of Neptune, dropping his knife, +lay upon the ground volunteering expressions which at least had the +merit of showing that his travels must have been indeed varied and +extensive to have left him in possession of such a widely stocked +vocabulary. + +"I'll have you up for attempting to mutilate the beautiful statues of +London," shouted the enraged Lord Mayor. + +The Writer restrained the sailor's more or less ineffectual efforts to +get at the Lord Mayor, but the Writer found it singularly impossible to +control the shouted execrations of that abusive mariner, among a few of +whose remarks could be mentioned, by way of sample, that he wanted to +know why an old bloke dressed like an etcetera Mephistopheles meant by +coming along from a blighted Covent Garden Ball and interfering with +him; that if he, the mariner, could once get at +the--ahem!--Mephistopheles in question, he would never go to a fancy +ball again as long as he lived, as he would not have a head to go with, +and his legs wouldn't ever be any use to him again as long as he lived. + +The Writer being sufficiently athletically active to control, or at any +rate postpone, these amiable intentions of the mariner, the Lord Mayor +was afforded a few brief seconds to climb up and examine his favourite. +Flinging the wreath of water-lilies around the Lion's mane to get it +out of the way, the Lord Mayor clasped his old favourite Lal round the +neck, uttering words of consolation and affection. + +The Lion's eyes had changed from their bright emerald colour to a dull +topaz yellow, which in turn subsided to their wonted colouring during +the Lord Mayor's affectionate address. + +The countenance of the Lion gradually resumed its ordinary +pleasant-faced expression, and two large tears fell upon the Lord +Mayor's outstretched hands. + +The worthy Lord Mayor was quite overcome with emotion at this obvious +sign from the Pleasant-Faced Lion! + +"Dear old Lal," murmured the Lord Mayor, "dear, faithful, loving soul, +these are the first tears I have ever known you shed. Are they tears +of gratitude because we have rescued you from this ruffian with a +knife, who would have destroyed your noble sight? Or are they tears of +pity? Speak to me, Lal; if they are tears of pity, they will open the +gates of----" + +"A police station," interrupted a cold, judicial voice, and the good +Lord Mayor turned to find what the Writer, although fully occupied with +the mariner, had seen approaching with consternation and alarm, the +same policeman who had spoken to them before, followed by a small crowd +of late night loafers, who were already starting to exchange remarks +and jeer at the somewhat unusual scene. + +"Just you come down," said the constable, in his severest and most +judicial tones. + +The Lord Mayor prepared to climb down, looking somewhat crestfallen, +whilst the unsympathetic crowd uttered a faint, ironical cheer. + +"This is the second time to-night I have spoken to you," said the +constable. "Now, as you have been behaving most strangely and +attracting a crowd, I'll just trouble you for your name and address," +and the constable unfolded an uncomfortable-looking pocket-book, bound +in an ominous-looking black case, produced the stump of a pencil and +prepared to take notes. "Now then, out with it, what's your name?" + +"Gold," faltered the Lord Mayor, fumbling vainly for a visiting card, +which he was unable to find. + +The stolid constable misunderstood the action. "No, you don't bribe +me," said the constable loftily. + +"I was not attempting to," objected the Lord Mayor. + +"Well, what's your name, then?" + +"Gold," repeated the Lord Mayor. + +"Oh, I see," muttered the constable; "what else?" + +"Simon Gold." + +"What else?" pursued the remorseless officer of the law. + +"Sir Simon Gold," groaned the helpless Lord Mayor. + +"What address?" + +"The Mansion House." + +"Here, I don't want none of your jokes," vouchsafed the constable +sternly; "this is no joking matter, as you will find out when you're +charged afore the magistrate." + +The worthy Sir Simon's plump cheeks flushed red with anger at the bare +mention of such an indignity. "How dare you suggest such a thing to +me?" spluttered Sir Simon. "Do you know who I am? I am the Lord Mayor +of London." + +This remark was greeted with a loud cheer from the rapidly gathering +crowd. + +The constable smiled a maddening smile. + +"A likely tale," observed the constable. "Why, I was present keeping +the crowd off when his Worship, the Lord Mayor of London, opened his +Home to-day; he returned hours ago; and I think myself it's some sort +of Home as you have got to return to, and I don't leave you until I +find out which Home it is." + +Whether the mention of the word Home suggested sudden possibilities to +the Writer, or whether, like Ulysses of old, he longed so ardently for +a return to that blissful abode that he even stooped to emulate the +sort of stratagem Ulysses might have adopted in similar circumstances +will never be known. Yet the fact remains that the Writer turned the +fortunes of war for the time being. + +He drew the constable quickly upon one side and spoke rapidly and +earnestly to him for some moments. At the end of these whispered +explanations the constable closed his pocket-book with a snap, and +pointed across the way in the direction of the Writer's chambers. + +The Writer nodded. + +The constable touched his forehead significantly at the side of his +helmet. + +Once again the Writer nodded. + +"Very well," said the constable, "if you are the one who looks after +him, you can go; better get him home as quickly as you can." + +Amidst a parting ironical cheer the Writer hastily seized the worthy +Lord Mayor by the arm and broke through the assembled crowd with all +possible speed. + +As they passed upon their way one small incident, however, caused the +Writer grave misgiving. + +A tall man who had undoubtedly watched the whole proceeding nodded to +him and remarked sarcastically, as he passed-- + +"Good-night; a really most interesting and illuminating episode." + +Having safely gained his own abode, the Writer gazed apprehensively out +of the window. + +The sailor could still be seen supporting himself against the pedestal +of the Lion's statue, the policeman appeared to be engaged upon a new +crusade of note-taking. The small crowd was melting away, but the +sinister face of the sarcastic man could be seen wreathed in a cynical +smile of triumph. + +The Writer whistled, and drawing the curtains close, turned up the +electric light and anticipated the worst. + +The Lord Mayor sank into the most comfortable chair he could select, +and helped himself to a drink; he felt he needed one badly at that +moment. + +"What a dreadful and degrading scene," lamented Sir Simon. "Good +gracious, if anybody had seen me who recognised me, I should never have +heard the last of it." + +The Writer lit a cigar thoughtfully, and passed the box to Sir Simon. + +"I am afraid, Dad, we never shall hear the last of it," prophesied the +Writer gloomily. + +"What do you mean?" inquired Sir Simon. + +"Did you notice that man who spoke to me at the edge of the crowd, who +had presumably seen the whole thing?" + +"Of course not," replied Sir Simon; "how on earth could I notice +anybody under such distressing circumstances? Who was he? what about +him?" + +"That was the famous Mr. Learnéd Bore." + +"What, the man who is always advertising himself?" + +"Yes," agreed the Writer, "and unfortunately he has the power to do so +through the medium of the newspapers; his letters to London are one of +the features of the Press," added the Writer significantly. + +"Don't tell me," entreated the Lord Mayor, with an imploring look in +his eyes, "that he will make me, the Lord Mayor of London, a subject +for his heartless gibes." + +"He's certain to write two columns about it in one of to-morrow or the +next day's papers," declared the Writer hopelessly. "Do you suppose +such a man would waste such material and copy as that for one of his +satirical eruptions?" + +The Lord Mayor groaned aloud at the very thought of this new terror, +which threatened to descend like the sword of Damocles and crush all +the joy of his new civic dignity. With trembling hands he folded his +bright robe and glittering chain of office; the Lord Mayor felt that he +could no longer bear the sight of them. + +"What on earth I can say to Mum for being out as late as this I don't +know," lamented the Mayor dolefully; "she will, of course, believe I +have been to another Pantomime; she always taxes me with having gone to +a Pantomime whenever I stay out late. However," sighed the Mayor, "I +shall show her the Dick Whittington which has really been the cause of +all the trouble." + +It may have been that Sir Simon was still unusually agitated from the +scene he had recently passed through, to say nothing of the vague +foreboding caused by the knowledge that Mr. Learnéd Bore might +conceivably do anything within the next few days. There is a +possibility that his hand trembled; whatever may have been the cause, +as Sir Simon lifted the little Dick Whittington from the table, he let +it fall. As it crashed upon the hard polished floor it broke into a +dozen pieces, and the merry little figure of Dick Whittington was +hopelessly shattered. Sir Simon looked blankly at the Writer. + +The Writer looked blankly back at Sir Simon. + +As poor Sir Simon ruefully picked up the pieces, he looked disconsolate +enough to be upon the verge of tears. The Writer, although keenly +affected by the loss, tried, although unsuccessfully, to comfort him. + +"Never mind, Dad, it can't be helped, and I suppose Dick Whittington +has served his day." + +"To think I have broken the most perfect specimen in the world," moaned +Sir Simon; "that you must have denied yourself greatly to give me, and +to think I shall never be able to convince Mum now, or even mention it, +for she wouldn't believe one word of the story. Besides," wound up Sir +Simon, "it is so dreadfully unlucky to break china. Call me a cab, my +dear boy," implored the old gentleman, "a four-wheeler, if possible; I +really dare not go home in a taxi, I feel some other dreadful accident +would happen to me if I did." + +Upon his way home Sir Simon ruminated upon the events of the evening. +He found himself unable to make up his mind which portion of the +adventure had been the most discomforting to him. Finally, upon +approaching the Mansion House, he caught himself indulging in +speculation and uttering his thoughts aloud. + +"I wonder what possible story he could have told the policeman, to get +me out of that dreadful situation so quickly; and I wonder," mused Sir +Simon, "why the policeman tapped his head in that curious manner; he +must have told him something that appealed to him at once. I dare say +even policemen have their feelings, and looking back upon matters +calmly, I suppose my conduct must perhaps have appeared a little out of +the ordinary. However, if I ever come across that constable again, I +must try and make him a little present." + +Sir Simon little realised that he was to meet the constable again very +soon, and certainly never realised where, otherwise it is safe to +assume that the good Sir Simon would never have slept the tranquil +sleep he did that night, full of peaceful dreams, over which the +Pleasant-Faced Lion presided like the protecting guardian watch-dog +that the good Lord Mayor always believed him to be. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AN UPSETTING ARTICLE IN THE MORNING PAPER + +Some few mornings after the events just recorded the Lady Mayoress sat +down to breakfast in one of the most cosy of the morning-rooms in their +private suite in the Mansion House. A very smart manservant of quite +aristocratic appearance solemnly poured out some most fragrant coffee, +and removed many covers from a most delicately appetising +breakfast-table, as a preliminary to removing his aristocratic presence +from the room altogether. There could be no doubt that the Lady +Mayoress was a singularly pretty and attractive lady, and despite her +well-dressed head of iron-grey hair, looked fully fifteen years younger +than her age, which is invariably a pleasing reflection for a woman who +has passed the age of forty-five. + +The Lady Mayoress sipped her morning coffee, and in the absence of her +husband the Lord Mayor, who was late for breakfast on this occasion, +unfolded the morning newspapers and started leisurely to peruse their +contents. + +The Lady Mayoress, being exceedingly popular, and having taken a +prominent part in a number of social functions, like most women, was +never averse to reading any paragraphs which might chance to mention +her sayings, doings, and, more particularly, her dress. The Lady +Mayoress read on; there appeared to be very little in the particular +paper she was perusing that interested her, so refolding it carefully +the Lady Mayoress selected another morning paper, and opening it, +smiled as she read in big print, "Audacious attack by Mr. Learnéd Bore." + +"Ah!" commented the Lady Mayoress, "he certainly is a particularly +audacious, as well as being a very naughty man, who makes fun of +everything and everybody, but at least his articles and letters are +always amusing." Thereupon the smiling lady gently stirred her coffee, +folded the newspaper to the required place, and proceeded to enjoy Mr. +Learnéd Bore's contribution to the morning journalism. + +Suddenly the little silver coffee spoon dropped from the Lady +Mayoress's hand, and she sat bolt upright in her chair as if she had +received a galvanic shock. At this inauspicious moment the Lord Mayor +made his appearance, very jovial and full of happy morning greetings, +mingled with pleasant apologies for being late. + +Something in the expression of his wife's face, however, gave the +worthy Lord Mayor an uncomfortable, apprehensive sort of feeling, the +cheerful flow of his morning remarks died away in little sentences, as +if the promise of their young life had been cut short. + +The Lord Mayor chipped an egg nervously, and made a brave show of +gulping his coffee. + +"Well, Mum, you seem very interested in the morning paper," observed +Sir Simon, with an assumption of hearty cheerfulness he was far from +feeling. + +Something in the expression of Mum's face seemed to baffle all +analysis, as she continued to read without vouchsafing any answer. +After a terrible pause the Lady Mayoress refolded the paper, and laying +it upon the table, regarded her husband steadfastly with flushed face +and sparkling eyes. + +Sir Simon's heart seemed to sink into his boots. + +"I thought you distinctly told me, Simon, when you returned, at what I +can only describe as a most eccentric hour in the early morning, that +you had been visiting an old friend." + +"Quite right, my dear, I assure you I had. I'm right upon that point +at any rate." + +"You told me you had not been to a Pantomime," continued his wife, +heedless of the interruption. + +"No, my dear,--no Pantomime, I assure you; I never entered a theatre or +a building of any such description." + +"Apparently not," came the icy reply; "the Pantomime in this case +appears to have taken place in the open air. Read that paper," +commanded the Lady Mayoress, "and offer any suggestion you can find as +to how I can keep up my position, or your position, whilst such a +statement as this" (tapping the opened paper) "remains uncontradicted." +Then the Lady Mayoress swept from the room. + +Sir Simon groaned and closed his eyes before venturing to look at the +offending article. He instinctively felt he was about to receive a +shock without the necessary strength to bear it. Sir Simon gingerly +unclosed one eye and read, "Audacious attack by Mr. Learnéd Bore." Sir +Simon shivered and hastily closed the one eye he had opened. Then he +valiantly tried both eyes and read by way of a second and happy +headline, "The Lord Mayor revives Paganism in London." Sir Simon never +knew how he finished that article. It was a most scurrilous attack. + +All the biting satire and vitriolic irony that Mr. Learnéd Bore had so +well at his command was here employed to compliment the Lord Mayor upon +being acclaimed a great Christian in the afternoon after opening his +New House for Children; whilst he was found at night like any Pagan of +old worshipping one of the lions in Trafalgar Square, around whose mane +he had hung a votive wreath of water-lilies, across whose unresponsive +neck the Lord Mayor had wound his arms in supplication, imploring it +that it might speak, and give a sign like the Oracle in Delphi. + +Was the Lord Mayor of London the last of the great Pagans? asked the +writer, or had he merely gone back a few thousand years in imagination, +owing to the insidious suggestions of another Heathen Deity who had +doubtless presided over the Wine-press with an unstinted hand earlier +in the day during the banquet at the Guildhall? The writer dared to +express a hope that it was merely a form of Civic debauchery emanating +from the oft-replenished toasts of the Devil's cup, rather than a +classical intoxication which if persisted in might plunge the whole of +London once more into the perverted darkness of Pagan ages. + +The Lord Mayor seized his hat and called for his carriage, and arrived +at the Writer's chambers overlooking Trafalgar Square, purple in the +face. + +"Yes, I've read it, Dad," remarked the Writer as he observed Sir +Simon's signs of almost apoplectic agitation. "It's very bad form, and +what is worse it's very badly written." + +"The pen is mightier than the sword," shouted Sir Simon, "and +unfortunately the sword is out of date nowadays, or I would challenge +him upon the spot; but, my boy, you have the pen, and you can use it, +and a jolly sight better than the silly ass who wrote that article. +Will you answer him for me?" + +The Writer smiled and shook his head. + +"No, Dad, that is exactly what he wants; he would get all the +advertisement out of such a controversy that his soul craves for, and +which is absolutely necessary for him now to keep up his reputation. I +have something to suggest much better than that." + +"What is it?" asked the Lord Mayor helplessly. + +"Did you ever consider some of the characteristics of Ulysses, Dad?" + +"Oh, they talked about him in my school-days, but I didn't have much +schooling, you know; and what on earth has Ulysses to do with this?" + +The Writer grinned. "Because, Dad, he possessed a remarkably wily gift +of always finding his enemies' one vulnerable spot." + +"Well?" + +"I know at least two of Learnéd Bore's most vulnerable spots." + +"Eh? Unbounded conceit and unlimited calumny?" questioned Sir Simon. + +"No," rejoined the Writer, "I should say he was _invulnerable_ upon +those two points. However, two things he dreads more than anything +else. He has a horror of ridicule when it is turned upon himself, and +an unutterable and most unnatural hatred of all children." + +"Well, I don't see how that helps me," rejoined the Lord Mayor. + +The Writer looked at Sir Simon significantly, and spoke slowly and +deliberately so that his words might have their full effect. + +"Lose no time in bringing an action against him for libel; as a +defendant he will be off his pedestal,--and at a disadvantage." + +The Lord Mayor opened his eyes and whistled softly. "I never thought +of that," he confessed; "and where does his horror of children come in?" + +"The chief witness for your side will be little Ridgwell," suggested +the Writer quietly; "it will be something that Learnéd Bore doesn't +understand, has never encountered, and will not know how to deal with, +and of the two I know whose story will be believed, however fantastic +it sounds. The child will be the one who will score, they always do in +Court, and I think that Learnéd Bore will live to gnash such teeth as +he hasn't had pulled, and employ the venom of his remaining fangs upon +some one else." + +Sir Simon lay back in his chair and laughed heartily, and all his old +good-humour seemed to be restored to him. + +"'Pon my word," he declared, "it is a capital idea of yours. How shall +I commence the action?" + +"I'll find the man for you and get Vellum and Crackles, the solicitors, +to instruct him at once on the case. His name is Mr. Gentle Gammon, +K.C., a famous barrister. He was at school with me, and afterwards at +Oxford. Why, Dad, you must remember him, he returned home once with me +and spent the Christmas holidays with us at Lancaster Gate. Mum +thought an awful lot of him." + +"I remember!" exclaimed Sir Simon excitedly; "meek manner, gentle +voice, but the young devil always got his own way, I noticed, before +any one even knew what he was after." + +"He gets his own way rather more now than he did then, if possible, and +by the same means. He always wins his cases too." + +"Engage him," commanded Sir Simon, "engage him at once, my boy; and are +you going to undertake to coach little Ridgwell?" + +"Little Ridgwell won't want any coaching," chuckled the Writer. "I +only want little Ridgwell to appear in Court and talk to them about the +Pleasant-Faced Lion as he talks to me, and I think it will be a +refreshing and unusual experience for them all; and I firmly believe +for the first time in his life Mr. Learnéd Bore will not be able to +find anything to say." + +"It's very odd," remarked Sir Simon as he rose to take his departure, +"really very odd that you should have mentioned that chap just +now--what's his name--Ulysses; as far as I remember he was a very +cunning person, uncannily cunning, and I'm afraid really quite +underhand, so to speak, and sometimes deceitful in his methods; and do +you know, my boy, you rather remind me of him, now I come to think of +the matter." + +The Writer grinned affably. + +"And whilst we are upon this subject," pursued Sir Simon, "I should +really like to know what explanation you gave to the policeman that +night, that he considered so convincing and satisfactory." + +"Even Ulysses didn't reveal all his wisdom, Dad. Good-bye." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE WRITER PLANS WICKED PLANS + +Now it so happened that the Writer chanced to be quite as fond of jokes +as the Pleasant-Faced Lion, and the Writer contended, taking all the +circumstances into consideration, that an action for libel with the +Pleasant-Faced Lion involved in it would be an excellent great big +joke, to say nothing of a graceful retaliation upon the Pleasant-Faced +Lion himself for a few of the jokes which that Pleasant Animal had +played upon the Writer. Not to mention the fact that such a case +promised to supply the Writer with a little light recreation almost in +the nature of a holiday, after the labours of producing his last book. + +Consequently, as soon as Sir Simon had left, the Writer selected his +favourite pipe, filled it with his choicest tobacco, and having lit it, +stretched himself at ease upon the most comfortable divan in his rooms, +and thought out subtle schemes. + +There he lay laughing and chuckling for all the world like a wicked +Puck, bent upon mischief, joyfully and solely devised for a confusion +of his enemies, particularly Mr. Learnéd Bore. + +Cheered and emboldened by such happy reflections, the Writer hit upon a +scheme haphazard which for sheer unscrupulous impudence would baffle +all description; gradually embroidering his machinations with that +whimsicality that had always served him so well as an author, until his +plans appeared to be complete. + +"Very fortunate," murmured the Writer as he knocked out his pipe, "that +those kids told me all about the Pleasant-Faced Lion's party. Great +heavens, what a chance! and it will be worth a fifty-pound note to have +Lal brought into Court and to hear the Griffin's song sang in Court, +and sung it shall be, only I must alter the words to fit the occasion." +Here the Writer sat upon the edge of the table and rocked with +delighted laughter. + +"Ha! ha! ha!" gurgled the Writer, "only one man in London who can set +it, and, by Jove, I'll ring him up on the 'phone at once; a few +judicious rehearsals--before Vellum and Crackles, the solicitors, are +communicated with--to say nothing of Gentle Gammon, and--ha! ha! +ha!--what a glorious joke. What's Billy Cracker's number in the book?" + +A quarter of an hour afterwards, in answer to a most urgent summons by +telephone, Mr. William Cracker made his appearance in the Writer's +rooms. + +Mr. William Cracker, called Billy by his friends, was rapidly rising to +fame as a writer of musical comedy--a tall, sleek personage, with +straw-coloured hair brilliantined very flat over his head, and +carefully parted in the centre, wearing a monocle in one eye, which +appeared to grow there, and was always lavishly adorned as an exact and +living replica of the latest fashion plate. + +Billy greeted the Writer and stared at him through his eyeglass +quizzically. + +"Whenever I hear you give that Mephistophelean chuckle at the end of +the 'phone," commented Billy, "I always know you have got some +particularly impish scheme on. Well, what is it?" + +"Oh, Billy, Billy," chuckled the Writer, "I have indeed got a scheme, +and it is funnier, Billy, than any of your musical comedies." + +"In that case," announced Billy, as he leisurely helped himself to a +smoke which the Writer offered, "I shall steal the plot." + +"Listen, Billy. Could you write a tune, a refrain, an air, whatever +you call it, so catchy that people would hum it and sing it on the +spot? I want a perfectly irresistible tune, Billy." + +"All my tunes are irresistible," confessed Billy modestly. + +"Yes, but I want an absolute dead cert. The sort of thing you used to +write at Oxford before you took up music as a profession; you know, one +of those catchy things we all used to stand round and sing the instant +you played it." + +"Of course," returned Billy equably, "it's my profession. I turn out +any amount of such things." + +"Oh, yes; but, Billy, this has got to be a Comic Classic." + +Billy considered for a space. + +"Is it to be sung in a Comic Opera?" he asked. + +"No, it's going to be sung in Court." + +Billy stared through his eyeglass. + +"You're joking!" he said. + +"Of course I'm joking," retorted the Writer, "you only have to read the +words to gather that fact." + +"Have you got the words?" + +"Yes, here they are; but wait a minute, old chap, that isn't all, you +have got to coach a youngster I know to sing them." + +"Oh, that's a very different matter," demurred Billy; "I don't teach, +and anyway it would be awful waste of time." + +"I will pay you your own fee," grinned the Writer, as he fingered a +cheque-book, artlessly placed upon the top of a desk. "Nice fat +cheque, Billy, always useful." + +Mr. Billy Cracker appeared instantly to succumb to this suggestion and +to take very kindly to it. + +"Here are the words," said the Writer modestly, handing two half-sheets +of notepaper to his friend, "there is the grand piano, Billy, opened +already, a medium of expression only waiting for your musical genius." + +"Let's see the words," said Billy. + +Mr. Cracker perused the lines offered for his inspection with amazement. + +"I say," he observed, "they seem awful rot." + +The Writer laughed. + +"Ah, Billy, that's only because you don't know the situation yet." + +"True," assented Billy; "I've had worse given me to set in musical +comedies. Now let me see," murmured Mr. Cracker as he seated himself +at the pianoforte, "scansion is the great thing--scansion and rhythm." + +Thereupon followed a curious procession of tum tiddle, tum tiddle, tum +tiddle, tiddle tums, varied by little tinkling outbursts upon the +pianoforte, which there could be no doubt that Mr. Billy Cracker played +astonishingly well. + +"Easy or difficult to set?" inquired the Writer. + +"Oh, child's play!" + +"That's just what I want it for," remarked the Writer encouragingly, +"child's play, and the sort of tune a child would sing whilst he +played." + +"Half a mo," murmured Billy, "I'm getting it fine--lum, lum, lum, lum, +lum, lum, lum, lum, lum. Ha! What do you think of this?" + +Out rippled a delicious melody, harmonised with rich full chords this +time. + +"That's it!" shouted the Writer excitedly. "Oh! lovely!! Billy, +you're a treasure. Oh! play it again!" + +Mr. Billy Cracker obligingly consented. + +The Writer was dancing round the room and singing at one and the same +time. + +"Ripping! Billy, Ripping! Write it down at once!" + +"Suppose you haven't got any music-paper in the place? No, I thought +not; never mind, I can soon manufacture some from this +manuscript-paper." + +"No, not that," exclaimed the Writer hastily, "that's my new poem." + +"Humph! Hope it's better than the one you have given me to set." + +"Billy," exclaimed the Writer enthusiastically, "I am going to stand +you a tip-top lunch, and then I'm going to take you to Balham." + +"Balham, good gracious! what on earth for?" + +"You've got to give a music lesson in Balham after lunch, Billy, one +lesson will be enough with that tune. Why, it's in my head now, I +can't forget the thing." + +"Isn't that exactly what you required?" asked Billy languidly, as he +wrote down notes. + + * * * * * + +Messrs. Vellum and Crackles, most concise and conservative of +solicitors, found themselves suffering for the first time in the +history of the firm from a fit of astonishment, not to mention dismay, +regarding the strange nature and unusual features of a case concerning +which their firm had recently received instructions. + +The case was considered so unusual that a sort of hastily contrived +board meeting was deemed expedient, and was accordingly held in Mr. +Vellum's private room. + +At the end of the meeting, Mr. Vellum gave instructions for the writing +of a letter to the Board of Works, for special permission to have one +of the Lions, which would be, hereinafter, especially pointed out and +specified, removed from Trafalgar Square to the Law Courts, as its +presence in Court was deemed indispensable in a case of a peculiar and +special nature. + +"It is a very singular application," remarked Mr. Crackles thoughtfully. + +"I hope the request will not bring ridicule upon the firm," rejoined +Mr. Vellum. + + + + +BOOK III + +WHAT THE PUBLIC HEARD ABOUT + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE LION GOES TO COURT + +There was a curious hush of expectancy one early autumn afternoon in +Court X., about to be presided over by Mr. Justice Chatty. + +Outside in the streets London was suffering from partial darkness, +which is not infrequently the case, so a number of the lights in Court +had been lit, and although they burned a somewhat dull amber, the +lighting was sufficient to outline a truly remarkable scene. + +Mr. Justice Chatty, the Judge, had not yet entered and taken his seat, +so that the expectant hush which had momentarily crept over the Court +was all the more remarkable by way of contrast to the series of rushes +which had gone before this state of calm. + +Something approaching a small riot had taken place before the doors of +the Court had been opened. Crowds of curiosity-loving people, having +stationed themselves outside for hours, and who had even thoughtfully +provided themselves with sandwiches, now fought and kicked and +struggled in solid wedges to find a place, and even roundly abused the +police who controlled the doors when they were thrust away. The public +have an unfortunate habit of becoming abusive whenever "House Full" is +announced, after bravely enduring the probationary martyrdom of waiting +hours for one of their favoured entertainments to start. + +The belief that the Judge was about to take his seat was found to be a +false alarm, so the hum and hubbub inside the Court recommenced with +renewed activity. The solicitors chattered at their table like +magpies. The leading barristers turned over their briefs and snapped +out replies to the other barristers with them, and fidgeted with their +gowns. Everybody glared at everybody else in the amber-lighted Court, +but however eagerly they talked, and wherever they looked, the eyes of +every one in Court always returned to stare in amazement and wondering +curiosity upon one object. In the body of the Court, looming out of +the dimness, the head fully illuminated, was the enormous statue of a +bronze lion upon its stone pedestal. + +"Most extraordinary case in my recollection," drawled a junior +barrister to one of his fellows who was flattened beside him; "no +wonder there is no room in Court with that ridiculous thing stuck +there!" + +"Who's for the defendant?" + +"Dreadful, K.C., instructed by Brockett and Bracket." + +"Umph! then I suppose there will be explosions and fireworks in Court: +it's usually so when Dreadful starts." + +"Gentle Gammon, I see, for the plaintiff. Biggest spoofer on the Law +List, clever though." + +Even after the Court appeared to be packed with that overlapping +economy which is a characteristic repose of preserved sardines, small +bodies of juniors, some with wigs, some without wigs, some in whole +gowns, some with their gowns in shreds, forced their way in from other +doors and other Courts. Some conspicuously held briefs borrowed for +the occasion, some did not even pretend to have any such thing. + +The stalwart policeman who guarded this second door suddenly became +firm, and closed it with a mighty effort; that is to say, he all but +closed it, only was prevented by the foot and head of the last junior +hurrying in, who howled his agony aloud at having fallen into such a +trap. + +"No, no, Mr. Towers," expostulated the tall constable, "can't you see +the Court is full and won't hold another one?" + +"Lucas, let me in at once." + +"I can't, sir, more than my position is worth." + +"Then let me out," howled the suffering junior, "you're crushing my +foot and my neck." + +The stalwart policeman lessened a fraction of his weight against the +door, and the imprisoned junior was allowed to scrape himself out as +gradually as his peculiar position would admit. + +The one person who considered the presence of the Lion in Court to be +the most natural thing in the world was Ridgwell, who, standing beside +the Writer, peeped through the little glass panel let into the door +leading from a passage to one of the witnesses waiting-rooms. + +"Is the Round Game going to commence?" Ridgwell asked the Writer +innocently. + +The Writer admitted gravely that the Round Game was going to commence +with a vengeance. + +"The ones who lose have to pay the forfeits, haven't they?" persisted +Ridgwell. + +"Yes," agreed the Writer. "Exactly--ahem!--heavy forfeits." + +"I hope Sir Simon wins then," observed Ridgwell. + +"You see that man across there, Ridgwell," remarked the Writer, "big +fierce-looking man making ineffectual efforts to adjust his wig +becomingly over a pair of very big red ears, with two very big red +hands?" + +"Yes," agreed Ridgwell. + +"With the sort of expression upon his face that the first of the Three +Bears must have worn when he entered Silverlocks' kitchen and found the +bread-and-milk to be missing?" + +"Yes," laughed Ridgwell, "I remember, 'Who stole my bread-and-milk?'" + +"Well, that is the man who is going to try to make you and I and Sir +Simon pay the forfeits." + +"How?" inquired Ridgwell. + +"Well," suggested the Writer, "you know he will roar and shout and bang +the table with those red hands of his, and try to frighten everybody, +but the one thing to do is not to take the slightest notice of him. If +he annoys you, just smile; if he continues to annoy you, just glance +towards the Judge." + +At this moment the voices of the ushers were heard shouting for silence +and order, and a profound stillness reigned inside the Court, for his +Lordship the Judge had entered through the doors leading to his room +and had taken his seat. + +His scarlet robe only seemed to accentuate the colour of his puffy pink +cheeks, whilst the blackness of his little beady eyes and pointed nose +rather gave him the appearance of some overfed bird gorged to repletion +after a particularly satisfying meal, slightly apoplectic, with its +beak out of focus. The Judge, moreover, appeared to be afflicted with +a little wheezy asthmatical cough which attacked him at intervals as he +prepared to arrange his papers. The Clerk carefully placed a glass of +water upon the desk by his Lordship's side, but whether this was done +by way of a simple remedy for the Judge's wheezy little cough, or +merely as a gentle reminder that the case was likely to be a dry one, +cannot be guessed with any certainty. The preliminaries having been +arranged, the case having been called, the Ushers of the Court having +again shouted unnecessarily for silence, Sir Simon Gold having stared +at the Judge, and Mr. Learnéd Bore having stared at everybody, the +Judge having appeared to have closed his beady eyes in slumber, like a +broody hen upon a perch, Mr. Gentle Gammon rose and opened his case for +the plaintiff. + +As Ridgwell observed in a whisper, "the Round Game had started." Mr. +Gentle Gammon opened his case in his proverbially gentle tones. It was +a silky voice, purring in its gentleness, but with a curious power of +penetrating every corner of the over-crowded Court; it insisted even +whilst it soothed, and its effect upon his Lordship the Judge seemed to +be most pleasing, as he immediately appeared to nod to it as if in +greeting. Mr. Gentle Gammon related to the Court how his client, +holding the highest Civic position in London, had been made the subject +of a virulent and unscrupulous newspaper attack by a man who, in +addition to writing plays which nobody professed to understand, +undoubtedly wrote articles that all fair-minded people unquestionably +deplored. This unprincipled person, Mr. Learnéd Bore by name, had seen +fit to attack no less a person than the Worshipful the Lord Mayor of +London, and that, moreover, during his Lordship's tenure of office, +believing that he, an unscrupulous journalist, could drag the Lord +Mayor down from his exalted position by means of a few clap-trap +phrases written for money, although he, the learned Counsel, marvelled +how any one could find it in their hearts to remunerate such a person +engaged in such a calling using such questionable language in such a +preposterous case. + +He, the Most Worshipful the Lord Mayor, the observed of all observers +in the City as elsewhere, or in any assemblage he adorned with his +presence and ornamented with his personality, had been accused in an +offensive phrase of "imbibing too freely of the Devil's cup," the +Devil's cup in this instance signifying wine, the insidious inference +being that the Most Worshipful the Mayor was inebriated, and, moreover, +in public, and in Trafalgar Square of all places in London. The +Counsel paused dramatically, then a thrill of unutterable horror crept +into the hitherto purring voice of Mr. Gentle Gammon. + +"That, my Lord and Gentlemen of the Jury, is a foul calumny, an +insidious lie, uttered to drag down the exalted of the earth, and +bespatter the resplendent robes of Civic dignity with the spiteful mud +besprinkled from the nethermost garbaged recesses of the journalistic +gutter. + +"During the still and beautiful night hours, when this travesty of an +accusation is brought, my client, the Most Worshipful, had wandered +into the holy star-lit night, clad in the flowing robes symbolical of +his exalted earthly estate, to place a wreath, a beautiful wreath, upon +one of the monuments of London he deemed the most dignified and fitting +to receive it. That monument, if they but lifted their eyes, they +would see in Court. A stately noble Lion, whose presence there had +necessitated the removal of four separate sets of folding doors leading +to the Court in order that it might be present. Could this noble beast +but speak," urged Mr. Gentle Gammon, K.C., "could it even roar, it +would speak its severest censures, would roar its loudest denunciations +at the libellous statement that the noble Civic head of London who +honoured it, could possibly have done so, could conceivably have +climbed to such a height upon its back, unless he had been eminently +sober, unfalteringly steady at the time when, clad in his robes in the +calm violet depth of night, he had placed his offering in happy +felicitation as a symbol and a greeting to his beloved City of London. +This should have excited only admiration; but seen through the prying +eyes of a prurient pressman, this touching tribute had been changed by +the vile alchemy of suspicion to an unseemly and ridiculous action of +midnight debauchery which could only have turned the noble Lion to +stone, had it not already been made of bronze. + +"My Lord and Gentlemen of the Jury, this Lion stands for liberty, as do +all British Lions. I claim the liberty and full right of my client, if +he deems fit, to be able to decorate any statue of London whenever he +pleases, at any or every possible hour of the night that he chooses, +without the stupid and interfering intervention of a constable, or the +slanderous pen of a Mr. Learnéd Bore, having the power to make a +lovable and harmless action wear the appearance of a midnight frolic of +bibulous recklessness, which, had it taken place, would have been only +food and gossip for the senseless and shameful, and reflective regret +for the wise. + +"My Lord and Gentlemen of the Jury, my client does not wish for big +damages, but he does demand strict justice. That is what he is here +for, my Lord and Gentlemen of the Jury, that is what we are all here +for. If I were given to emotion, which I am glad to confess I am not, +my deepest and innermost emotions would be called forth by the picture +of his Lordship there before us, who holds the scales of Justice in his +hands, who can pierce the outer coverings of dissembling and falsehood +with the eagle eye of truth, who can right this hideous wrong, who can +smooth out the crooked paths of falsehood, making all plain. Let the +false traducer beware, I say, he is veritably between the Lion and the +Eagle. His Lordship in this case is the Eagle (metaphorically, of +course)," hastily added Counsel, upon noticing the extraordinary +likeness of his Lordship to a bird roosting, "and the Lion and the +Eagle shall each of them turn and between them rend the truth and +nothing but the truth from the lying carcase of calumny. + +"Having now shown with impartiality, at the same time characterised +with reserve, that the condition ascribed to the Right Worshipful the +Lord Mayor was ridiculous, I will proceed to deal with the other +statement in this misjudged journalistic attack, that the Right +Worshipful was reviving Paganism in London, and in consequence +attracting a crowd. Far from the Right Worshipful either attracting +attention or causing a scene or obstruction in Trafalgar Square, I +shall prove indisputably that it was the Lion, and the Lion alone, that +caused the scene; the Lion also, who by a strange metamorphosis +occasioned a crowd to collect. We know from classical history that in +Babylon and Assyria bulls talked, we have heard of the oracle of +Delphi, and in Biblical history of animals who talked. I shall prove +by witnesses that this Lion has not only walked but talked as well." + +Sensation in Court. + +Here his Lordship the Judge appeared to show the first sign of interest +he had evinced in the case. + +"My learned friend must be careful," cautioned the Judge. "If what he +states is true, the Lion may have to go into the witness-box." + +Titters in Court. The Learned Judge smiles, rather pleased with his +own remark. + +Mr. Dreadful, K.C., at this point arose hastily; in fact, the learned +K.C. almost jumped. + +"My Lord, I protest against such a line of argument, such a travesty +being introduced to mar the seriousness of this case." + +His Lordship waved the learned and excited gentleman aside. + +"I am the Judge here," observed his Lordship, "and in that sense I even +resemble Daniel with regard to his duties in a similar capacity, but I +fear I do not possess his special knowledge with regard to Lions." + +Titters again in Court, in which the Learned Judge joins. + +"However, I am always anxious to learn." + +Renewed titters. + +Mr. Dreadful, K.C., seats himself hurriedly and grinds his teeth in +vexation, but finds time to whisper rapidly to a junior, who leaves the +Court hastily and mysteriously. + +"Pray continue, Mr. Gammon." + +"My Lord, I have little more to say." + +"I am sorry for that," interposed the Judge; "you were beginning to +interest me more than I should have believed possible." + +Mr. Gentle Gammon bowed ever so slightly, as if the Learned Judge had +crowned him with a compliment that he found too heavy for his head to +support, and proceeded-- + +"But, my Lord and Gentlemen of the Jury, if I say little else with +regard to this case before you, which is permeated throughout by the +mythical mystery of a classical age, it is only that the witnesses I +shall produce to prove this strange thing may speak instead of myself. +Three witnesses in all, and one in particular. The one in particular, +since only truth can issue from the lips of infancy, I shall call +first. My Lord, I shall put a child, a little boy, into the witness +box that you may hear his simple story." + +_Judge_. "Dear me, I hope he won't be frightened of the Lion." +(Titters in Court.) + +_Mr. Gammon, K.C._ "On the contrary, my Lord, you will find he regards +it as an old friend; and, my Lord, when you have listened to what he +has to say, I think we may all realise 'that there are more things in +heaven and earth than are dreamt of in--er--philosophy.'" + +_His Lordship_ (pleasantly). "I think I have heard that before." + +_Mr. Gammon_ (courteously). "Your Lordship is much too well read to +have missed it." (Thereupon Mr. Gammon, K.C., sat down.) + +_Judge_ (with a little snigger). "The only thing I am likely to miss +is how our _celestial_ knowledge is going to be especially advanced +this afternoon. However, the curious nature of the case as presented +possesses unlimited possibilities." + +Ridgwell, having been called, walked with the utmost composure into +Court and took his place in the witness-box. He looked very tiny, but +very self-possessed, and smiled pleasantly at the Judge. + +The Judge smiled pleasantly back at Ridgwell. + +Mr. Gammon rose to the occasion and to his feet at one and the same +time. He permitted the pleasing impression that Ridgwell had +unconsciously created to have its full effect upon the Court, and upon +everybody present with the exception of Mr. Learnéd Bore, whose +countenance alone wore the disgusted and horrified expression that +might have been expected had a great green toad been introduced into +the witness-box. Mr. Learnéd Bore's countenance afforded a strange +study of nausea struggling against outraged dignity. + +"Now, Ridgwell, do you see any one in Court that you know?" + +"Yes. Lal." + +"And will you tell us who Lal is?" purred Mr. Gammon. + +"Yes, Lal is the Pleasant-Faced Lion. There he is," said Ridgwell. + +"How do you know his name is Lal?" inquired Counsel winningly. + +"He told me so himself, it is short for Lionel. Lionel is his proper +name." + +"And when did this Lion Lal first speak to you?" + +"Some weeks ago. The night I got lost in the fog." + +This was altogether too much for Mr. Dreadful, K.C. + +"My Lord," shouted that gentleman, as he bounded to his feet, "my Lord, +I take this opportunity of protesting that the witness is not the only +one who complains of being lost in the fog. I myself, my Lud, am +completely lost owing to the same cause." + +"In that case," said the Judge, testily, "always keep quite still, and +you will in time find out where you are." + +Titters in Court. + +"My Lord," roared Counsel for the defendant, "I protest!" + +The Judge interposing. "My learned friend, there is only one thing +present in this Court that has a right to roar, and it is noticeable +what a good example he sets you by refraining from doing so." +(Amusement in Court.) "Kindly sit down. The little boy is giving his +evidence very well indeed." + +"Am I to take this witness's evidence down, my Lord?" inquired the +Judge's Clerk in a whisper. + +"Certainly, certainly," replied the Judge. "If a Hans Christian +Andersen comes into Court, or sends a deputy, the evidence must be +taken down, the same as anybody else's." + +"And now, Ridgwell," said Mr. Gentle Gammon, in his gentlest tones, +"will you please tell us in your own way all that befell you when you +became acquainted with the Pleasant-Faced Lion." + +For a considerable time the Learned Judge folded his claw-like thumbs +and listened, and the Court sat amazed and stupefied whilst Ridgwell +told of all the adventures that had befallen him after his acquaintance +with Lal. + +First came the tournament, then his first ride home to Balham on the +Lion's back. + +"Rather a long way, little man, eh?" suggested the Judge, affably. "He +could never have been away so far from Trafalgar Square before. How +did he find his way?" + +"Oh, he followed the tram-lines," said Ridgwell. + +Titters in Court. + +"Good indeed, a most admirable witness this," observed his Lordship. + +Then followed a simple but glowing description of the Pleasant-Faced +Lion's wonderful evening party. + +"Dear me," again observed his Lordship, "you had Royalty present, too!" + +"Yes," said Ridgwell. "King Richard, King Charles, Queen Boadicea; and +Oliver Cromwell came in and shouted 'Ho!' at King Richard and 'Ha, ha!' +at King Charles. Then the Griffin ordered Oliver Cromwell out, and +Christine thanked him." + +"Very extraordinary and interesting," observed his Lordship; "and who +is Christine?" + +"She is my little sister." + +"I have her deposition here, my Lord," broke in Counsel for plaintiff, +"bearing out her brother's statements." + +When Ridgwell came to a description of the Griffin, his sayings, +doings, his woes and his character generally, the entire Court rocked +with amusement which nobody made any effort to subdue. + +"And now," said Counsel, who had watched everything up to this point +with the cunning eye of a fox, "and now, little man, will you kindly +sing as well as you can the song you say the Griffin sang at the party +before the Lion?" + +At this point Mr. Learnéd Bore, with his hands covering his ears, sank +his head upon the solicitor's table at which he sat. If there was one +thing Mr. Learnéd Bore hated more than children, it was music, in any +shape or form, and when they both came together Mr. Learnéd Bore shared +all the unpleasant feelings from which Mephistopheles was supposed to +have suffered whenever he heard church bells. In a beautifully clear +childish voice Ridgwell sang the merry song in the merriest way +imaginable. + + "Of a merry, merry King I will relate, + Who owned much silver, gold and plate," + +commenced Ridgwell triumphantly, in a quite wonderful rendering of the +Griffin's favourite ballad. The tune was haunting, the swing of the +air irresistible. The entire Court became slowly infected with the +seductive gaiety of the song. The Juniors began to move their feet, +the solicitors began to wave their quill pens to it. The Usher of the +Court nodded his head, and his Lordship the Judge was so carried away +by the melody that he unconsciously beat time gently by wagging one +finger, whilst he smiled around upon the Court; and so in a burst of +pleasing song Ridgwell continued-- + + "Yet one thing the merry, merry King forgot, + That it would be his Griffin's lot + To be very, very cold or very, very hot--" + + +"High up in Fleet Street," sang the entire Court. + + "So slowly the faithful creature got + Chilblains in Fleet Street." + + +"Chilblains in Fleet Street," yelled all the Juniors in chorus. On +went Ridgwell without a breath-- + + "The Griffin grew prettier day by day, + Directing the traffic along each way, + With always a pleasant word to say," + + +"High up in Fleet Street," burst from the Court, who knew the phrase +quite as well as the refrain by this time, and could not have sung it +better if they had practised it. + + "One trouble alone caused him dismay," + + +"Chilblains in Fleet Street," came the chorus, which drowned Ridgwell's +last notes entirely. + +Frantic applause in Court, which the Judge instantly suppressed. + +"If," said his Lordship, forgetful of the fact that he himself had +helped in the scene by beating time, "if I have any more of this +disgraceful disturbance in Court I shall give orders for it to be +instantly cleared." + +"Thank you, that will do. You can step down now, Ridgwell," said Mr. +Gentle Gammon. + +"And very well sung," observed his Lordship, as Ridgwell departed. + +The next witnesses were called, Cissie Laurie and John Bowling. + +"Are you sure you have those names correctly?" asked the Judge. + +"Yes, my Lord; why?" + +_The Judge_ (facetiously). "It has been an afternoon of ballads; we +have just heard one very well sung, and it seems to me that the +collection would not be complete without _Annie_ Laurie and _Tom_ +Bowling." (Much laughter in Court, in which the Learned Judge joins in +a high-pitched alto.) + +John Bowling admitted that he behaved most oddly, but he did so because +the Lion seemed to be behaving strangely. Said he thought the Lion's +eyes had gone green; believing that they were real emeralds, he had +tried to cut them out with his knife. + +_Judge_. "What! tried to gouge out the Pleasant-Faced Lion's eyes?" +(Laughter in Court.) + +The Sailor admitted it with contrition. + +_The Judge_. "Such a gentle creature, too! Lal, the Children's +friend." (Much laughter in Court.) + +_His Lordship_. "Had _you_ been to the party?" (Renewed laughter.) + +_Sailor_. "No, my Lord, not his, another." (More laughter.) + +Counsel here asked witness to relate what exactly happened upon the +evening in question. + +_Sailor_. "Well, yer see, governor, I can't say, 'cos I can't remember +much about it; yer see, I was tuppence on the can, so to speak." + +_Judge_ (interrupting). "I don't understand that expression; is it a +term used in the Navy? What does he mean by 'Tuppence on the can'?" + +_Sailor_. "Well, in other words, I was blind, your Worship, I mean +your Lordship." (Titters in Court.) + +Counsel hastened to explain that Mr. Bowling wished to convey the +unfortunate fact that he was intoxicated. + +_Sailor_. "You've caught it, governor!" + +Counsel was here heard to murmur words to the effect that he was +thankful to say he had not caught it. + +_Witness_ (continuing unabashed). "Yer see, the reason as I was like I +was, I 'ad snatched five dog's-noses right off." + +_Judge_ (plaintively to Counsel). "What does he mean by saying he +snatched five dog's-noses? Why, was he possessed with a mania for +mutilating animals?" + +_Counsel_ (explaining). "No, my Lord, the dog's-noses the witness +refers to is a form of alcoholic stimulant--ahem!--gin, I believe, with +some other ingredient, such as ale, mixed with it." + +_His Lordship_. "Oh, very well." + +Counsel. "Did the witness consider the Lord Mayor of London was sober?" + +_Sailor_. "Do you mean that there old cove in the red gown?" + +_Judge_ (excitedly, and in needless alarm). "Of whom is he speaking?" + +_Counsel_ (hastening to explain). "The Lord Mayor, my Lord. I asked +the witness did he consider the Lord Mayor sober upon the night they +met." + +_Witness_. "Yes, he was sober enough, but I think he was balmy, and I +shall always think he was balmy." + +_Counsel_. "Thank you, that is sufficient; you can stand down." + +Cissie Laurie, upon being called, went skittishly into the witness box, +curtseyed to the Court, and blew a kiss to the Judge. + +His Lordship glared at the lady in shocked amazement. + +Upon being questioned, Mrs. Laurie confided that most of her early life +had been passed playing in Pantomimes, therefore she had always been +fond of dancing. At the present time she kept a lodging-house for +theatricals, and the only chance she had of indulging in her old and +favourite pastime seemed to be to dance attendance upon these lodgers. + +"Never mind what you do indoors," suggested Counsel. "I want to know +what you do out of doors, what you did out of doors on the particular +night in question when you met the Lord Mayor of London." + +"Well, I felt young and girlish," confessed Cissie. "The first floor +back and the second floor front had both gone out, and the house seemed +dull with no lights and nobody in it." + +"Never mind about the house or the lighting of it," interrupted +Counsel. "You went out for a walk in the streets of London." + +"When I got to Trafalgar Square," continued Cissie, "I felt skittish, +thoughtless and jolly, and I could 'ave declared he laughed at me and +then winked." + +_Judge_ (interrupting). "The witness tells her story very badly. Who +laughed and winked at her? The Lord Mayor?" + +_Counsel_ (hastily). "No, no, my Lord, not the Lord Mayor; the Lion." + +_Judge_. "Oh, well, why doesn't she say so?" + +Then proceeded Cissie, heedless of all interruptions-- + +"I sees the wreath round his neck, and I at once thought of the Russian +dancers----" + +_Judge_. "Tut, tut, tut! what has the fact of the Lord Mayor of London +having a wreath round his neck to do with the Russian ballet?" + +_Counsel_ (in despair). "Not the Lord Mayor, my Lord; the Lion." + +_Judge_ (testily). "Then will the witness please say the word Lion +whenever she wishes to refer to the Lion?" + +_Cissy_ (imperturbably). "I don't want to refer to it no more, 'cos I +collared the wreath, and 'olding it over my 'ead I danced round the +Square, just like the posters of them Russian dancers." + +_His Lordship_ (irritably). "Which particular poster was she desirous +of realising?" + +_Counsel_. "My Lord, I think it must be the one of a slim and classic +youth dancing the Bacchanal with a wreath uplifted over his head." + +_His Lordship_ (looking at Cissie's ample form completely filling the +witness-box, murmurs), "No, I cannot see the picture at all." + +_Counsel_. "Nor I, my Lord, believe me." + +Then volunteered Cissie, "He gave me two sovereigns." + +_Judge_. "What, the Lion? does he give money as well as parties?" + +_Counsel_ (desperately). "Not the Lion this time, my Lord, but the +Lord Mayor. Did you consider that the Lord Mayor was sober when he +gave you this money?" + +_Cissie_. "Lor bless yer, yes, as sober as his Honour there the +blessed Judge himself." + +_Judge_ (with complexion rapidly changing from pink to crimson). "Do +not refer to me again in such a way. It is most improper." + +_Cissie_ (obligingly). "Very well, my dear." + +_Judge_ (very annoyed). "Do not address me as my dear, do not address +me at all, direct your remarks to Counsel, please." + +_Cissie_ (tossing her head). "Wot o'! now we shan't be long." + +_Counsel_ (soothingly). "No, Mrs. Laurie, as you observe, we shall not +be long now. Will you kindly tell me where you met the Lord Mayor, +previous to your meeting with him in Trafalgar Square?" + +_Cissie_. "Yes, I first met him in a Pantomime." + +_Counsel_. "In a Pantomime; very good." + +_Cissie_. "Yus, I was playing Principal Boy, dressed in a green velvet +jacket, green ostrich plumes in my 'air, and a pink pair of silk +tights. Oh, you should just 'ave seen the pink silk tights, bran new +ones." + +_Counsel_ (hastily). "Thank you, that is sufficient; a detailed +description of the costume you wore is immaterial to the case." + +_Cissie_. "Oh, is it? then I don't see the object of my being dragged +'ere if I ain't to describe my costume." + +_Counsel_. "That will do, thank you, Mrs. Laurie; stand down." + +_Cissie_. "Dragging me all the way 'ere, when the lodgers ain't got +their dinners yet; fish to fry for the first floor, and the second back +wanting macaroni with their stew, because they're I'talians." + +_Counsel_. "That's enough, Mrs. Laurie." + +_Cissie_ (still talking as she prepares to depart). "Oh, is it enough, +Mister Grey-Wig? Well, I call it a darned sight too much." (Cissie +here being persuaded out by an usher of the Court). "So the next time +you wants me to leave my work in the middle of the day you can fish for +me, same as the lodgers will 'ave to fish for their darned dinner this +blessed----" (door of the Court closes upon Cissie, rendering further +remarks inaudible). + +_Judge_. "A most garrulous woman." + +Here Mr. Dreadful, K.C., rose with an evil smile of triumph, that is to +say, it was a cross between a legal smile and a snarl. + +Mr. Dreadful, K.C.'s utterances rather suggested the muffled +discharging of pom-poms. Whenever he opened his mouth it was succeeded +by an explosion of words, then a whistle by way of taking breath, +another explosion succeeded by more whistles. Mr. Dreadful announced +that before placing his client in the witness-box, he would state that +all his client, the defendant's, written words were true in substance +and in fact. + +"The Lord Mayor of London had wandered out into the night, so had his +client, Mr. Learnéd Bore. This gentleman, a playwright, journalist and +writer, had wandered forth in order, no doubt, to get inspiration. The +source of any such inspiration as he might have derived from the calm +night had been utterly destroyed by the ridiculous antics of the Lord +Mayor of London; inspiration had vanished, giving place instantly to a +righteous feeling of strong condemnation that so beautiful a thing +should have been so ruthlessly crushed. Fancies had fled, driven from +their abiding-place by stern facts. Those facts had been embodied in a +glowing article, destined to be distributed through the medium of the +daily paper which his client adorned by contributions from his pen." + +"If the Lord Mayor of London objected to the ridicule which his +client's able article had heaped upon him--it was entirely the fault of +the Lord Mayor. Any sober person, such as his client, must have +instinctively supposed the Lord Mayor to be inebriated, when he was +actually discovered arrayed in his state robes, coaxing the statue of a +Lion to speak to him. Any Christian person, after observing this high +Civic official place a wreath about this effigy, would unquestionably +have believed him to be a Pagan, and a very ignorant one at that. +Finding it hopeless to either excuse or explain such conduct, the +plaintiff in this action, which ought never to have been brought, that +is if the plaintiff had been wise, had actually, with an impudent +audacity unparalleled in any Court of Law, urged that this lifeless +Lion not only talked, but made signs. I shall not cross-examine one +single witness who has appeared up to the present in this case, they +have sufficiently condemned themselves already." + +"The last lady, with a wealth of unnecessary words and adjectives, had +informed the Court that she was once in a Pantomime, and it is my firm +impression that is exactly where all the other witnesses in this case +ought to be, especially the child who had unblushingly told them a long +fairy story, and had attempted to sing them a song. A Pantomime was +the proper place for them all, a fitting setting, and especially +suitable for the Lord Mayor himself, robes and all. There, amidst the +medley of such an entertainment, the Lord Mayor could coax Lions to do +tricks, the sailor could indulge in his hornpipes and quaff +dog's-noses. The child could act fairy stories, and sing all by +himself, whilst the vociferating lady, who owned to a weakness for +dancing indecorous solos, would be able to delight her heart by +performing the Russian Carnival----" + +_Judge_ (prompting). "Bacchanal." + +"They would all be most suitable in a Pantomime, but not in a Court of +Law." + +"The one amazing thing which had horrified him inexpressibly during the +case was the fact that his learned brother Counsel, Mr. Gentle Gammon, +had so far forgotten his professional dignity as to declare that this +Lion actually moved and spoke at times. He feared, and also he +lamented, that his learned brother must be approaching his dotage. Yet +in order to satisfy each and every one in Court, he, Mr. Dreadful, had +sent an urgent and special messenger for a first-class veterinary +surgeon, having the letters M.R.C.V.S. after his name, and also for one +of the keepers belonging to the lions' house in the Zoological Gardens. +Their evidence would now be taken." + +Upon the appearance of the M.R.C.V.S. in the witness-box the Learned +Judge saw fit to interfere. + +_Judge_. "Have you ever attended a lion professionally?" + +_M.R.C.V.S._ "Never, your Lordship." + +_Judge_ (sagaciously). "Then what do you know about them?" + +_M.R.C.V.S._ "I have attended other animals, your Lordship." + +_Judge_. "Very likely, very likely, but a live ass is a different +thing to a dead lion." (Laughter in Court.) + +_Counsel_ (for the Defendant). "_Better_ than a dead lion, your +Lordship." (More laughter.) + +_Judge_. "Not in this case." (Loud laughter.) "The learned Counsel +for the Defence need not waste the time of the Court in hearing the +opinion of either Veterinary Surgeons or experts from the Zoo. What +the Learned Counsel ought to do is to produce Pygmalion." (Titters in +Court.) + +Mr. Dreadful, K.C., rising to protest. "My Lud, Pygmalion is a +mythical personage, and your Ludship knows he is of a necessity +shrouded in silence." + +_His Lordship_. "So is the Lion." (Laughter in Court.) + +_Mr. Dreadful_ (still exploding and still protesting). "My Lud, I do +venture to suggest that this Lion should somehow be thoroughly +examined." + +_His Lordship_. "Well, it is in Court, better try for yourself. I +only hope your efforts will be as successful as Little Ridgwell's and +his sister Christine, to say nothing of the Lord Mayor of London." + +_Mr. Dreadful_. "My Lud, I cannot treat with these people, it is like +dealing with the worshippers of Baal." + +_His Lordship_. "Well, I really cannot sanction digging a trench and +lighting fires all round it here in my court, to make it speak." (Loud +laughter.) + +After the laughter had somewhat subsided a slight stir was occasioned +in Court by the appearance in the witness-box of Mr. Learnéd Bore. + +In reply to many questions from Mr. Dreadful, K.C., Mr. Learnéd Bore +stated all the incidents in Trafalgar Square which he had witnessed, +and which had given rise to the present action. + +Cross-examined by Mr. Gentle Gammon-- + +"You are a famous playwright, Mr. Learnéd Bore," commenced Counsel. + +"I am a playwright." + +"Do you write to instruct or to amuse?" + +"It is possible to combine both." + +"Can you give me an example?" + +"Yes, this afternoon's experience in Court." + +"Wonderful as that may have been, Mr. Bore, I suggest you have not +written it." + +_His Lordship_ (facetiously). "Give him a chance, he may." (Laughter +in Court.) + +"Of course," suggested Counsel, "you always enjoy reading your own +articles in the papers." + +"Oh dear no. I am only concerned with writing them." + +"But I suggest you read them before you send them in." + +"Never; the Editor saves me the trouble." + +"Your articles have a ready acceptance, I take it." + +"Always." + +"The Editor is so desirous of obtaining your work, I suppose he is +willing to pay a big price for it even before it is written." + +"Yes, and before it is read." + +"Indeed, so there must be a time when nobody knows what your articles +are about, including yourself, as you never read them." Counsel +continuing. "I presume you never contribute any articles during the +time of the year known as the Silly Season?" + +"On the contrary, my first effort in that direction has resulted in the +bringing of the present action." + +"You considered the Silly Season had started then, upon the night you +met the Lord Mayor?" + +"The Silly Season started then, has continued since, and appears to be +at its height here this afternoon." + +(Sweetly.) "Then you can congratulate yourself upon being thoroughly in +the fashion. Now tell me, Mr. Bore, in your opinion, should we take +the statues of London seriously?" + +"No, in my opinion we should take them all down." + +"All? Oh, surely not. Now, as an instance, let us go down the Strand." + +_His Lordship_ (interrupting). "No, no, no, I believe the correct +quotation is, 'Let's all go down the Strand.'" (Loud laughter.) + +_Counsel_. "I have never heard the quotation, my lord." + +_His Lordship_ (pleasantly). "What! I should have thought that +everybody had heard that, the difficulty is not to hear it. I have +even heard it set to music." (Loud laughter.) + +"Now, Mr. Bore," continued Counsel, when order had once more been +restored. "Has it never struck you that some of the statues of London +might, for example, sometimes come to life?" + +"Never. I cannot imagine anything less like life, than any of the +statues of London." + +"Surely the one in Court to-day is a good specimen?" + +"If it is a specimen it ought to be in its proper place--in a case." + +_Counsel_ (gently). "It is in a case." + +"And I object to it being in this case." + +"Sculpture is evidently not your strong point." + +"Neither are ridiculous fairy tales!" + +"You wish us to believe that you, a writer, are only capable of dealing +with facts." + +"I have not encountered any facts in this case at all yet, and I +utterly fail to understand what anybody here can mean by facts after +this afternoon's exhibition." + +_Judge_ (annoyed). "Tut, tut! Facts are facts: this is a Court of +Justice: I am the Judge; would you, for instance, regard me, _me_ as a +fact?" + +_Mr. Learnéd Bore_. "No, as a figure-head." + +His Lordship shrieks in his highest falsetto-- + +"Remove this witness at once, he is flippant. Order him to stand down, +or I shall commit him for contempt." + +Sensation in Court. Mr. Learnéd Bore leaves the witness-box, +hurriedly, and looking slightly scared. + +Mr. Dreadful, K.C., wishing to cover up the _faux pas_ as quickly as +possible, rises and announces in explosive tones-- + +"Call the Writer." + +The Writer entered the witness-box; inclined his head slightly to the +Judge, smiled in the direction of the Lord Mayor, and was immediately +bombarded explosively by Mr. Dreadful, K.C., whose pom-pom-like shells +whistling overhead seemed totally unable to disturb the Writer's serene +calm. + +"Now, sir, are you not the author of the song, the ballad, the bosh, +whatever you like to call it, that we have all been compelled to listen +to in Court this afternoon?" + +"Yes and No." + +"Don't prevaricate, sir; which is it, yes or no?" + +"Both." + +"I warn you, sir, I warn you; what do you mean by both?" + +"What I say." + +"Then kindly say what you mean, sir; you must mean one or the other if +you mean anything; you cannot mean both." + +"I rearranged the song you refer to only from hearsay." + +"Oh, indeed, sir, pray who is the original author?" + +"The Griffin." + +"Kindly stop talking nonsense, sir; it is bad enough to have to suffer +it from an over-imaginative child, from a grown-up person it is +intolerable. Do you suppose we are going to have the Griffin brought +into Court in addition to the Lion?" + +"I hope so." + +"Indeed, indeed, sir, why do you hope so?" + +"Well, judging from the Griffin's characteristics we have heard so well +described this afternoon, he must be feeling green with envy that he +has not received a summons here." + +"You are pleased to joke, sir, and you are attempting to be elusive, +but you will not slip through the fine meshes of evidence woven by the +law in that way. Kindly examine that paper!" + +Small piece of dirty paper passed to witness-- + +Witness smiles. + +"Is that your handwriting, sir?" + +"Certainly." + +"And the composition of the words are yours?" + +"No, only touched up from the Griffin's original." + +Mr. Dreadful, bellowing, stamping, and banging his hand upon table all +at one and the same time-- + +"The wretched Griffin is left entirely out of this case, sir." + +"It is a thousand pities; he would have enjoyed it so." + +"My Lord, I will venture to read this fragment mercifully dropped in +Court by the child confederate of this slippery witness: it is headed +_Chorus_, my lord; it doubtless forms a last part to the ridiculous +song we all listened to in pained surprise. I contend, my Lord, that +this fragment which has come into my possession is seditious; +seditious, my Lord." + +"Well, well, let us hear it," his Lordship adding hastily: "No, no, +don't sing it, read it." + +"My Lord, your injunction to me is unnecessary; indeed, my Lord, I lack +all training enabling me to sing, I am thankful to say, but what is +more to the point, my Lord, I almost lack the necessary self-control to +read these seditious words unmoved by indignation. However, my Lord, I +will make an effort." Counsel reads: "'Oh, my poor tender feet.'" +(Titters in Court.) + +_His Lordship_. "Well, well, that is harmless enough, the Griffin +complained of that, you remember." + +_Counsel_. "My Lord, I know nothing of the Griffin, and care less +whether he complained or what he complained of, but, my Lord, it is I +who complain, and rightly so, when the majesty of the law of England is +mocked at. Listen, my Lord and Gentlemen of the Jury, to the following +lines, and their harmful wickedness-- + + "Of what use are England's laws + Unless they protect my claws, + And keep me warm in the street? + What snuffy old Judge in Court, + Ever gives my poor feet a thought; + Ever thinks of the snows and frosts, + Or adds up my bill of costs?" + + +(Titters in Court from the juniors.) + +"There, my Lord," thundered Counsel, "can any one hear this iniquitous +document unmoved, these wantonly wicked lines mocking alike at Law and +Order, even at your Lordship's own almost sacred calling." + +_His Lordship_. "A highly offensive and seditious document; impound +it, Mr. Dreadful, and continue your examination of witnesses, please; +time goes on." + +"Now, sir," exploded Mr. Dreadful, "the Court, having with shame +listened to your ribald effusion, I will ask you what you had to drink +upon the night you and the Lord Mayor were found wandering under +extraordinary circumstances in Trafalgar Square?" + +"To drink--I personally? Nothing." + +"What did you have in the house, sir, at the time?" + +"Oh, the usual things." + +"Don't equivocate, sir; how does the Court know what you may consider +usual in your ill-regulated household. What did the Lord Mayor partake +of during the period he was in your company, in your rooms, before +going out to chase a lady who was under the impression she was a +Russian dancer--round Trafalgar Square, and before proceeding to play +bo-peep with one of the lions, placed in that Square to ornament +it,--what, I ask, sir, did the Lord Mayor partake of by way of +refreshment?" + +"Oh, two tiny glasses of Crème-de-Menthe." + +_Counsel_ (triumphantly). "I knew it; at last, my Lord, we have the +mystery explained. The mystery of the Lion's green eyes, the +strangeness of the Lord Mayor's attitude, the strangeness of his +speech, his dress, all due, my Lord and Gentlemen of the Jury, to +Crème-de-Menthe! My Lord, that one phrase explains this whole mystery, +and with it I finish my statement of this case, my Lord, finish it with +those three, deadly, green, significant words--Crème-de-Menthe." + +Whereupon, to everybody's relief, the pompom explosions of Mr. Dreadful +ceased. The last shell had been fired, followed by the usual whistles, +and he sat down. + +The silky tones of Mr. Gentle Gammon came as a positive relief as he +re-examined and asked gently-- + +"Have you got the particular bottle of Crème-de-Menthe in Court?" + +The Writer said he had brought it. + +The bottle was fetched promptly. + +"My Lord," observed Mr. Gentle Gammon, "I do not think the amount taken +could possibly have had any effect upon anybody. Your Lordship +observes that the bottle is nearly full, and the bottle produced is the +identical vessel used upon the evening in question. Was any other sort +of refreshment partaken of that evening in your chambers?" + +"None whatever." + +"One more question before you go. Of course this ballad, rearranged, +as you say, from the original by you, was written without any thought +of giving offence?" + +"It was never intended to be published at all." + +"Never intended to be read in Court, of course?" + +"_Never_, in the way it was read." + +"Thank you, that is enough," whereupon the Writer vanished gracefully +from the witness-box. + +After this period in the proceedings, if the Learned Judge slumbered +only fitfully during Mr. Dreadful's final peroration, it might have +been owing to the spasmodic explosions of that Counsel's voice; but +there could be no doubt that the Learned Judge slept peacefully during +the earlier portions of Mr. Gentle Gammon's final effort upon behalf of +his client. + +The Learned Judge had, however, a curious habit of hearing particular +things in his sleep, which, like the highly intelligent house-dog, +might have been either the result of long training or a naturally keen +possession of the intuitive faculty. His Lordship found frequent +occasion, therefore, to arouse himself in order to interpolate remarks +during the latter half of Mr. Gentle Gammon's closing speech. + +"Who are these sceptics?" demanded Mr. Gammon, "these disbelievers?" +After all they had heard that afternoon, might they not verily be +approaching that blissful period when the Lion should lie down with the +Lamb?... + +_His Lordship_ (opening one eye). "But it seems, according to +evidence, that the Lion didn't always lie down; it stood up and gave a +party." + +Counsel proceeds: he had not quite finished the beautiful and +well-known simile; here Counsel paused before continuing in a voice +mellowed by winning tenderness-- + +"And the little child shall lead them." + +_Judge_ (again interrupting). "No, no, the Lion, according to +evidence, distinctly led the children, even took them to Balham, we +gather, in the direction of the tram-lines." + +_Counsel_. "Your Lordship is pleased to interrupt my remarks." + +_Judge_. "No, no, not pleased at all; quite the contrary." + +_Counsel_. "I am sorry to have encountered your Lordship's +displeasure." + +_His Lordship_ (irritably). "You have not encountered anything yet, +save an inability to deal with the evidence, as evidence." + +_Counsel_. "But, my Lord------" + +_His Lordship_. "Hush, do not contradict me. Please continue; I shall +not interrupt again." + +_Counsel_. "I thank your Lordship for that assurance." + +_His Lordship_. "Please do not thank me, and do not provoke me." + +_Counsel_ (proceeds, slightly ruffled). He would take another case of +Biblical history; it was without question an ass who had upon a certain +occasion been the one to see when a Lion had stood in his path. Here +the case was unhappily reversed; it was only the asses who couldn't see +the Lion, as he ought to be seen in this case. + +_His Lordship_. "No, I cannot see that." + +_Counsel_. "Your Lordship only makes my remarks more pointed than I +actually intended." + +_His Lordship_. "Please do not set cheap traps or you may one day get +caught in them yourself." + +_Counsel_ (gallantly). "In that case, I can only hope that your +Lordship may be there to extricate me by the nimbleness of your wit." + +_His Lordship_ (beaming round upon the Court, and especially upon +Counsel). "Very pleasant, very clever; your speech interests me very +much; pray continue!" + +_Learned Counsel_ (continuing). "Shakespeare, our best guide, +philosopher, poet, thinker, and prophet, had fitly and most +appropriately even foretold this very matter with regard to the Lion; +maybe had prophesied it, when he told us there were sermons in stone +and good in everything." + +_Judge_ (awakening, after dozing). "Good gracious! I always +understood it was bronze." + +_Counsel_. "Ahem! Yes, my Lord, that is to say stone pedestal, bronze +beast." + +_His Lordship_. "Very well, but when you quote for a purpose always +quote with exact correctness." + +_Counsel_ (proceeds). "Did not the creature his Lordship had referred +to as the great Pyg--Pyg--Pyg-----" + +_His Lordship_ (prompting). "No, no, not a pig, a Lion." + +_Counsel_ (bows, and with a supreme effort of memory recollects the +word Pygmalion). "Had not the great Pygmalion so created Galatea that +she verily became endowed with life, and may we not suppose that the +genius of Sir Edwin Landseer, or whoever carved this wondrous lifelike +Lion, might not also have endowed it with some such strange new form of +existence? Was it reasonable to suppose that what had happened to +Beauty might not also happen to the Beast? Take the simple exquisite +statement of this child, this little boy Ridgwell, confirmed by his +sister." + +_Judge_ (prompting). "No, no, you can only be actually confirmed by a +Bishop." + +_Counsel_. "I spoke of another confirmation, my Lord." + +_His Lordship_. "Well, the issue, the issue, what does it show?" + +_Counsel_. "My Lord, I will explain at some length carefully." + +His Lordship immediately relapses into another short but placid slumber. + +_Counsel_. "This child Ridgwell, with the imagination worthy of +Christian in the _Pilgrim's Progress_, states simply, and you have +heard for yourselves how beautifully, that the Lion walked and talked +with him; and as I have used the touching illustration of the Pilgrim's +Progress, with which you are all familiar, I say this child is not +alone in his belief that the Lion came to life. There are others to +testify, others to write of it, among them a well-known Writer and +Poet. This Lion has not been left without a Bunyan." + +_His Lordship_ (waking almost with a start). "No, no! ridiculous; you +are mixing matters. All the Lion had was a swelling in the foot caused +by a thorn--I know the fable well." + +_Counsel_. "My Lord, believe me, I spoke of a different matter." + +_His Lordship_. "Well, you must not really wander from the point, it +makes it almost impossible for me to follow you, and if I cannot follow +you I don't know where you will be." + +_Counsel_ (glibly). "I trust it is I who will always follow your +Lordship, and be led, as it were, by your Lordship." + +_His Lordship_ (obviously highly pleased). "Very true, and very aptly +expressed. Pray do not let me interrupt you." + +_Counsel_ (bowing). "Your Lordship's remarks are in themselves a +Commentary, and worthy of all preservation." + +_His Lordship_ (almost playfully). "Exceedingly apt. But I must +refuse to be prejudiced by your clever advocacy." + +_Counsel_. "And now we come to the touching and beautiful story of the +Lord Mayor of London, the Right Worshipful" (with a rising inflexion of +admiration in his voice), "who, after many years, had been knighted +like Dick Whittington." + +_His Lordship_. "What has Dick Whittington and his Cat to do with the +present Lord Mayor of London and the Lion?" + +_Counsel_. "Nothing, my Lord, save that----" + +_His Lordship_. "Then please omit it; we have had enough of the fairy +tale element in this trial without the introduction of any fresh fairy +stories or nursery rhymes whatever." + +_Counsel_ (continues blandly, as if unconscious of interruption). "The +Right Worshipful knew, and had always known, that one Lion was +different to the others. One only, the one present in Court, was +intelligent, a companion; the other three were _deaf_." + +The Learned Counsel hoped the Gentlemen of the Jury "would not resemble +those other three Lions by being deaf, deaf to the cause of justice, +deaf to the interests of his client the Right Worshipful, deaf to those +promptings of illuminating intelligence which had been especially +vouchsafed to them as Jurymen, deaf to their duties as citizens in a +strange world where there were to be found things even stranger than +themselves." Thereupon the Learned Counsel sat down. + +The Jury were asked if they wished to put any questions before His +Lordship summed up. + +One juryman, rising, wished to know where Trafalgar Square was, as he +had never seen it. + +Consternation in Court. + +_His Lordship_. "Good gracious, where do you live?" + +Juryman was understood to say he had lived all his life upon the +borders of Clapham Common. Questioned further with regard to this +extraordinary admission, confessed he had never seen any of the Lions +until he met the one in Court. Knew the Griffin well, as he had waited +beside it during the four different days he had been obliged to come to +town for the first time in his life. Had waited from an early hour +each morning for several days until his name was called, when the +different Jury lists were made up. Obliged to wait so many days on +account of the names being taken alphabetically on the List, his +beginning with Y, his name being Yobb. + +After this brief interlude his Lordship appeared to rouse himself up +and proceeded to sum up at one and the same time. His Lordship +commenced by observing that the case before them that day was without +exception the most extraordinary case that had ever come before him +since he had presided as a judge. The Learned Judge considered that +the child Ridgwell was exempt from--er--er--any deliberate desire to +pervert facts. This boy claimed that he had become the recipient of +some High Order of Imagination. He, the Learned Judge, had not the +remotest idea what this order meant, and he firmly believed nobody else +in Court had the faintest conception either concerning such a +possession. However, children would be children, which was +unfortunate, as he himself considered that children should be always, +ahem! grown up, yes, or nearly always. That is to say, as often as was +possible. + +But the defendant, Mr. Learnéd Bore, had not even got the plea of +childishness to excuse some of the very reprehensible, if not flippant, +statements he had dared to make in the witness-box. + +As a writer, the Learned Judge had always been led to believe that Mr. +Learnéd Bore was quite intelligent; as a witness, the Learned Judge +considered him deplorable. That a Lord Mayor of London, of London, +perhaps the most beautiful and dignified city in the world, with a few +architectural exceptions which the Learned Judge deplored, +but--ahem!--allowed; that the Lord Mayor of this City with the +glittering chains of that High Office still weighing down his neck, yet +wearing his crimson robes, which the Learned Judge hoped blushed for +him, as indeed his, the Learned Judge's own robes did, which he was at +that moment wearing. That this Lord Mayor should utter the still more +crimson falsehoods and fabrication of fairy folk, was well-nigh +inconceivable. + +The Learned Judge could only suppose such a state of Civic imbecility +was due to the decadence of the times in which they had the misfortune +to live. It was the first indication that the downfall of London, like +that of Rome, and--er--other cities he could not at the moment +recall--was at hand. + +It showed, in the Learned Judge's opinion, that the Navy should at once +be strengthened, the Board Schools increased, and the Asylums for all +those who were mentally afflicted, and therefore so unlike themselves, +should immediately be enlarged throughout the country, in order to cope +with the extra call upon them that such a state of things as they had +listened to that day might necessitate. + +Furthermore, the Learned Judge remembered with gratitude the many +petitions to the Royal Family, who, he was thankful to note, were never +afflicted or influenced by any imagination whatsoever; therefore he +begged that those petitions might be increased fourfold +for--for--reasons which at that moment he found it impossible to +explain. + +He furthermore would remember with gratitude, and would increase if +possible, the numbers of institutions for the blind, not to mention the +deaf. During this action they had listened in very truth, and not +unmoved, to people who had been blind. (Here a faint titter being +heard in Court, the Learned Judge added reprovingly--) + +He did not intend his last remark as a joke, having regard to the +evidence one man had given. No, it was no matter upon which to joke. +The blind were there before them, and he had used the expression the +deaf, inasmuch that some of those before him had heard too much. + +To hear too much was worse than not hearing enough. One of the Jury at +this critical point, as if speaking upon impulse: "Hear! hear!" + +His Lordship paused in passionate surprise; indignantly wondering +whether or not the Gentleman of the Jury, whose face appeared to be +covered with purposeless pimples, had really intended his last remark +to be ambiguous. + +Upon feeling himself reassured upon this point, the Learned Judge +remarked: "Any more unseemly interruptions of this nature, and I shall +clear the Court, not--ahem!--personally, but--er--vicariously, so to +speak. Where was I?" (consulting notes). "Yes, at the House of +Commons. The House of Commons, whose common sense as a body have +helped to make the--ahem!--Irish and the English as one." + +Where was the House of Commons now? He was thankful to say, where it +had always been. + +Would any one of the Members of that House believe that Oliver +Cromwell, who had stood so long outside, had condescended to alight +from his pedestal to shout vulgar abuse and brawling words at King +Richard and King Charles, such as "Ha! ha!" and "Ho!"? He trusted not, +he believed not; but if, indeed, such a thing could be possible, he +trusted that Oliver Cromwell, if he could by special Providence be now +actually alive, would verily with laughter say, "Ha! ha!" and even "Ho! +ho!" to the ridiculous statements they had heard that day. In face of +the many indignities offered to them he was thankful to note, since it +was admitted in evidence, that King Richard, and especially King +Charles, had kept their heads. He, the Learned Judge, again expressed +a hope that no one would interpret his last remark as being facetious. +Nothing was at that moment further from his thoughts. To joke in a +Court of Law, or even attempt to joke beneath the emblazoned sign of +the Lion and Unicorn somewhere above his head, would be to mock that +noble animal (he referred to the Lion, of course), whose other effigy +in Court formed such a striking contrast to the undignified attitude of +those who had preferred such fanciful charges against this nobly +statured beast, whose presence there among them, as Counsel had +observed, was only rendered possible by the separate removal of _five_ +pairs of folding doors. + +"Little imagination was required to realise that the stony stare of +this noble animal must, Medusa-like, have become even more stony from +horror and abhorrence at the eccentric things it could not hear, +uttered concerning himself, I mean itself, that day. + +"Now, Gentlemen of the Jury, you know what I have been talking about?" + +The face of each and every Juryman a complete blank save one, who +murmurs as if in his sleep, "No! no!" + +"I therefore charge you, consider only that which is right, punish +those, if any, who should be punished, spare the simple, if any, who +should be spared. Commend any, if there are any such, for their +intelligence in reporting a matter which they, like myself, are utterly +unable to understand. If none in this affair should be reproved, then +I charge you hereafter keep silent. + +"Learn a lesson from the statue of the Lion in Court, who has remained +silent throughout, and whose wisdom in this respect I cannot too much +commend, whilst heartily wishing its example could have been followed +by every one in Court with the exception of myself. + +"By the many witnesses in general, but by one in particular; I refer to +Mr. Learnéd Bore. Gentlemen, you need no other words of mine to make +you do your duty. + +"Words will never make people do their duty. Therefore, in having +spared you much, I can only feel that I have helped you little. +Gentlemen of the Jury, the matter having got thoroughly into your +heads, is now in your hands. I therefore leave it there." + +Here the Learned Judge ceased speaking. The Learned Judge having +refreshed himself after this amazing forensic effort with a draught +from the glass of water beside him, which, during the proceedings, had +become lukewarm, gathered his robes about him and hopped through the +folding doors at the back of him, into his private room. + +The Jury, looking like men suddenly out of work, repaired in a body to +their room, and once again the overcrowded and overheated Court gave +itself over to the buzz and hum of conversation, freely interspersed +with endless speculations as to what sort of verdict could possibly be +returned in such an amazing case. + +The Right Worshipful warmly thanked his Counsel, Mr. Gentle Gammon, for +the brilliant efforts that gentleman had made upon his behalf, whilst +Mr. Dreadful, K.C., glared unspeakable things in the direction of the +Plaintiff and Plaintiff's Counsel alternately, for the entire case had +filled Mr. Dreadful, K.C., with feelings of revolt. + +Juniors not engaged on the case made whispered and sporting bets among +themselves as to who would get the verdict. The amber light +illuminating the Court continued to gleam upon the Pleasant-Faced Lion, +unquestionably the most reposeful thing inside the building, although +the primary cause of all the disturbance. + +"Of course," observed Ridgwell to the Writer, "we shall know now who +has won the game." + +The Writer agreed. + +"Will the old gentleman in the red robe call out the forfeits then?" + +"Rather," replied the Writer, "and I fancy, myself, the heaviest +forfeit will be the one which includes bringing Lal into Court; it must +have really cost a very considerable sum. Hullo, they are all coming +back," broke off the Writer, "all the Jury, looking as if they have +lost their way, which I believe, myself, they have, during the entire +case. There, they are summoning his Lordship. Now for it." + +Upon his Lordship resuming his seat, the foreman of the Jury delivered +himself thus, upon behalf of himself and his other eleven brethren. + +"The Jury had all tasted and partaken of the Crème-de-Menthe" (bottle +produced and the contents seen to be very considerably diminished), +"and they found that the Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of London +could not have been suffering from any form of intoxication in the +ordinary acceptance of the word, but that the Lord Mayor might have +been temporarily intoxicated with a sense of his own greatness. That +the noble Statue of the British Lion was regarded by the Lord Mayor +merely as a symbol of the whole British Empire, and was emblematical of +his own power under that Empire. Consequently no blame whatever could +be attached to him. + +"They further found that Mr. Learnéd Bore had forthwith unquestionably +uttered a libel against the Lord Mayor which might have been a gross +libel, had it not been merely a stupid assertion published in a +newspaper, and not therefore to be taken seriously. + +"They found that Mr. Learnéd Bore's evidence was flippant, and left +much to be desired; they wished accordingly to severely censure that +gentleman. + +"Damages, therefore, in the case, although slight, would be given to +his Worship the Lord Mayor, together with all costs of the action. + +"With regard to the Writer and Poet, they, the Jury, wished to severely +condemn all the works he had written, or _partly_ written, since he had +produced, or partly composed, one wholly seditious ballad, attempting +to make fun of the Laws of England, whereupon they expressed an earnest +hope that all his works might in future be banned." + +His Lordship, after partaking of a final sip of the lukewarm water +still beside him, then delivered his verdict. + +"His Lordship entirely agreed that the Lord Mayor of London had been +quite blameless throughout this case, the Lord Mayor's devotion to the +British Lion as a symbol, was the most touching feature in the case; he +would therefore have damages against Mr. Learnéd Bore, and Mr. Learnéd +Bore would have to bear the entire costs of the Action. + +"The damages in this Case would not be the unsatisfactory damages +sometimes assessed at one farthing, nor would they be one shilling, or +even half-a-crown. The damages he, the Learned Judge, awarded would be +a sum sufficient to purchase a bottle of Crème-de-Menthe, and that of +the very best (sensation in Court), to be given to his Worshipful the +Lord Mayor in order to show that the fluid which had figured so +conspicuously in this Case, although it might do some people harm, +could only do good in the case of his Worshipful the Lord Mayor, since, +to use Counsel's borrowed, but apt phrase, this liquid had only made it +possible for the Lord Mayor to see sermons in bronze and stone, and +good in everything; good even in the effigy of the Pleasant-Faced Lion, +who had been brought into Court for the first time in its life, and +who, could it have the power of hearing, must surely approve of the +verdict now given." + +The Learned Judge, having thus delivered himself, then rose, and once +more hopped out of Court. + +The sensation throughout the entire Court was profound. + + * * * * * + +Some considerable time after the Writer had hurried Ridgwell from the +scene, and had provided a quite sumptuous tea, which both of them stood +in need of, in a tea-shop in Fleet Street, they repaired upon the way +home, and passed the statue of the Griffin. + +"Look," whispered Ridgwell, as he pulled the sleeve of the Writer's +coat to attract the Writer's attention. "Oh, look, the Griffin has +been weeping bitterly." + +It was, indeed, only too true. The Griffin's cup of sorrow and +mortification was full. Four great indignant tears trembled upon his +cheeks ready to fall. He had been compelled that day to stand and +listen to people humming his, the Griffin's, own, pet song as they left +the Court, and the Griffin had not been able to join in it. + +The Pleasant-Faced Lion had gone into the Court and had left it in +triumph, cheered by enthusiastic and interested crowds, whilst _he_, +the Griffin, had remained unnoticed. The Griffin's feet were very, +very cold, and his vain, foolish, excitement-loving heart had turned to +stone. + +Having contemplated this sad spectacle, the Writer and Ridgwell +clambered upon the outside of a bus going westward. Half-way up the +Strand the road was partly blocked by a concourse of cheering people. +As their bus came alongside, Ridgwell and the Writer both stood up to +look over the bus rail to see what was causing all the commotion. It +was the Pleasant-Faced Lion being escorted back to Trafalgar Square in +state upon a lorry. The crowd cheered enthusiastically upon viewing +the unusual sight. + +As the Writer and Ridgwell gazed at their old friend, the +Pleasant-Faced Lion slowly, solemnly, and deliberately winked his right +eye, which was nearest to them. + + * * * * * + +The Father and Mother of Ridgwell and Christine, upon returning from a +most enjoyable holiday upon the Continent, could not avoid seeing the +large headlines of the evening papers pasted everywhere upon the +station boards at Charing Cross. + +The headlines were varied; some of them read, "Comic Opera Scene in +Court." "Amusing Case before Mr. Justice Chatty." "Ridgwell Makes all +London Laugh." + +"Very uncommon name," observed the Father of Ridgwell, as he bought +some papers. Later on, in the railway carriage upon the way home, the +Father of Ridgwell first read his paper, and then promptly wiped his +eyeglasses, to assure himself that he was not dreaming. + +"Good gracious!" exclaimed that worthy but astonished gentleman, "why, +it's _our_ Ridgwell!" + +"What is our Ridgwell?" inquired the Mother of that hopeful. + +"Our Ridgwell has been into Court, before a Judge," faltered his +perplexed Father; "has sung a song, which seems to have been a great +success. Positively gave evidence that one of the lions in Trafalgar +Square was alive, and a great friend of his, and that the animal has +occasionally given him a free ride home on his back to Balham; did you +ever hear of such a thing?" + +The Mother of Ridgwell hastily perused the papers recording these +strange statements, whilst the Father of Ridgwell leaned back in the +railway carriage, endeavouring to recover his breath, and collect his +startled faculties both together. + +The Mother of Ridgwell read the part describing her offspring's +performance to the end, and then observed-- + +"Did you see, Father, that Ridgwell declares he possessed a high Order +of Imagination, and then lost it?" + +The Father of Ridgwell groaned. + +"Lost it? Good gracious me, what nonsense, my dear; I should think +myself he has just found it. I'll talk to that Writer, when I see him; +he really oughtn't to be allowed about at large, any more than the +Pleasant-Faced Lion. I consider the whole history of this animal most +incredible." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE END OF THE MATTER + +The family had just sat down to breakfast when the Writer arrived at +Balham in a taxi-cab, bearing two large cardboard dress-boxes with him. + +Having deposited these articles, he was greeted by the family. + +"Oh! you bad man," commenced the Mother of Ridgwell and Christine; "sit +down and have breakfast at once before you start any more of those +plausible tales of yours." + +"How did you get here so early?" inquired Father. + +"Took a taxi, but it wasn't half such fun as riding down here on a +Lion's back!" + +Ridgwell leaned one side of his head down upon the table and laughed, +and Christine glanced round shyly. + +"A fine sort of commotion you and Ridgwell have caused," protested +Father; "listen to this paragraph out of this morning's paper." + +The Writer actually appeared to enjoy eating his breakfast unabashed, +whilst Father proceeded to read. + +"'The amusing action which took place yesterday in Court X---- has been +the cause of unprecedented scenes in London. Thousands of children, +both boys and girls, throng Trafalgar Square in order to see if the +Pleasant-Faced Lion intends to speak, or give another children's party. + +"'Hundreds of children congregate every minute round the Griffin's +statue, waiting for it to sing, and have to be moved on good-naturedly +but firmly by the police.'" + +"A nice state of things," commented Father, during a pause in the +reading. + +"'There can be no doubt whatever that the extraordinary story of Lal +has interested all London, and everybody is laughing at the idea. + +"'Sir Simon Gold, the Lord Mayor of London, with the usual +thoughtfulness that always distinguishes him, has resolved that the +London children shall not be disappointed with regard to a party. Sir +Simon has therefore taken the four biggest public halls, in the four +quarters of London, north, south, east, and west, and all the children +of London in each district will be entertained upon behalf of the +Pleasant-Faced Lion by the Lord Mayor to a delightful evening party the +same evening that the Lord Mayor gives his usual children's party at +the Mansion House.'" + +"I can add something to that piece of news," observed the Writer, as he +continued eating his breakfast happily, and totally unconscious, +seemingly, of his many misdoings. "In those two big cardboard boxes +are two costumes; they are presents from Mum, one for Ridgwell, and the +other for Christine. Oh, no!--not to be opened until after breakfast. +Now, upon the night of the parties an event is going to take place that +will please everybody. The Lord Mayor wants both Ridgwell and +Christine to tell the story of Lal at each party after the dancing. It +will be the event of the evening, and will be illustrated on the +cinematograph." + +"Oh!" echoed Ridgwell and Christine, "what fun!" + +"All very fine for all of you," protested Father, "but I have to go to +town to-day on business, and if I cannot get past Fleet Street or the +Griffin on account of all the children round it, what am I to do, and +how am I to get along with my work?" + +Christine and Ridgwell sidled up, one upon either side of Father's +chair. + +"Don't you know you ought to be very pleased?" they said. + +"Why?" inquired Father. + +"Because the Griffin is happy at last, he is being noticed." + +The Writer laughed: the Writer was really a most unscrupulous person as +to the source from which he derived amusement. + +"It is a very incredible tale," remarked Father, severely. + +"_Most_ incredible," confessed Mother, with a smile. + + + + +THE END + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tale of Lal, by Raymond Paton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF LAL *** + +***** This file should be named 26869-8.txt or 26869-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/8/6/26869/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/26869-8.zip b/26869-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b50c640 --- /dev/null +++ b/26869-8.zip diff --git a/26869.txt b/26869.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f2cc813 --- /dev/null +++ b/26869.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8110 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tale of Lal, by Raymond Paton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Tale of Lal + A Fantasy + +Author: Raymond Paton + +Release Date: October 10, 2008 [EBook #26869] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF LAL *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + +THE TALE OF LAL + +_A FANTASY_ + + +BY + +RAYMOND PATON + +AUTHOR OF "THE DRUMMER OF THE DAWN" + + + + + BRENTANO'S CHAPMAN & HALL LTD. + NEW YORK LONDON + +1914 + + + + +AN EXPLANATION AND AN APOLOGY + +Upon behalf of Ridgwell and Christine the author has been urged to +explain that three things--facts, common-sense, and probability--have +of necessity been throughout entirely omitted in relating this story. +The children, however, have comforted the author by declaring that +these particular things are not required at all in any book of the +present day, but are merely an old-fashioned survival of the past, +which is gradually dying out. + +One of the sole remaining examples we possess of fact, common-sense, +and probability being the celebration of the 5th of November, which has +somehow become a day of national thanksgiving, and is without doubt one +of the most important dates in the calendar, and very dear to the +hearts of the English people. + + + + +A PREFACE + +The aspect of Trafalgar Square, like everything else in the world, +depends largely upon how it is viewed, and through whose eyes it is +seen. + +A Japanese artist, for instance, visiting London, immediately selected +Trafalgar Square seen by night-time as a subject for a picture. He +thoughtfully omitted any suggestion of either omnibuses, taxi-cabs, or +the populace. + +He likewise decided that all the statues were most unpicturesque, and +the varied and flashing electric advertisements to be seen hung up on +high around the Square were not only hideous but impossible. + +Consequently this imaginative being flung upon his canvas a mysterious +blue space, void of anything save the brilliantly coloured lanterns of +his own land, swung upon bamboo poles, trembling in the darkness at +picturesquely convenient distances. The effect was quite beautiful, +but of course it could not in any way be considered as a reasonable +likeness of this particular Square. + +A French artist also selecting this portion of London for a picture, +determined at once that it would be more becoming, not to say +diplomatic, to paint only one end of the low stone wall surrounding the +Square; yet entertaining doubts afterwards that it might not perhaps be +recognised, he added the central stone cupola of the National Gallery, +appearing over all like a hastily bestowed blessing, but covered the +remaining space upon his canvas with imaginary stalls of glowing +flowers, and even more imaginary flower-sellers. His picture was +greatly admired, and very much resembled the Market Square in Havre +upon a Monday morning. + +A Spanish artist chancing to pass the same way, likewise hastily +completed a picture of Trafalgar Square as he wished to see it, adding +by way of a decorative effect a lattice-work of trellised vines like +unto his beloved vineyards of Andalusia. Dwarf oranges grew in +profusion and hung their coloured golden globes over the squat stone +walls. A brilliant Southern sun beat upon both, baking the walls +red-hot and ripening the oranges at one and the same time. This +picture the artist named Trafalgar Square when the Sun Shines. + +A Cubist painter, not to be outdone with regard to his point of view of +such a subject, covered an immense canvas with wonderful heaving +squares of ochre and green, viewed from a background suggesting endless +mud. This suggestion, however, may have been in the nature of a small +tribute to the usual condition of the London streets. This production +which the Cubist artist was optimistic enough to name simply Trafalgar +Square, was instantly bought by a famous geologist, who to this day +indulges in the beautiful belief that he possesses the only indication +of what this particular portion of the world was like before ever the +earth was made. + +Last of all arrived a Futurist painter, who painted _everything_ in +Trafalgar Square, and nothing that did _not_ appear in it. The +painter, however, selected a really wonderful aspect of the Square, +seen from a most strange angle, a sort of bird's-eye view of it, which +could only have been obtained from a balloon. So remarkable was the +perspective that the entire Square, as seen in the picture, appeared as +if it were being gradually drawn sideways up to Heaven. The great +Nelson column and all the four lions could be viewed simultaneously, +and the artist had painted _all the four lions alike_. + +Now a Writer whose chambers overlooked Trafalgar Square, and who was +acquainted with its every aspect, by night as well as day, knew full +well that the Futurist artist was wrong when he painted all the four +lions _alike_. The Writer knew that one Lion was totally different +from all the others; so the Writer smiled and kept his own counsel. + +I will wait, said the Writer, until somebody else has made the same +discovery that I have made. I will remain completely silent concerning +one square patch of fairyland placed within the very hub and centre of +the Universe, within the busiest part of a great city. When some other +traveller finds the key to the mystic place, we shall both discover it +is possible to talk about something which nobody else understands, and +be enabled to compare notes. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAP. + + AN EXPLANATION AND AN APOLOGY + A PREFACE + + +BOOK I + +WHAT RIDGWELL AND CHRISTINE DECLARED + + I THE PLEASANT-FACED LION + II BY ORDER OF THE LION + III THE GOLDEN PAVILION + IV PREPARING FOR A VISITOR + + +BOOK II + +WHAT THE WRITER AND THE LORD MAYOR DECLARED + + V THE WRITER APPEARS ON THE SCENE + VI TWO DICK WHITTINGTONS + VII THE LION MAKES HIS SIGN + VIII AN UPSETTING ARTICLE IN THE MORNING PAPER + IX THE WRITER PLANS WICKED PLANS + + +BOOK III + +WHAT THE PUBLIC HEARD ABOUT + + X THE LION GOES TO COURT + XI THE END OF THE MATTER + + + + +BOOK I + +WHAT RIDGWELL AND CHRISTINE DECLARED + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE PLEASANT-FACED LION + +Ridgwell always told Christine afterwards that he thought the Lion +first spoke to him in Trafalgar Square, the day when he was lost in the +fog. + +Ridgwell never knew how he became separated from the rest, but like all +other unpleasant experiences it was one step, so to speak, and there he +was, wandering about lost. The fog appeared to have swallowed up the +friends he had been walking with a moment before; he could only hear +voices as if people were talking through a gramophone, and see looming +black shadows which did not seem to be accompanied by any bodies; then +whack--he walked right into something big which did not move. At this +point Ridgwell was seriously thinking about commencing to cry. + +"Stop that," said a gruff voice. + +"What?" faltered Ridgwell. + +"Going to cry." + +"I am not sure," said Ridgwell, "that I was." + +"I am," said the gruff voice. "I saw the corners of your mouth go +down. Now can you climb up? No, of course you can't, you are too +small. Here, catch hold of my paw! There you are!" grunted the Lion, +when Ridgwell was seated safely. "You just fit nicely; all the +children fit in here. Knock those rolled-up policemen's capes off, +they annoy me every day when they put them there. They tickle me, and +I can't scratch about with my paws either." + +Ridgwell was now lost in amazement, and regarded the Lion in +open-mouthed astonishment. + +The Lion purred contentedly. It was a nice homely sounding, domestic +purr, and many times deeper and more impressive than that of a cat. +"What's your name?" demanded the Lion, whilst Ridgwell was still +gasping. + +"Ridgwell." + +"Very appropriate too," said the Lion. "Here you are sitting in safety +on the Ridge with me, and you are Well, aren't you?" + +"Yes, thank you." + +"There you are then," said the Lion. "_Ridge-Well_, what more do you +want? Now I suppose you wish to know who I am? Well, I don't mind +telling you. I am the Pleasant-Faced Lion. I am the only real Lion of +the four, consequently I have a more intelligent expression than the +others. The other three are only just common lions, and are always +asleep. Now _I_ come to life once in every generation and have a talk +to the children, or to any one grown up who is imaginative enough to +understand me. I like children, they are a hobby of mine. I am not in +my usual spirits to-day," continued the Lion, "I have caught cold." + +"Have you?" said Ridgwell. "I am very sorry." + +"Yes, they washed me for Trafalgar Day in some beastly solution which +was most unsuitable to me. I cannot shake off the cold. Hang on!" +shouted the Lion suddenly, "I am going to sneeze, and I may shake you +off the pedestal." Whereupon the Lion grabbed Ridgwell gently with his +paw to steady him, and after sneezing heavily, proceeded. "After +washing me for Trafalgar Day, which was most unnecessary, they hung a +ridiculous wreath round my neck with a large N in leaves upon it. To +add to the injury, an absurd person stood staring at me and explained +to her children that the N stood for Napoleon. Bah!!!" growled the +Lion. "Bah!!! Ignorance!" + +"What did it stand for?" asked Ridgwell. + +"Nile," grunted the Lion. "Short for Battle of the Nile." + +"But I am so astonished. I did not know that you could talk, Mister +Lion." + +"Oh, for Heaven's sake don't call me Mister Lion, call me Lal." + +"Why Lal?" inquired Ridgwell. + +"Short for Lionel," whispered the Lion. "Lionel is my proper name." + +"Oh, I see, but, Mister----" + +"There you go again," said the Lion. "Call me Lal and be friendly." + +"Indeed I am very friendly, Mister--I mean Lal; but there are so many +things I don't understand." + +"Common complaint of little boys," grumbled the Lion, "and you are +going to see a lot more things in a minute that you will find most +amazing. For instance, would you like to see a tournament?" + +"Rather, Lal, I've always longed to see a tournament, but they never +have such things now, do they? Aren't they all ended in England?" + +"On the contrary," declared the Lion, "one is about to begin." + +"Where?" + +"Here in front of your eyes, and if you like you shall stay and see it. +St. George outside Westminster has challenged the Griffin at Temple Bar +to fight. All the really important Statue folk will be present. King +Richard I from outside the Houses of Parliament will ride up to see +fair play. Charles I. will come over from Whitehall across the road; +Oliver Cromwell will most likely put in an appearance, if he can only +make up his mind to leave his mound outside the Commons in those big +boots of his." + +"But, Lal," questioned Ridgwell, "surely Charles I. and Cromwell won't +come to the Tournament together? Will they speak and be friendly?" + +"No, no," confessed the Lion, "we still have great trouble with those +two, they never speak. You see Cromwell is jealous of Charles, because +Charles is mounted upon a nice horse, and rides past Cromwell and never +notices him at all. Now Cromwell has to go about on foot, squeaking +and squelching in those big boots, so that he never gets up to Charles, +which annoys Cromwell very much." + +"Why?" + +"Well, you see, Cromwell wants to shout out 'Ha!!!' at Charles, and he +never gets a chance. Cromwell gets left out very much in the cold," +continued the Lion, "Richard I. never notices him either." + +"Why is that?" asked Ridgwell. + +"It's like this," said the Lion, "and it's only reasonable when you +come to think of it. Richard I. spent nearly the whole of his time +fighting to preserve a shrine, whilst Cromwell spent most of his time +destroying them. Of course that annoys Richard, so Richard simply +looks through Cromwell whenever they meet. Nothing would induce him to +notice Cromwell." + +"I should think that must annoy Cromwell," debated Ridgwell. + +"It does," agreed the Lion, "but Cromwell always shouts out Ho! at +Richard; he thinks Ho! is more appropriate to Richard's period. +Richard, however, with perfect self-possession which is beyond all +praise, never appears to hear him at all. Cromwell will always keep +turning his head round to stare most rudely at Richard and Charles as +they gallop past, hoping that Richard will hear him shout Ho! and +Charles will hear him shout Ha!, and that irritating habit of his, +together with Charles's treatment of the matter, was probably the +origin of the terms, 'Roundhead' and 'Cavalier.'" + +"Really!" said Ridgwell. + +The Lion coughed slightly. "Not really," said the Lion, "only perhaps." + +"But, Lal, if the statues of London move about and are coming here for +a tournament as you say, won't people miss them?" + +"Good gracious goodness, no," exclaimed the Lion. "Why! the people of +London wouldn't miss them in a year, let alone a few hours! Then +perhaps some person might notice something wasn't in its usual place +and would write to the papers asking what it meant, and the London +County Council would hold an inquiry." + +"But, Lal, will General Gordon, George III. and Nelson take part in the +Tournament?" + +"Bless me, child, how you mix up your history," observed the Lion, "of +course not. They are only moderns, the others are ancients. Two Kings +waiting to see fair play between a Griffin and a Saint who are about to +have a fight, belong to quite another time. George III. and General +Gordon are moved out of the way before the combat starts; and as for +Nelson, he was frozen long ago up there; it is a ridiculous attitude +for so great a man, and a worse altitude, but there he is, and you +cannot alter it; however he is frozen and mercifully doesn't feel +anything or see anything that is going on." + +"But if they are going to fight and charge one another, won't the +fountains be in the way?" inquired Ridgwell anxiously, as he looked up +into the Lion's good-humoured face. + +"If you look again hard," grinned the Lion, "you will find that the +fountains and the stone lakes around them have disappeared." + +Ridgwell immediately looked in the direction the Lion indicated, and +was amazed to find only a big, wide, open space of stone, one of the +largest spaces in London. + +"But how did they----" commenced Ridgwell. + +"Hush!" said the Lion, "you really mustn't chatter any more. Here they +come, and I have to be Judge of the Tournament, also the Referee; and +to be a Referee," sighed the Lion, "is always a thankless task." + +At this moment, amidst a clatter that was indescribable, the Griffin, +looking a most ungainly object, came gallumping into the open space. + +The Griffin appeared to be all wings, and scales, and claws, yet this +somewhat grisly appearance was entirely misleading, for he possessed an +amiable, although foolish disposition, whilst his expression owed much +of its peculiarity to a habit he had acquired of breaking into broad +smiles of astonished self-appreciation. The Griffin was very vain, and +the one thing he craved for was notoriety. + +"Good evening, Lionel; where's George?" demanded the Griffin. "I don't +see him." + +"You'll see quite enough of him before he's finished with you," +retorted the Pleasant-Faced Lion, loftily. "However, here he comes." + +St. George at this moment entered the wide stone space immediately in +front of the Lion, to whom he made a profound salute. + +St. George looked very handsome in his scaly armour, and his short +bright sword glistened blue in the half light. Ridgwell had little +time to notice other details, for two horsemen came galloping in. + +Both were in armour and both were mounted upon beautiful horses. + +"Who are they?" asked Ridgwell. + +"Don't you see?" whispered the Lion. "King Richard I. and King Charles +I. Ah," sighed the Lion, "what a noble figure Richard is! He is my +special favourite; you see," explained the Lion, "he is named after me." + +"Is he?" + +"Of course. Is he not called Richard Coeur-de-Lion? I am de-Lion," +announced the Lion proudly. "He carried a picture of me on his shield +once. You may notice," proceeded the Lion, "that King Charles +unfortunately rides slightly upon one side. It is not his fault, but +owing to the fact that he has no girth to his saddle." + +The horsemen wheeled one to either end of the arena before bringing +their horses to a standstill. + +The two opponents, St. George and the Griffin, stood facing each other +in the centre, waiting for the combat to commence. + +"Before we start," announced the Lion, "I am the Judge. There is, of +course, to be no bloodshed; indeed," he added, in his wisest and most +judicial manner, "bloodshed is impossible. The Griffin is almost +over-protected (if I can use such a term) with scales, St. George is +fully covered with armour. The Griffin possesses his remarkable claws, +St. George a flat sword, so both are well matched. Therefore the +contest resolves itself into a trial of skill and strength. Both shall +be weighed in the scales." + +"He! he! he!" sniggered the Griffin, "if my scales cannot crush the +scales of George's blatant armour may I live to bite my own nails. +Why, I will squash him as flat as an empty meat tin." + +"Swank," murmured St. George, nonchalantly. + +"The reason of the contest," continued the Lion in a loud voice, as if +he were reading from some document which he had committed to memory, +"is owing to a ridiculous assertion made by the Griffin. The Griffin +claims to be the older established of the two. St. George laughs at +this claim derisively. The Griffin sorely provoked to it, +unfortunately fell back upon dates, and his memory being very weak he +hoped to conceal his shakiness about dates, with phrases. He therefore +declared that Temple Bar where he now stands, once possessed two gates +which have since been removed. Nevertheless the Griffin contends that +he is still there and Temple Bar is still there; in this he is +undoubtedly right; yet, not content with this, he further asserts that +this is the whole cause and origin of the phrase, 'Two to one, Bar +one.' St. George here present, who knows something about horses, +immediately called him a--well, it is not a nice word," broke off the +Lion in parenthesis, "anyway St. George intimated that the truth was +not in the Griffin. Hence a trial by combat. Are you ready?" roared +the Lion; "then commence." + +From his quite comfortable seat between the Lion's paws, Ridgwell now +watched the strangest combat he would ever be likely to witness. + +The Griffin advanced towards St. George with about as much grace as a +dancing camel would possess. His excessive angularity was accentuated +by his extraordinary clumsiness. St. George did not appear at all +disconcerted by the flapping of the Griffin's wings, but managed to +avoid his clumsy clutches with great skill. Had St. George not slipped +upon a piece of orange-peel, inadvertently left upon the floor of the +arena, it is doubtful if the Griffin would ever have touched him. As +St. George slipped, the Griffin hugged him tightly. Ridgwell held his +breath, for it almost seemed as if St. George's armour must indeed +crumple up. + +"Meat tins," shrieked the Griffin. + +"Break away," commanded the Lion. + +"Here, I say," snorted the Griffin, "I'd only just got him." + +"Break away," ordered the Lion, "no hugging." + +The Griffin retired to his corner pouting. + +When the second bout started, Ridgwell noticed that there was something +like a smile upon St. George's face, and he soon understood the reason +of it. St. George had found out his adversary's weak spot. + +The Griffin advancing with a rush upon his hind legs, with his front +claws doubled up reaching high over St. George to pull him down, was +brought to a sudden standstill. + +There was a rapid sound of "Whack! whack! whack! whack!" four times. + +St. George had hit the Griffin with the flat of his sword upon the most +tender part of the Griffin's claws. The Griffin's mouth trembled. + +"Whack! whack! whack! whack!" came four more swashing blows, whilst the +Griffin hesitated. Then the Griffin broke down completely, and wept +aloud bitterly. + +"He's broken my knuckles," sobbed the Griffin. + +"Do you give in?" asked the Lion. + +"Oh yes," sobbed the Griffin. "Oh! my poor paws." + +"Shall he chase you round the arena?" demanded the Lion. + +"No," whimpered the Griffin; "I'll go home quietly." + +Thereupon King Richard raised his sword and saluted to indicate that +the fight was over, and followed by King Charles, who still swerved +slightly to one side in his saddle, the two Kings rode out of the +Square. + +"Shake hands?" asked St. George of the Griffin, before he departed. + +The Griffin shook his head dolefully instead, whilst great tears +coursed down his cheeks. + +"Oh no," sniffed the Griffin, "I don't think I shall ever shake hands +again." + +When everybody had gone, the Griffin slowly hobbled to his feet, and +moving towards home, half sobbed and half sang in a way that was +intensely comic-- + + "Oh! Temple Bar, Oh! Temple Bar, + With broken knuckles you seem so far. + And all my claws are broken too; + Oh! Temple Bar, what shall I do? + To _hit_ me with a sword held flat, + 'Twas grim of George to think of that." + + +"Now you have seen the tournament," observed the Lion to Ridgwell, "I +suppose you will have to get home somehow." + +"Yes, please, Lal." + +"And of course," said the Pleasant-Faced Lion, "you will want to come +again." + +"Rather," laughed Ridgwell. + +"Well, to-morrow night there is a very different sort of entertainment. +I and the Statue folk are going to give an evening party, the grandest +you have ever seen, or will ever be likely to see." + +"Oh, Lal, can I come and bring Christine?" + +"Who is Christine?" inquired the Lion, cautiously; "you know we cannot +admit everybody." + +"Christine is my little sister. At least," added Ridgwell, "Christine +is older than I am, but she is little all the same." + +"I see." + +"And she would so enjoy it, Lal," pleaded Ridgwell. + +"Very well," said the Lion, "both come just this once. Now for home. +Come," commanded the Lion, "jump up. I learned that common expression +from the people who every moment of the day mount upon the horrid Buzz, +Buzz, things." + +"Don't you like the Motor Omnibuses then?" + +"The Buzz Buzzes you mean, child. No, I dislike them intensely, they +make such a noise both day and night that I cannot hear myself purr +even. Jump up. Where do you want to go to?" + +"To Balham, please, Lal." + +"Ah, that's the man with the Ass, isn't it?" demanded the Lion. + +For a moment Ridgwell looked quite shocked. "Oh no, Lal, you are +thinking of Balaam." + +"Spelt the same way," snapped the Lion, who did not like being +corrected upon historical matters. + +"No, Lal, there is an H in Balham and people never drop it." + +"Glad to hear it," grunted the Lion. "I only wish the people who +collect the pennies from the passengers upon the Buzz Buzz things would +say the same. Day by day," added the Lion in an aggrieved tone, "I +hear them shout out the expressions--'Olloway, 'Igate, 'Arrow. The +Board Schools," continued the Lion in his wisest tones, "are +responsible for a most imperfect system of education." + +"But, Lal," pleaded Ridgwell, "you will take me to Balham, won't you? +I do not know how I should get home if you didn't take me there." + +"Yes," said the Lion, "of course, I shall take you home, but you +mustn't come to see me too often, you know, it's outside the four-mile +radius. However," concluded the Lion, "I shall follow the tram lines. +Jump up," once more commanded the Lion, "and hang on, because you know +I go at a good pace when once started." + +Whereupon Ridgwell clambered upon the Pleasant-Faced Lion's back, and +convulsively hugging him half round his great neck, buried his head in +the Lion's mane and shut his eyes, whilst the Lion took a bold jump +from off his pedestal, and started in a brisk trot for Balham. + +When they had arrived at their destination outside Ridgwell's home, the +Lion stood in the road and wagged his tail contentedly. + +"Thank you for bringing me home, Lal," said Ridgwell as he clambered +off the Lion's back. + +"Good-night," whispered the Lion hoarsely, for after his long run he +was almost out of breath. "Mind you close the hall door safely after +you." + +The Pleasant-Faced Lion, who appeared to be pleased at having brought +his little charge home, stood in the road and purred quite loudly for +some time. + +But none of the neighbours, who heard the deep sound echoing through +the quiet road, thought of looking out of the window. They merely +believed the sound proceeded from some powerful motor car which had +stopped in the vicinity. + +Then the Pleasant-Faced Lion jogged home to his pedestal in Trafalgar +Square, well pleased with his night's work. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +BY ORDER OF THE LION + +"Hullo, Lal!" said Ridgwell, as he looked up at the Lion the following +evening. + +"Hullo!" rejoined the Lion huskily. "Who is that you have brought with +you?" + +"This is Christine," said Ridgwell. + +"How do you do?" said the Pleasant-Faced Lion, and he seemed to look +even more pleasant than usual. The Lion stretched himself, descended +from his pedestal, and held out his paw to shake hands with Christine: +Christine responded to these greetings shyly. + +Ridgwell really thought the Lion was one of the most amiable creatures +he had ever met. + +"If you do not mind," the Lion observed to Christine, "you might walk +upon the other side of Ridgwell and not next to me." + +"Oh, Lal, why?" asked Christine. + +"Who asked Christine to call me Lal?" inquired the Lion, as he lifted +his head up with an intensely comical air of self-importance. + +"I did," said Ridgwell; "you told me always to call you Lal." + +"Quite right," replied the Lion. "But do you always do exactly alike, +you two?" + +"Yes, always," said Ridgwell. + +"Humph!" grunted the Lion. "Suppose there is only one apple and you +both want it, what happens?" + +"We exactly divide it," said Ridgwell. + +"Mathematically correct," said the Lion. "Good." + +"But please why can't I walk next to you, _Mister_ Lion?" + +"Ha!" shrieked the Lion, "there she goes, Mister Lion. You taught her +that too, I suppose." + +"Hush, Lal," said Ridgwell, "don't get excited. Christine will soon +get out of the habit and call you Lal, directly she knows how pleasant +you are." + +"You haven't answered my question, Lal," objected Christine. + +"Well, little Christine, it is like this," and the Lion pondered deeply +for awhile. "If you walked _next_ to me and rested your hand upon my +mane as you are doing now, anybody who saw us might take us for Una and +the Lion, otherwise Beauty and the Beast, and oh! my dear child," +implored the Lion, "you surely could not wish me ever to be called a +_beast_." + +"Of course not," said Christine; "we wouldn't hurt your feelings for +worlds. So, Ridgie, you walk next to Lal, and I will walk the other +side of you." + +"A most reasonable child," muttered the Lion, "really quite reasonable." + +"Did you bring the sulphur tablets?" asked the Lion mysteriously. + +"Yes, here they are. Christine has them wrapped up in a packet," +explained Ridgwell; "but, Lal, what can you want with sulphur tablets? +You promised me we should both be asked to the party, but sulphur +tablets do seem such an odd thing to want as a start. I have thought +over it, and Christine has thought over it, and we cannot really think +what they can be for." + +The Lion chuckled his most pleasant chuckle. + +"Give it up?" + +"Yes," nodded Ridgwell. + +"So would any one else," grinned the Lion, "except me. Have you ever +thought how the thick yellow London fogs come?" inquired the Lion +insinuatingly. "Do you know what causes them?" + +"No," said Ridgwell. "I don't think anybody knows that." + +"I do," replied the Lion. + +"What causes them, then?" asked Ridgwell. + +"The yellow fogs are caused solely by the habit the other three lions +have of sucking sulphur tablets whilst they are asleep," declared the +Lion. "They are always sleeping, and directly two sulphur tablets are +placed in the corner of each one's mouth they go on sleeping and +breathing, sleeping and breathing. The result is a thick yellow fog." + +"I never knew that was the cause of London fogs," mused Ridgwell. + +"One of them," sighed the Lion; "and who can wonder at it? Just look +at the size of their mouths." + +"But your mouth is as large as theirs, is it not?" debated Christine. + +"Yes," said the Lion, "but there is a particular reason for my mouth +being large." + +"Why?" asked the children. + +"On account of all the wisdom I utter," replied the Lion loftily. + +"Anyway," said Ridgwell, "it does seem a horrid preparation for a party +to start with a fog. Surely nobody would see what was going on." + +"Hush, hush, my children," remonstrated the Pleasant-Faced Lion. "Just +gather round and listen, and do not interrupt. You will be amazed at +all the things you are about to see and hear, for you are going to be +present to-night for a few minutes at the most wonderful party ever +given in the whole world." + +"That will be lovely," said Ridgwell and Christine. "And oh! Lal, +really we have looked forward to it so much." + +The Lion patted each of the children in turn affectionately upon the +head with its paw, and they remembered afterwards that his paw was as +soft as velvet, and really wasn't heavy at all. + +"Chatter, chatter, chatter," said the Lion, "just like the magpies and +the sparrows, and the fashionable Society people for that matter, but +you must not interrupt. I am just like one of those guides that do all +the talking, and if I am interrupted I lose my place, get all my +thoughts out of order, and all the ceremony will be wrong. Then King +Richard and King Charles will both be down upon me, and say the party +was rotten, and that I was to blame; and as for Boadicea, she has a +nasty temper, and will probably hit me over the head with her reins." + +"Oh, Lal, do you mean to say that King Richard and King Charles and +Boadicea are coming to the party?" + +"Yes, all of them," grunted the Lion. "Now be quiet, and just listen. +The sulphur tablets which seem to cause you so much mystification are +simply to cause a fog upon the _outside_ of Trafalgar Square, and to +shut out the sight of the most wonderful party in the world from the +gaze of all the other people who have not been invited to it. Imagine +the millions of people who would flock to see such a sight, if it were +not screened off. Drivers of the Buzz Buzz things they call +motor-buses and taxis, loafers, tramps, idlers, City men, work-girls, +curious women--and, by the way, remember that women are always +curious--would flock in millions, attracted by the lovely lights, which +will be brighter than anything you have ever seen, by the jewels, which +will be more dazzling than anything you have ever dreamed of, to say +nothing about the gorgeous costumes that will rival anything displayed +upon the Field of the Cloth of Gold, outdo the splendours of any court, +and put the pageant of the grandest pantomime ever witnessed to shame. +Follow me," commanded the Lion, "and you will see what you will see +only once in your lives, and it all begins with the sulphur tablets." + +Ridgwell and Christine followed, and were dumb with amazement. The +Lion gently took the packet of sulphur tablets from Christine and +thanked her for providing them. Gingerly he approached each of the +other three sleeping lions in turn and insinuatingly placed two in the +mouth of each lion; one tablet each side between each lion's big front +teeth and its tongue. + +"It's a dreadful habit," said the Pleasant-Faced Lion, "to suck sulphur +tablets in your sleep, but I suppose it's soothing. Now watch," +observed Lal maliciously. "Sleeping and breathing, sleeping and +breathing, the sulphur tablets will soon commence to work." + +Slowly as they watched, thick jets of yellow vapour commenced to rise +upward and all around. + +"Come," whispered Lal, "the thick fog stops like a wall at the back of +their pedestals and all round Trafalgar Square. As I told you," +chuckled the Lion, "the fog is only upon the _outside_ of where the +party will take place." + +He now quickly drew the children out of the fog inside the immense +charmed circle of Trafalgar Square, where the atmosphere was quite +clear, but as yet quite dark. + +The Lion lifted up his head and gave a most piercing and peculiar +whistle; once, twice, three times and yet a fourth he repeated this +signal. + +The signal was answered in a curious manner. The whole space commenced +to vibrate with a strange humming sound which resembled violins, +violoncellos, flageolets and flutes being played upon very faintly. +The sounds were so weirdly fascinating that any one might have imagined +it proceeded from a little group of Eastern musicians playing upon +reeds in order to charm some snake to uncoil and become sociable after +a lengthy seclusion in its wicker-work basket. + +"What is that music?" asked Ridgwell. + +"The eight Dolphins of the fountains are humming happily. They are +waiting to carry out my commands," answered the Lion. + +Once again the Lion whistled four times. + +Ridgwell and Christine, who were listening intently, could hear the +scurrying of flying feet racing along. The sound drew nearer and +nearer, until several dark forms were jostling each other immediately +in front of where they stood, and they could feel the warm breath of +some living things upon their hands. Suddenly in the darkness there +was a chorus of hoarse laughter. + +Ridgwell and Christine started slightly. + +"Are they spirits?" inquired Ridgwell, with a note of anxiety in his +voice. + +"No," vouchsafed the Lion, "only the four merry laughing little Lions +from outside Westminster Abbey. They are the most ridiculous creatures +in all London. + +"Stop laughing," commanded the Lion. + +"Hear me, Gamble, Grin, Grub, and Carry-on-Merry, and hearken +attentively. + +"Carry-on-Merry, have you all stopped laughing?" demanded the Lion. + +"Yes, mighty Lal, we are simply grinning at present, which is as near +to being serious as we can ever become. We are only waiting for your +commands." + +The Lion lifted up his mighty head and called, "Silence, Dolphins." + +Immediately the curious sounds of humming ceased. + +"The party I give is to be the most beautiful in the world, displaying +wonders such as no Emperor can procure. Each of the Four Seasons shall +appear before us, perfect in every way, to be followed by the Pavilion +of Gold." + +"It shall be done, O Lal." + +"My guests will be all the stray children of London. Call them from +every street and court, from out every by-way, alley, and lane." + +"They are all here waiting, O Lal." + +"Good. Also gather together all the lost and stray dogs of London, +every single one who is wandering about to-night." + +"They have all been summoned, O Lal." + +"The Royalty present will include Queen Boadicea, King Richard I., King +Charles I., and St. George." + +"Each has received a royal invitation, O Lal, and the Royal personages +will all be pleased to attend." + +"Each boy and girl is to be dressed in the most costly costume, +according to their taste." + +"All is prepared for them, Lal, and even as you desire, great splendour +awaits them, and nothing will be lacking for their perfect enjoyment." + +"Good; see that all is well done, and be ready to begin when I give the +signal. You understand?" + +"We understand," laughed the four merry Lions. + +"We obey," squeaked the Dolphins. + +"Only one thing remains to be done, to dress you, Ridgwell, and you, +Christine." + +"What shall we be dressed in?" inquired Christine. + +"Shut your eyes," said the Lion gently, "and stretch your hands over +the lake of the fountain and take what the Dolphins give you. They +know what you want, and their taste in such matters is exquisite." + +The children shut their eyes and obeyed. The Lion leant over the rim +of the lake and whispered to the Dolphins-- + +"Dress the boy like a prince, and the girl like a little queen. The +richest stuff, mind, five guineas a yard. Give her a crown of the +whitest daisies with shell pink petal tips for a crown. No jewels, no +pearls, no, no. + + Take, oh take the pearls away, + For they bring tears, the wise men say. + +chanted the Lion in his rich double bass. "Give them both jewelled +shoe buckles; give the boy jewelled levee buttons for his satin +breeches, a plain gold circlet for his head. A train for the girl from +her shoulders, of pure cloth of gold; bring it light, so that it does +not weigh heavily. White satin for the boy, with richest figured +velvet doublet set with cloth of gold. Hang round their necks now, +with all its luminous jewels, the highest order in the world, the Order +of Great Imagination," commanded the Lion, "For by the Order of Great +Imagination they shall see things that no one else can see, they shall +be able to listen to things that no one else shall be able to hear. +They shall delight in the exquisiteness of things as no one else can +delight in them, who has not received this order. For I declare to you +all that a child who has this glittering order shall know of things +that nobody else in the whole world shall know of. Everything is +ready." + +"Let us have Spring," commanded the Lion. + +Immediately the words were uttered there came the soft beating of +birds' wings over Ridgwell's head. The atmosphere instantly became +fragrant with the myriad scents of wild flowers. + +A mist seemed to swim for a second before their eyes, and, as it +cleared away, they were standing together with many other children +knee-deep in unending banks of bluebells and primroses. + +They were in the midst of the most perfect wooded dell they had ever +beheld. + +Thousands of delicate flower-stems thrust their tiny spears from earth +and emerald moss, blossoming with flowers before their wondering eyes. + +The spiral hedges slowly shook out dappled clusters of white hawthorn. + +The interlaced trees above them, amidst which all the birds in +Christendom appeared to be carolling simultaneously, gently outspread +friendly arms, overladen with powdered red and white may blossom. + +Butterflies with gaily painted wings hovered tenderly overhead, and +tiny silver thistledown balls sailed across the blue sky spaces, like +little wayward balloons without anybody in charge of them. + +"You can all pick as many flowers as you like," suggested the Lion. +"Flowers were meant for the children to pick, so make yourselves +nosegays, garlands, and crowns galore. There are no notices _here_ to +keep off the grass. You can also chase the butterflies if you like, +but I warn you that you will never catch them. As a matter of fact +that is the one thing I don't permit. Any butterfly with really nice +feelings objects most decidedly when a pin is run through its body, as +much as a happy fish hates to be caught upon a hook. I sympathise with +both of them, and consider such practices ought to be stopped." + +Ridgwell, well-nigh immersed in a bank of bluebells, listened in a +semi-enchanted condition to the Lion's words of wisdom, and watched the +brilliant-coloured butterflies chasing each other in the pearly spaces +above him. + +Christine, grasping a great yellow bunch of primroses in each hand, +ceased picking flowers and watched the bright-eyed squirrels and +rabbits gambolling everywhere around. + +"Ridgie, have you noticed all the rabbits and squirrels are quite tame?" + +"Of course they're tame," agreed the Lion, "Nobody here to hurt them; +why, they will come and eat out of your hand." + +"Why is that?" asked Ridgwell. + +"No guns or traps," chuckled the Lion. "Any animal respectably brought +up is indignant at the very thought of a gun or a trap; consequently +they keep themselves to themselves, and seldom go out into society." + +Ridgwell's gaze roamed over the lovely spring landscape, and rested +upon the masses of flowers the other children were picking. + +"Everything here is just as it ought to be, isn't it, Lal?" + +"Every single thing," answered the Lion. "But it is going to change, +you know, almost directly." + +"Change?" echoed Ridgwell. "Why, Lal?" + +The Pleasant-Faced Lion chuckled softly, and lifting his head, called +out, "Summer." + +Immediately the Lion said "Summer," everything around commenced to +alter most strangely. + +Banks of primroses became stretches of sparkling golden sands, and the +great masses of bluebells, after swaying once or twice, dissolved +themselves into the misty rippling waves of a summer sea. + +Christine and Ridgwell, looking hopelessly perplexed, found they were +each in a tiny boat with a pearly sail, skimming over shallow blue +waters that sparkled like sapphires. + +The sky over their heads had changed to the burning blue of a summer +day. The air was filled with the sweet salt spray of the sea, which +descended in delicious showers upon all of them. + +"Have all the children got boats?" demanded the Lion. + +"All," shrilled the Dolphins. "Their boats can't upset, Lal, and the +waters are transparent, and shallow enough for them to fish up coloured +shells, coral, and mother-of-pearl. There's a sunken treasure-ship +half buried in the sands far upon the other side, Lal, if they sail for +it." + +"They'll all make for that safe enough," answered the Lion. "Push +their boats off, Dolphins, and help them all to land upon the far +shore." + +The Dolphins, splashing the water into little white frothy waves, +accompanied the little bobbing fleet of pearl-boats, and sang gaily as +they swam alongside. + + "Blue and gold on the summer sea, + Each little mast with a sail of pearl, + Each dipping boat holds a boy or girl, + A most enchanting argosy. + A ship one's longed for most perhaps + That cannot anyhow collapse. + + We'll sail away to the golden strand, + And maybe discover No Man's Land; + Each one of us will get a peep + Into the wonders of the deep, + Dredging for shells of brilliant hue, + And discovering mermaids too. + + Sing ho! for a galleon of Spanish gold, + With jewels and ivory in the hold. + What treasure we'll find upon the main! + What triumph when we sail home again! + The wonder of every lad and lass + Will be the booty we amass." + + +After a short but entrancing voyage, and even whilst Ridgwell and +Christine stood with the other children waist-deep in the great carven +hold of the sunken Spanish galleon, shovelling out golden doubloons and +precious jewels, the sound of Lal's voice came across the water to them. + +"Autumn, ahoy!" shouted Lal. + + * * * * * + +"Isn't it bewildering, Chris?" lamented Ridgwell. "Only a second ago +we were enthroned in a castle of golden coins and precious stones, and +now, without any sort of warning whatever, we are standing upon the top +of a waggon-load of newly-mown hay." + +"Yes, Ridgie, and look at Lal across there, laughing about it like +anything." + +"He certainly does play tricks with us, Chris. See, he is sending all +the children racing across to draw our hay-cart with those ropes of +acorns and leaves they are holding. Hullo!" broke off Ridgwell, +"somebody is throwing things at me, and if they continue doing it I +shall jolly well start throwing back again." + +Christine looked up from the stack of loose hay surrounding her in the +cart upon which they stood. + +"Why, it's apples," announced Christine. + +"Where?" inquired her brother. + +"Look, Ridgie, overhead, hundreds of them hanging from every tree. We +can reach them quite easily." + +There could be no doubt about the matter. Rosy apples ripened by the +sun dangled in clusters overhead, and gently fell down at the very +moment when any one felt disposed to eat them. + +Within easy reach grew trailing brambles smothered with ripened patches +of fragrant blackberries. + +The Pleasant-Faced Lion lifted up his voice and inquired if the company +present desired anything better, at the season they were now passing +through, than unlimited apples, blackberries, and hay. + +"No," came a simultaneous chorus from all the children. + +"Good," replied the Lion. "After you have all eaten as many apples and +blackberries as you want, the battle of the new-mown hay will start. I +shall be the umpire. If Ridgwell and Christine can throw enough hay +from their big cart to bury all the children around them, they will +have won. If the other children can throw up enough hay to completely +smother the cart, Ridgwell and Christine will have lost. Now start," +laughed the Lion. + +"Look here, Chris, we must get to work, so here goes." + +Whereupon Ridgwell seized a big armful of loose hay and awaited the +attack. + +"We have the advantage of height," observed Christine, as she hastily +gathered as much hay as she could hold, "and you know, Ridgie, it is +much easier for us to throw down than it is for them to throw up." + +"How about numbers?" objected Ridgwell; "why, it's two against +hundreds, Chris." + +Then the battle commenced. That engagement was a memorable one amidst +the scented hay. Not infrequently it happened that only a laughing +eye, or the tip of a small nose was anywhere visible to show who might +be the victor. Nobody will ever be quite sure who won, and it is +doubtful if the point was ever decided. + +Ridgwell, feeling very smothered up, was remarking to Christine in +muffled tones that he thought they must have lost, when the voice of +Lal announced "Winter." + +"Don't you feel buried, Chris?" + +"Yes," came the unexpected reply, "I am. I'm simply buried in furs and +snow!" + +"Furs and snow?" repeated Ridgwell incredulously. "What on earth do +you mean, Chris? Oh, good gracious, Chris, I've got an extraordinary +feeling I'm falling over a sort of precipice." + +"So we are," rejoined Christine philosophically. "Don't you see, +Ridgie, that Lal has changed everything again. We are on a toboggan +sleigh, and just starting down no end of a steep hill." + +Ridgwell rubbed the finely powdered snow out of his eyes. + +An entrancing winter scene lay below them. Giant blue-green pine-trees +were dotted about over the glistening snow which flashed with a million +diamond sparkles. All the children were clad in beautiful furs. + +Some of them were sliding and skating, others snowballing and tumbling +in the snow. + +"Hang on, Ridgwell and Christine," shouted the Lion, "your toboggan has +started at a pretty good pace. Hold tight." + +Ridgwell and Christine shut their eyes, and as neither of them had any +breath during that wild descent, they could only compare notes +afterwards as to the amazing sensations they experienced during these +moments. + +When the toboggan had finally brought itself to a standstill Ridgwell +extricated himself and viewed the snow-powdered spaces in front of them +a trifle apprehensively. Bounding along towards them raced a pack of +animals. Their eyes were glistening and their tongues hanging out. + +"Wolves!" muttered Ridgwell. "Oh! I say, Chris, I don't think I quite +care about meeting wolves. Do you? They don't look very friendly +either, by the way they are coming along." + +"It's the stray dogs," shouted Christine; "and look, Carry-on-Merry is +putting little teams of them into sleighs to draw us along." + +"Sleigh races about to start," called the Lion. "Take your seats, +shake the reins and you will hear the silver bells tinkle. The first +sleigh to reach the farthest pine-trees wins the race. Off you go." + +Away flew the dogs, drawing the children over the powdered snow tracks. + +After the race Carry-on-Merry collected all the children together. + +"I propose a snowball match," grinned Carry-on-Merry. "Gamble, Grin, +Grub, and myself upon one side, against all you children." + +"Ho, ho, ho!" laughed the Pleasant-Faced Lion. "My goodness, what a +beating all you children are going to have. Why, Carry-on-Merry and +his lot can manufacture snowballs as quick as lightning." + +The battle commenced without delay, and it was a terrific conflict. + +Hundreds of little snowballs whizzed through the air. + +"Ha! ha!" laughed the Pleasant-Faced Lion, "the children are +retreating. Carry-on-Merry, Gamble, Grin, and Grub, I believe you are +the champion snowballers of the world. I think myself you must have +acquired the gift from some unusually impish urchins whose methods you +have closely observed round Westminster way. I consider your skill +quite in accordance with the best street traditions." + +The children were eventually snowballed to a standstill, and flinging +away their remaining ammunition rolled themselves over on the snow to +avoid any more of the unerring missiles of Carry-on-Merry and his band. + +"Give in," demanded the Lion pleasantly. + +"Never!" laughed the children. + +"But you're beaten, you know," insisted the Lion. "Carry-on-Merry, you +can take them all prisoners and escort them to the Pavilion of Gold." + +Even whilst the children were tumbling in the snow the atmosphere +became inky black. + +The darkness was not in any way alarming; it had taken place so +gradually that they scarcely noticed it, which only intensified the +marvellous change which was to follow. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE GOLDEN PAVILION + +Christine and Ridgwell never forgot the sight that met their eyes when +the strange transformation took place. It was dazzling in its beauty +and it was some seconds before they could realise the full wonder of +it. The dimness of the light changed to the most exquisite +illuminations imaginable. + +Christine and Ridgwell realised that the party was to take place in a +gorgeous golden pavilion. + +The fountains, which had slid to either end of the pavilion, shot up +brilliant globes of changing light which hovered in the air like tiny +coloured air balls, whilst the tops of the fountains spraying a golden +mist, were echoed again in the lustrous glow of walls and roof. + +From the pearly dome whose outline was only faintly suggested overhead, +and upon every side, hung myriad stacks of flowers, which now and again +fell in fragrant jewelled showers upon the children, just as soon as +each blossom had grown into perfection. + +Upon a golden dais at one end were King Richard and King Charles clad +in glittering silver armour, with Queen Boadicea arrayed in purple, in +the centre; whilst St. George stood beside them in shining golden +splendour. + +Ridgwell and Christine stood beside the Pleasant-Faced Lion upon +another dais immediately facing the royal personages. The Lion was no +longer a dull, copper green hue; his whole body had changed to the +colour of burnished gold and his great mane shone like a sun. + +Forty children dressed in the vermilion and black of Beef-eaters from +the Tower with halberts in their hands, lined the way up the shallow +golden steps to each dais, twenty upon either side. + +The Lion gave his last orders for the ceremony-- + +"Gamble, Grin, Grub, and Carry-on-Merry, sound the Merry Fanfare on +your silver trumpets!" + +The four little lions gaily arrayed in scarlet and gold advanced into +the centre of the great space and executed a remarkable fanfare, which +without being entirely a march, or wholly a waltz, was nevertheless +delightful to listen to. + +Immediately a procession of the most lovely children entered, dressed +in every brilliant costume imaginable. + +The delicious fragrance of the scented golden mist, diffused from the +two fountains, filled the air as the happy and beautiful children, boys +and girls, danced into the pavilion. They all paused to bow to the +Royalty present, and St. George; then they advanced to where Ridgwell +and Christine stood beside the Pleasant-Faced Lion. + +They greeted the Lion as an old acquaintance and blew him kisses as +they passed. + +As they moved along, glittering in costly silks and satins, winding in +and out with the changing colours of a rainbow, Ridgwell spoke to the +Lion-- + +"Lal, Christine and I have never seen so many lovely children before. +Surely these are not the stray ragged children of London? Why, their +faces are the colour of the new roses that are falling everywhere about +us, and look how bright their eyes are!" + +The Lion smiled, then pointed to the scented golden spray being +showered from the two fountains. + +"They look lovely as you see them," said the Lion, "because perpetual +health, and love, and happiness are being diffused upon them from the +fountains. Outside they were different," continued the Lion; "but here +the dark circles disappear from beneath their eyes, which become bright +and full of love, as they ought to be, the little puckers of care and +want are sponged out of their faces by the spray from the fountain. +The pallor of their faces changes to rosy health and beauty as it +should; the pinched look many of them wear, gives place to roundness +and the happy laughing curves of childhood that doesn't know or reckon +of any care." + +"But, Lal, where do all these wonderful things come from?" questioned +Ridgwell; "the great canopy, the golden carpet, all the costumes and +the jewels?" + +The Lion chuckled. "They all come out of the fountains, straight from +the warehouses of the merchants. The Dolphins bring them. Everything +comes from the fountains." + +"You see," proceeded the Lion, "there is going to be plenty to eat and +drink and everything of the best." Once again the Lion pointed towards +the two fountains: "See the eight golden dolphins with their golden +trays, they hand up delicious cakes, the best fruit, ices, lemonade, +chocolates, sandwiches, anything you want." + +"Shall we have some of those delightful things to eat too?" asked +Ridgwell. + +"Oh, be reassured, my child," smiled the Lion, "the Dolphins won't +forget either you or Christine, they will dance up to you with their +trays filled with everything you want." + +"If all those other children look so very beautiful, what do _we_ look +like?" Ridgwell asked the Lion in a whisper. "You see there are no +looking-glasses, are there?" + +For the first time the children remembered to look at one another. + +Christine was the first to speak, and it was with a cry of great +delight she turned to Ridgwell-- + +"Oh, Ridgie, you are lovely," said Christine. + +"Course he is," said the Lion. + +"I don't know about that," said Ridgwell hesitatingly. "I think you +have made a mistake in the excitement." + +"I've not," insisted Christine; "why, you look like a beautiful little +Prince." + +Here Ridgwell, who, overcome with modesty at these tributes, had been +examining his jewelled shoe-buckles with downcast eyes, looked up at +his sister. + +"Well, how about you?" exclaimed Ridgwell. "Why, you look like a +lovely fairy queen----" + +"Course she does," said the Lion. + +"Don't be silly, Ridgie," said Christine, severely. + +"I'm not," asserted Ridgwell. "I've never seen you look like that. +Perhaps," added Ridgwell, "these glittering orders we wear round our +necks have something to do with it." + +"You're right," said the Lion, "the priceless Order of Great +Imagination enables you to see everything that is beautiful as it +really is, and, of course, everything here is beautiful, so," added the +Lion logically, "why should you both be different from anything else?" + +The Lion beckoned to one of the Dolphins. + +"Here," said the Lion, as the Dolphin approached them, "hold up your +burnished golden tray and let the boy see himself." + +The Dolphin held up the polished tray and Ridgwell looked into it +wonderingly. + +"My goodness," said the Lion, "I thought girls were vain, but boys are +worse!" + +"That _can't_ be me," said Ridgwell. + +"Well, it isn't me," grumbled the Lion, "that's certain." + +Christine peeped over the shoulder of Ridgwell's golden tunic. + +"It's like us," said Christine, "but yet it isn't us at all." + +"That is what people always say when they see their own photographs for +the first time," observed the Lion wisely. "Ha!" broke off the Lion, +"here come the dogs." + +"Have you placed the two long troughs at the far end for them?" +demanded the Lion. + +"Yes," chorussed the little lions. + +"What have you filled them with?" questioned the Lion. + +"Finest mutton and chicken bones in one," laughed Carry-on-Merry, +"water in the other." + +"Have you remembered their special strip of comfortable carpet?" asked +the Lion anxiously. + +"It's there," grinned Carry-on-Merry. + +"Why are the stray dogs to have a strip of special comfortable carpet?" +asked Christine. + +"Because they like to pick the bones afterwards upon the carpet," said +the Lion; "it's a little habit of theirs, and they are not so highly +trained as we are." + +A most extraordinary procession now made its appearance before them. +The children might have thought it was a Noah's Ark, only the dogs +advanced in fours. Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, Mastiffs, Retrievers, +every conceivable dog down to tiny fox terriers, Spaniels and Yorkshire +terriers. They all looked very happy and their coats shone as if they +had been lately washed and had afterwards dried themselves in the +golden rays of the warm sun, which even now seemed to linger over them. + +"Lovely creatures," said Christine. + +"Ripping," said Ridgwell, "they are dears." + +"Started to munch their bones already," grunted the Lion. "Well, +they're not so highly educated as we are. A party to them is a party, +and they don't wait for anybody, which, after all, is the proper thing +to do. Where's the Griffin?" demanded the Lion of Carry-on-Merry, +after that intelligent creature, having acted like a verger (a habit he +had probably acquired from a life-long proximity to Westminster Abbey), +had shown all the dogs to their places along one side where the +comfortable carpet formed a sort of aisle. + +"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Carry-on-Merry, "the Griffin is late." + +"He's always late," grumbled the Lion, "his head's weak, and he never +can remember what time a party starts." + +"Here he comes," grunted Carry-on-Merry, "and, oh! my goodness, what +_does_ he look like?" + +"Absolutely ludicrous as usual," said the Lion. + +The Griffin presented an intensely comical appearance. Wishing to keep +up the dignity of the City, he had chosen for his party-dress a scarlet +Lord Mayor's robe, edged with fur, which he had folded around himself +in an exceedingly ridiculous fashion. + +Upon his head, as he believed it to be becoming, he had placed jauntily +sideways, an immense green dunce's cap from one of the children's giant +crackers, which the Griffin had pulled as he entered the doors. + +The Griffin had decided to adorn his front feet with strips of scarlet +flannel, because he declared that he had chilblains, and furthermore, +his paws were exceedingly tender after his encounter upon the previous +evening with St. George. + +It was thus that the Griffin ambled in trailing his Lord Mayor's robes +behind him, and smiling aimlessly from right to left upon everybody +present. + +"Has everybody missed me?" sniggered the Griffin. "I fear I'm late!" + +"Nobody has missed you at all," retorted the Pleasant-Faced Lion. + +The Griffin looked hurt for a moment. + +"Oh, surely, Lal," entreated the Griffin; "_surely_ some one missed me!" + +"No," said the Lion firmly. + +The corners of the Griffin's mouth trembled. + +"Now then," said the Lion, sternly, "no emotion." + +"No! no! Lal," faltered the Griffin, "but when I think of that lovely +saying, 'Everybody's Loved by Some one'----" + +"There are exceptions to every rule," snapped the Lion. + +"Oh," sniggered the Griffin, "then it does apply even to me, for I +myself am an exception. There is only one of me," ended the Griffin +eagerly, "only one in all London." + +"Some things don't bear repeating," said the Lion. + +The Griffin's weak memory came to his aid at this awkward moment: + +"That must particularly apply to your last remark," simpered the +Griffin. + +"You have heard somebody else say that," objected the Lion. + +"True," sniggered the Griffin, "and it will not be the first time that +the remembrance of other people's sayings have passed for wit; and I +have always so longed to be a wit," sighed the Griffin. "Don't you +think, Lal, that I might one day be a wit?" inquired the Griffin +anxiously. + +"No," said the Lion, "I don't; you have none of the necessary +qualifications." + +Once again the Griffin's mouth trembled piteously. + +"Oh, Lal," implored the Griffin, "think, only think again." + +"I couldn't," answered the Lion, "some things don't bear thinking +about." + +The Griffin, with two tears trembling in his eyes, clasped his +flannel-wrapped foreclaws together beseechingly and changed the nature +of his supplication: + +"Very well, Lal, then perhaps as you have never seen me act, I might +arrange some theatricals and amuse the children and the company +present. Of course," simpered the Griffin, "I should play the chief +funny part myself; wouldn't it be wonderful if I played the chief funny +part myself?" + +The Lion looked at the Griffin contemplatively for a second: "You will +never be funnier than you are now," remarked the Lion, "and we are not +going to have any theatricals at all, the children are going to dance." + +"The very thing," agreed the Griffin. "I will lead them; I dance so +beautifully." + +"No," said the Lion firmly, "if any one leads them it will be +Carry-on-Merry, but they won't want any leading at all. The best thing +you can do is to keep quite quiet and make yourself useful." + +"Oh, Lal, don't ask me to be useful," shuddered the Griffin. "It is +such a dreadful word, and _anybody_ can be useful." + +"You think so," said the Lion, as he smiled his wisest smile. + +"I must be something far better than that," remonstrated the Griffin, +"and it has just struck me that I had better go round and find out from +everybody what they would like me to do," and the Griffin moved off +eagerly to gather the opinions of everybody present as to this most +interesting point which concerned him so closely. + +"Always dying to show off," grunted the Lion. "You can see in the +Griffin the absolute type of one who being weak in the head and totally +unable to do anything, is nevertheless always longing to show off +before others, who are cleverer than himself." + +"Perhaps he will find somebody who wants him to do something," +suggested Ridgwell, hopefully; "but why didn't he want to be useful?" + +"Because the poor Griffin believes himself to be extremely ornamental, +and therefore, like all conceited people, he will never be able to see +himself as he is in reality. He wishes to lead before he has been able +to learn." + +Carry-on-Merry, Gamble, Grin, and Grub had by this time fixed up a +strangely decorated Maypole; it was nothing less than St. George's +Pillar, but so bedecked with hanging flowers and brilliant silken +corded ribbons that the children had some difficulty in recognising it +again. + +Then the four laughing lions could be seen racing along with a most +wonderful piano-organ, into which Gamble, Grin, and Grub were +harnessed, whilst Carry-on-Merry turned the handle. + +It must at once be admitted that this particular musical instrument +differed very considerably from any piano-organ ever heard in the +streets, and it could never have come anywhere from the neighbourhood +of Saffron Hill. + +It discoursed the sweetest music in the nature of a dance tune that was +irresistible, and the feet of all the children present started in time +to it simultaneously. + +"Now, Ridgwell," said the Lion, "take Christine and dance with her. Or +would you sooner stay here and look on at the sight?" + +"I shall do both," asserted Ridgwell, "dance first and look on +afterwards." + +"Good," assented the Lion; "an able definition of eating your cake and +having it at the same time. Off you go then." + +"Won't the Kings, Boadicea, and St. George dance too?" asked Christine. + +"No, George doesn't dance," said the Lion, "neither do the Royalty; +they graciously look on. I don't dance either, I do not consider it +dignified, so I sit here, conduct the ceremony, and beat time to the +music with my paw." + +That dance was the wildest, gladdest, merriest thing the children ever +remembered, and the threads of golden light filtering through the flash +of the coloured costumes as they wound in and out, added tints of +splendour as of an ancient pageant. + +Who could keep from dancing to such an exquisite tune, and who could +help being glad when ropes of lovely flowers were being twined round +lovelier childish faces, flower-like themselves, flushed with gay +excitement, with perfect health, with gladness? + +Ribbons of changing light they threaded in and out, round and through, +no one could tell how many times, and over all the golden scented dew +of perfect health and beauty fell from the two fountains upon the +up-turned faces. + +It is true the Griffin made several ineffectual attempts to break +through the laughing, whirling ring, under the impression that the +circle was incomplete without him, but Gamble, Grin, and Grub were +always at hand to pull him back, and prevent this amiable but mistaken +intrusion. + +From the piano-organ which he turned so gaily, Carry-on-Merry found it +was necessary to caution the Griffin after his last frantic attempt to +break through the ring of dancing children. + +"I want to dance," urged the Griffin. + +"I think you want a keeper," grinned Carry-on-Merry, "or a policeman or +something, to keep you in order." + +The Griffin turned pale. + +"Oh! no," implored the Griffin, "not a _policeman_." + +"Well, then, behave," grinned Carry-on-Merry. + +"Very well," sulked the Griffin, "as I am not wanted I think I shall go +home and give a party to myself." + +"Don't go," grinned Carry-on-Merry, "I have thought of something you +could do presently." + +The Griffin flushed with delight. + +"Will it be something grand?" asked the Griffin breathlessly, +"something that will show me off, something that will make me talked +about, something so big that it won't be like anything else?" + +"Rather," grinned Carry-on-Merry; "you bet it won't be like anything +else, at least," added Carry-on-Merry truthfully, "it won't be like +anything else I have ever known." + +"Oh, thank you, thank you," gushed the Griffin. "I could swoon with +joy, I feel so overwrought that I shall go to one of the fountains and +ask the dear Dolphins for some light refreshment." + +"No, you don't," instantly objected Carry-on-Merry, "the dance is +nearly over, and the children are all going there immediately; you +would only be in the way, but," added Carry-on-Merry, with a wicked +twinkle in his eyes, "I have a much finer idea than that." + +"Really?" inquired the Griffin. "Really a fine idea?" + +"Ripping," responded Carry-on-Merry, as he mysteriously produced from +an inside pocket of his royal scarlet coat a big white damask dinner +napkin. + +"What _can_ it be for?" simpered the Griffin; "and will it help to show +me off to advantage?" he anxiously inquired. + +"Rather," said Carry-on-Merry. "Listen! Put this dinner napkin over +your face, sit in a corner and go to sleep. Now the _most_ remarkable +thing you could do in an assembly like this to attract attention, would +be to go to sleep." + +The Griffin for a moment looked dubious. "Then," said Carry-on-Merry +with a still more wicked gleam in his mischievous eyes, "I will tell +every one that you are 'The Sleeping Beauty' and everybody will +immediately want to see you." + +"How lovely," sighed the Griffin, "and I shall look the part and be the +part; in fact," added the Griffin, "I shall be _the_ thing of the +evening." + +"_You will_," rejoined Carry-on-Merry enigmatically, "but that is not +all. When I wake you up at last, of course all the children will +laugh." + +"What at?" inquired the Griffin suspiciously. + +"Why, for joy at the discovery." + +"Humph!" debated the Griffin, "only joy--not admiration?" + +"Oh, yes," glibly replied Carry-on-Merry, "admiration, of course, and +the sheer beauty of the thing. Ha! ha! ha!" + +"Yes, yes," eagerly interrupted the Griffin, "sheer beauty sounds +better, sounds more like me." + +"Of course it does," laughed Carry-on-Merry. "Then perhaps I shall ask +you to sing." + +"Oh! Carry-on-Merry," faltered the Griffin in a broken voice, "you +have touched my heart--that is the very thing I was waiting for +somebody to ask me to do. To sing," rhapsodised the Griffin--"to be +like one of those great singers out of the opera, to pour out one's +heart tones, to be gazed at by every eye, to be listened to by every +ear, to be the adored of all. How can I thank you? How can I repay +you?" + +"Don't, please," implored Carry-on-Merry, who appeared to be choking +inwardly, "don't thank me any more now, I can't bear it--some other +time." + +"Yet stay," cried the Griffin, with unexpected and dramatic suddenness, +"who is going to kiss me?" + +"Kiss you?" echoed Carry-on-Merry blankly, "kiss you? Good gracious! +I give it up." + +"Yet," pondered the Griffin, "somebody had to kiss the Sleeping Beauty!" + +"You won't find anybody to do it," said Carry-on-Merry decisively. + +"Why not?" asked the Griffin sharply. + +"I mean," amended Carry-on-Merry, "nobody could be found for the moment +of sufficient importance." + +"Oh, I see," replied the Griffin, "yet perhaps Boadicea would oblige." + +"Out of the question," said Carry-on-Merry. "Besides you know she +never takes part in any--any--er--_festivities_ at all." + +"True," lamented the Griffin, "and yet assuredly I must be kissed for +the thing to be natural." + +Carry-on-Merry turned away his head, for Carry-on-Merry almost felt +that he could not trust himself to speak at that moment. Then one of +his many bright ideas occurred to him. "I know," rapidly explained +Carry-on-Merry, "I have it; I will find some important personage +present to give you a rap." + +"Where?" moaned the Griffin, "not on my knuckles. You know I cannot +stand anything of that nature on my knuckles." + +"No--no----" grinned Carry-on-Merry. "I mean a tap, just a little tap." + +"I see," agreed the Griffin. "Very well, one little tap, a tap as +dainty as if a feather had brushed me in my sleep." + +"Or a floating piece of thistledown," laughed Carry-on-Merry. + +"Oh yes," said the Griffin. "Thistledown sounds more romantic, and +then I shall wake from my dream." + +"I don't think myself you ever will," observed Carry-on-Merry, quite as +if he were thinking of something else. + +"What!" said the Griffin. "Never wake?" + +"Yes, yes," interrupted Carry-on-Merry hastily, "but you have to go to +sleep first, you know, and you had better hurry up whilst the children +are eating, then you won't be observed." + +"But I want to be observed," objected the Griffin. + +"Of course you do," insisted Carry-on-Merry, "but that comes later on. +Go at once." + +The amiable Griffin departed accordingly to carry out his part of the +programme, and forthwith lumped himself in a distant corner, with the +grace of a camel who had found sudden and unexpected opportunities of +benefiting his health through sleep. From this slumber the Griffin +found it necessary to rouse himself after a little while, upon hearing +the children all shouting his name. The entire party having partaken +of the delightful refreshments provided according to the various +requirements of their constitutions, were watching a moving series of +cinematograph pictures of London. + +One of the great golden spaces of the walls formed the screen, Gamble, +Grin and Grub, full of laughter, manipulated the cinematograph machine, +whilst Carry-on-Merry gaily pointed out the pictures with a big golden +wand. + +All the children loved the pictures, for they were faithful portraits +of themselves as they appeared every day in the London streets, when +they were not arrayed in gorgeous robes for a Princely Party. + +The streets they knew only too well but yet they loved them. Were they +not always in the streets--were they not passing every day of their +lives the very scenes they were now watching flung upon the screen? +The picture being shown at the moment the Griffin heard his name +called, was a Royal Procession passing Temple Bar. + +Instantly the children recognised the Griffin and called him by name. + +The Griffin awoke, saw himself being shown upon the moving picture +film, and gave a shriek of delight. + +"Stop! oh, stop!" shrieked the Griffin, as he ambled across to +Carry-on-Merry and seized the Gold Wand. "Please don't hurry past this +beautiful picture. Of course," cried the Griffin with a silly laugh, +"of course it's me, _ME_ with Royalty passing me. Is it not +beautiful?--you can all see for yourselves. I am sitting higher up +than Royalty itself. Notice the way the Royal personages bow and laugh +as they pass me." + +"They laugh right enough," agreed Carry-on-Merry. + +"Eh?" said the Griffin suspiciously. + +"The Griffin ought to have been a showman," observed the Pleasant-Faced +Lion. + +"Now we pass on to the next picture," called Carry-on-Merry. + +"Oh, _don't_ hurry," implored the Griffin. "Don't pass the most +beautiful of all the pictures in such haste." + +"_Next_ picture," laughed Carry-on-Merry. + +The Griffin, after bestowing a hurt look upon Carry-on-Merry, retired, +and again composed himself for sleep. + +His slumber this time was not destined to be of long duration. + +A grey sombre figure suddenly strode into the brilliant flower-draped +pavilion; a slouch hat made the figure look very sinister, and a sword +clanked at his side. + +The figure strode on and scowled darkly at King Richard sitting +gracefully upon his charger. "Ho! ho!" called the sombre man in a loud +voice. "Ho! ho!" he repeated with a mirthless laugh. + +King Richard neither moved not took the faintest notice. + +On strode the figure towards King Charles seated upon his charger, and +who was regarding the children with the pleasantest expression possible. + +"Ha!" shouted the figure as it strode along. "Ha! I say, Ha!" + +King Charles still smiled gravely and took no notice. The striding +figure that shouted "Ha!" might never have uttered a word for all the +notice King Charles took of him. + +"Ha!" shouted the figure for the last time. + +Then, seeing that nobody took any notice of him, the figure looked +glum, and folding his arms espied the Griffin peacefully asleep, the +white dinner napkin covering his fond, foolish face, waiting to be +awakened, so the Griffin fondly hoped--awakened by a gentle tap as +Beauty. The Griffin's slumber seemed to annoy the sombre man +intensely, for without uttering a syllable he drew his sword and smote +the Griffin hard upon the red flannel paws that were folded with a view +to pictorial effect beside the Griffin's covered face. + +There was a shriek of anguish, and the Griffin awoke. + +The pain the Griffin suffered from the blow upon his tender paws was as +nothing compared to the blow to the Griffin's feelings when he realised +that his ineffably touching picture of the Sleeping Beauty had been +spoiled for the evening. A great surge of sudden hatred swept over the +Griffin at the swaggering intruder who had dared to strike him, and +simultaneously the Griffin remembered something he had once heard said +by a man in blue wearing a helmet close to where he always stood in +Fleet Street. + +The Griffin seized Carry-on-Merry's golden wand for the second time +that evening and approached the sombre man of the top boots and the +slouch hat menacingly. "Move on," shouted the Griffin, giving a +lifelike imitation of the man in blue with a helmet. "Move on, d'ye +hear?" + +The sombre figure backed a little way in astonishment. + +"Move on," said the Griffin, "out of this; we don't want you here. +Orff you go!" The sombre figure retreated a little more. "If I catch +you here again," said the Griffin pompously, "I will run you in; no +loafing here!" The sombre man gave one scowl, sheathed his sword with +a clank, and hurriedly took his departure without once looking back or +uttering any further remark. + +"Bravo!" muttered the Lion, "that is the first useful thing the Griffin +has done all the evening." + +"Who was that dismal looking man muffled up like a brigand?" asked +Ridgwell. + +The Lion smiled. "That was Oliver Cromwell. He came to try and spoil +the party." + +"Why?" asked Ridgwell. + +"He doesn't like the extravagance," said the Lion; "he hates any +display, and cannot bear to see children happy." + +"Thank you, Griffin," said Christine. + +"Listen, all of you," simpered the Griffin, "some one has thanked me. +Oh! Fancy anybody thanking _me_. Has everybody heard me publicly +thanked?" asked the Griffin anxiously. + +"Yes, everybody," said the Lion; "we don't want any more of it." + +The Griffin looked sulky. + +"As long as everybody knows what I did," said the Griffin. "Nobody +else thought of doing it. Do you think it was better than my being the +Sleeping Beauty?" inquired the Griffin eagerly. + +"Yes," replied the Lion, "it was more realistic." + +"Fancy that, more realistic! how beautiful!" and the Griffin sidled +away, sniggering with self-gratified pride at his own achievement. + +"I am afraid," explained the Lion to Christine and Ridgwell, "that he +intends to sing." + +"But can he sing?" inquired Ridgwell. + +"No," said the Lion, "it is a wretched performance; yet, like all other +people who cannot really sing, he is dying to be asked to do so, and I +feel sure that some one will be misguided enough to ask him. You see," +explained the Lion, "the Griffin cannot sing in tune, but like most +people afflicted in the same way, he is totally unconscious of his +failing, and really believes his own singing to be quite beautiful." + +Christine and Ridgwell both laughed. "It must be very funny," they +said. + +"It is so funny," answered the Lion, "and so deplorable at the same +time that it is almost beyond a joke." + +Almost before the Lion had finished speaking Carry-on-Merry, with a +particularly wicked laugh, danced to the centre of the bright ball-room +and said he thought that perhaps the Griffin might be persuaded to sing. + +"I thought so," groaned the Lion. + +The Griffin gurgled with pleasure, and immediately started to look coy, +and playfully tap the golden carpet spread upon the ground with his +forepaws, as if he had suddenly discovered some new beauty in the +pattern of the luxurious floor covering. + +"Really," said the Griffin, "I do not think I could. Oh! really _no_." + +"Showing off," grunted the Lion; "he'll sing in the end, safe enough. +Worse luck!" + +"With all these beautiful singers here," smirked the Griffin, "to ask +_me_. Oh!--really!" + +"Oh, please sing," everybody murmured politely. + +"Oh--oh!--really," simpered the Griffin, trying in vain to blush. "You +see, I am not perhaps in my usual form." + +"What on earth will it be like, then?" ventured the Lion. + +"I am sure you will honour and delight the company," laughed +Carry-on-Merry, with his wickedest laugh. + +"Besides," demurred the Griffin hesitatingly, "I have two chilblains +and such tender paws, I don't think I could really." + +"We did not ask you to _play_," interrupted the Lion shortly. + +"No, no," replied the Griffin hastily, "to sing--I understand. Yes, to +sing. Oh--fancy asking _me_ to sing. Well, well, perhaps a few bars." + +"Now we are in for it," said the Lion, "and I don't suppose you will +ever hear anything like it again." + +"I do so want to hear the Griffin," said Ridgwell, "and I really cannot +think what it will be like." + +"Like?" echoed the Lion, "it will be like the effect of the first early +gooseberries of the year without sugar or milk; it will be like slate +pencils squeaking upon slates; like a trombone that somebody is +learning to play for the first time. However, nothing short of an +earthquake will stop him now, for, as I tell you, he is simply dying to +sing the moment he thinks anybody at all will listen to him, and that +he can show off. However," added the Lion, "when it gets beyond all +human endurance, I make a sign to Richard I. Now the Griffin is +terribly frightened of Richard I." + +"Why?" asked both the children. + +"Because the Griffin is afraid that Richard will advance and hit him on +the paws with the big sword he carries." + +"And will he?" asked the children. + +"Yes," said the Lion, "if it gets too bad." + +Everybody stopped talking now, for the Griffin, after much further +pressing, had made up his mind what he was going to sing. He decided +to make a start in a key which was indescribable, and with a voice that +resembled the twanging of a banjo that had not been tuned. + +And thus the Griffin sang-- + + "Of a merry, merry king I will relate + Who owned much silver, gold and plate, + And wishing to be up-to-date + Within his city, + Placed a handsome Griffin outside the gate, + A creature pretty. + + "Yet one thing, the merry, merry king forgot + That it would be his Griffin's lot + To be very, very cold, or very, very hot, + High up in Fleet Street. + So slowly the faithful creature got + Chilblains upon his feet. + + "The Griffin grew prettier day by day + Directing the traffic along each way, + With always a pleasant word to say + All along Fleet Street. + One trouble alone caused him dismay, + His very tender feet. + + _Chorus--_ + + "Oh! my poor tender feet! + Of what use are England's laws, + Unless they protect my claws + And keep me warm in the street? + Nothing so young and fair, + Ever sniffed Fleet Street air, + Ever sang like the Dove-- + And--All that I ask is love." + + +At this point the Griffin was so overcome by his own performance that +he burst into tears; and despite the excessive hilarity of every one +present, to say nothing of Carry-on-Merry, who was rolling upon the +floor in his mirth, the Griffin continued to sob, and from time to time +wiped away the big tears that rolled down his cheeks with the fur upon +the Lord Mayor's mantle that he wore. + +"It always affects me," sobbed the Griffin. + +"Yes," answered the Lion, "it has affected all of us strangely." + +"Nearly been the death of me," gulped Carry-on-Merry. + +"I think I will go home now," said the Griffin, as he surreptitiously +wiped away the last tears and prepared to depart. + +"Oh, don't think of leaving us yet," said the Lion. + +"Very well," sniffed the Griffin; "perhaps I may be asked to sing +again." + +"Not if I know it," whispered the Lion in an undertone; "one +performance of that nature is quite sufficient for one evening." + +At this moment Carry-on-Merry announced that the dogs, wishing to +return thanks for the general pleasantness of the party, and being +unable to sing themselves, had deputed one of their number, a most +intelligent bob-tail sheep-dog, to compose an ode. + +This particular dog, it was thought, had some claims as a poet, since +he was a lineal descendant of the canine companion who invariably +accompanied Robert Burns in all his wanderings. + +The three laughing little lions would now sing the ode the bob-tailed +sheep-dog had composed, with the general permission of the company. + +"Let us hear it," said the Lion. + +"Oh! fancy singing after me," remarked the Griffin. + +"Yes," agreed the Lion, "it shows great courage." + +Gamble, Grin, and Grub arranged themselves in order, and Gamble +commenced-- + + "Cross Chelsea Bridge, by Chelsea town + There is a place called Battersea. + The very name to Christian dog's + Will make them shudder fearfully." + + +Here Grin took up the solo. + + "A place where gloomy prison doors + Do shut up homeless dogs + If ever they get lost, or stray + During the London fogs." + + +Grub hereupon came forward. + + "When once inside that citadel + Within three days or four, + They send you to a dreadful room + Where you never bark no more." + + +Then came the Chorus-- + + "Pleasant-Faced Lion, our thanks to thee + For having avoided Battersea." + + +"Very well sung," admitted the Lion. "I suppose that, being always so +close to Westminster Abbey, the little lions have taken some useful +hints from what they have heard going on inside. + +"The time has come for the party to finish," announced the +Pleasant-Faced Lion, "but before it is ended----" + +"Has it got to end now?" Ridgwell asked wistfully. + +"Everything has to come to an end some time," replied the Lion quietly, +"from ices and parties to empires and the world. However," he added +encouragingly, "one can always look forward to some possible and +pleasant continuation of almost everything, although, perhaps, on +different, not to say advanced lines. Before you children go I shall +be able to show you the most wonderfully coloured transformation scene +you have ever witnessed. Watch carefully the long wall of the Pavilion +which you are facing," commanded the Lion. + +Carry-on-Merry romped up at this moment laughing as merrily as when the +evening commenced. + +"Time?" inquired Carry-on-Merry. + +The Pleasant-Faced Lion nodded. + +"Yes, now," he said. + +Slowly the golden wall and the roof with its masses of brilliantly +hanging flowers seemed to fade away. + +The children knew it was Trafalgar Square they were looking at once +again, yet a Trafalgar Square transformed out of all resemblance to its +usual familiar aspect. + +As the walls appeared to drop before their eyes a brilliant golden +bungalow palace with the children dressed as Scarlet Beefeaters grouped +down its shining steps glimmered through the rose-pink light in which +they beheld it. Surely it could not be the National Gallery! + +All the children present passed and repassed before it in their +dazzling costumes, making vivid splashes of colour, as changeful and as +fascinating as a kaleidoscope. + +The fountains still sprayed their mists of violet, amethyst and gold. + +"Mark the changing colours well," said the Lion, "and take in all the +picture well, for you will not see it ever like this again." + +The happy fresh voices of the children were still singing with a rare +outburst of melody-- + + "Pleasant-Faced Lion, our thanks to thee, + For all your hospitality." + + +"Amen!" said the Lion. "Come, Ridgwell and Christine, jump on!" +commanded the Lion, as he sank down in order to enable the two children +to get on his back. "Home now!" + +Both the children looked back many times, of course. They saw the +golden bungalow palace for the last time in all its changing lights. +Noticed that Queen Boadicea stood majestically upon the topmost step +with King Richard upon one side of her and King Charles upon the other. +St. George stood with his armour flashing a few steps below. The four +merry dogs were gathered around him, whilst Carry-on-Merry was resting +his laughing head in one of St. George's hands. + +The coloured lights grew paler, a mist danced before their eyes, then +twinkled and disappeared. + +"It is gone," said Ridgwell, "and oh! how dark the streets look now!" + +"But _what_ a party," said Christine. + +"And what a feast," added Ridgwell. + +"Yes," replied the Lion philosophically, "it is really remarkable how +times have changed. In the olden days, long, long ago, everything was +reversed. For instance, it was the Lions who were then provided with +the feast, and the children who were eaten." + +"Horrid!" shivered Ridgwell. "You mean, Lal, those wicked Roman +Emperors who let the poor Christians be eaten?" + +"My child," announced the Lion gravely, "free meals have invariably +been productive of much unpleasant discussion and inquiries afterwards. +But see now," he added coaxingly, "the perfect state of perfection the +world has arrived at. The Pleasant Lions give the banquet themselves +now. Every single thing to-night was provided by Lions. I gave the +party--I, the Pleasant-Faced Lion. The four laughing lions from +Westminster helped. Richard Coeur-de-Lion presided, and Messrs. Lyons +provided all the refreshments." + +"Any rate, Lal," observed Ridgwell, "although Christine and I both love +you, of course--lions must have been very cruel and savage once, +otherwise they wouldn't have _thought_ of eating anybody, would they?" + +"Ah, my little boy," replied the Pleasant-Faced Lion softly, "if you +were kept without food for days and days I wonder what you would do." + +"Tuck in like mad the first chance I got," announced Ridgwell with +conviction. + +"Perhaps the lions did the same thing," observed Lal gently. "However, +I feel I cannot offer any excuse for their past conduct; yet," +continued the Pleasant-Faced Lion wisely, as he jogged contentedly on, +homewards towards Balham, "I have a fair proposition to make to you, +although it may seem somewhat in the nature of a riddle to you both at +the present moment." + +"What is it?" asked the children in a breath. + +"Suppose," said the Lion--"I only say suppose--both of you ever had a +chance of eating me, of--ahem! in short, devouring your old friend Lal, +would you do it?" asked the Lion, with an odd tremble in his voice. + +The question seemed to be so odd, not to mention out of place, that +both the children laughed. + +"Why, Lal," chuckled Ridgwell, "how ridiculous you are. How could +Christine or myself ever possibly eat even a little bit of you?" + +"No," answered the Lion, "I believe you are both little Christian +children, and yet," he added with a sigh, "you might both become +Pagans." + +"What's a Pagan?" asked Ridgwell. + +Again the Lion sighed. "My child," he said, "you have a very great +deal to learn, and among the many things at present hidden from you is +the fact that both you and Christine will see me once again and once +only." + +"Where?" asked the children. + +"At your home in Balham." + +"Good gracious," said Ridgwell, "will you knock at the hall door?" + +"No," said the Pleasant-Faced Lion. + +"Or appear sitting in the raspberry bushes in the garden?" ventured +Christine. "If so, you will spoil them, you know!" + +"No," said the Lion, "certainly not." + +"Then how will you come?" asked Ridgwell. + +"You will see me again once more," asserted the Lion, "in three days +from now, and moreover inside your own home." + +"Three days from now is Ridge's birthday," ventured Christine; "of +course, it would be very nice to see you, but I do wonder how you will +come, and I do wonder how we shall be able to explain you away." + +The Pleasant-Faced Lion laughed his gruffest laugh. + +"I don't think you could very well _explain_ me away, little Christine." + +"Suppose you sat on the hearth-rug and people seemed a little distant +or awkward?" commenced Ridgwell. + +"Yes," broke in Christine, "or some of those dreadful long pauses +occurred when nobody speaks and every one looks at every one else and +feels uncomfortable--would you _say_ something?" + +"Yes," said the Lion. "I have plenty of tact, but really there won't +be any need," and the Pleasant-Faced Lion again chuckled softly to +himself. + +"There is only one thing I want you to do," said the Pleasant-Faced +Lion, and he still seemed to be choked with merriment as if a sudden +idea had occurred to him. + +"What is it, Lal?" inquired both the children. + +"Upon Ridgwell's birthday night, before you both go to bed, I want you, +Ridgwell, to remember a little rhyme and say it to yourself." + +"A hymn?" asked Ridgwell. + +"Not exactly a hymn." + +"After we have said our prayers?" + +"Certainly," replied the Lion obligingly, "any time before you go to +bed will do; will you promise to remember?" + +"Of course, Lal." + +"Well, this is the little rhyme," whispered the Lion mysteriously; and +somehow it seemed to Ridgwell as if the Lion was still laughing at him +as he repeated the following extraordinary rhyme-- + + "Christian child or Pagan child, + Which is my denomination, + Have I eaten dear old Lal + In my birthday celebration?" + + +Ridgwell repeated the mysterious rhyme after the Lion, then he shook +his head. + +"Don't understand it, do you?" grinned the Lion. + +"Not a bit," answered Ridgwell. + +"I give it up, too," said Christine. + +"Are you laughing at us, Lal?" inquired Ridgwell anxiously. + +"Ah!" said the Lion, "I wonder; however, he who laughs last, laughs +last; that saying is true without a doubt; and," he concluded with a +chuckle, "I bet you both anything you like that I have the last laugh. +In fact, one day when you pass me you may hear me laugh, although I +shall never speak to either of you again in public. And that reminds +me of something I want to warn both of you about particularly. Never +appear to notice me in public or speak to me whenever you chance to +pass me in Trafalgar Square; you would only collect a crowd, make me +very uncomfortable, and convey the unfortunate impression to everybody +within earshot that you were mad. The same thing applies to +Carry-on-Merry; he has a most provoking face, and the happy laugh +always to be seen upon it might tempt you both to suppose that he was +listening; now mind you never give way to the temptation of addressing +either of us in public, and never refer to anything that has happened +even in private, for you will only be misunderstood. Remember," +concluded the Lion, "that the Great Order of Imagination is only given +to a very few people; those who do not possess it do not understand it. +See, your own has faded already!" + +Both the children clasped their hands simultaneously to their necks +where the glittering order had hung and shone only a few minutes before. + +Then they stared blankly at the place where it had been. Alas! the +luminously lighted jewels of the order were no longer there. + +"Oh, Lal," said Ridgwell, "shall we never have it again?" + +"Only the memory of it," replied the Lion gently; "that never fades." + +"Only the memory," echoed Ridgwell thoughtfully. + +"Nobody can ever take that away from you," said the Lion. + +"Did any other little boy ever have the Great Order of Imagination, +Lal?" + +"Yes," said the Lion, "there was _one_ who had the highest and greatest +order of all, the Pure Soul of Imagination itself." The Lion paused +and seemed to be thinking. + +"Where is he now?" whispered Ridgwell, for unconsciously he seemed to +have lowered his voice. + +The Lion lifted his great and noble head, and looked upwards towards +the silver stars above them. The Lion shook his head doubtfully, and +the children noticed that there was something very like a tear in his +eyes. + +"I don't know which particular star," said the Lion, "but somewhere +there, I think; but then, you see, I'm only a Pagan." + +The Lion stopped and purred; they were outside the familiar windows of +their own home. + +"Oh, Lal," whispered the children, "how shall we remember all we've +seen to-night; how shall we be able to think about it and go through it +all again, if the Order of Imagination has been taken away from us and +if we are never to speak to you again, and only to see you once more? +Even then you cannot tell us _how_ we are going to see you." + +The Lion smiled. "I can arrange that easily. Be of good heart, little +Ridgwell and Christine. I know a writer--he comes and talks to me at +night sometimes, though I never answer him--and I will suggest he +writes it all down for you. I can ask him things without saying a +word." + +"Will you?" pleaded the children. "Oh, please ask him, Lal!" + +"Yes," said the Lion, "I will; good-night." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +PREPARING FOR A VISITOR + +Upon the third day after bidding good-bye to their strange friend, the +children felt they had every reason to be excited as to what events the +day would bring forth, to say nothing of endless speculations as to the +manner in which their most uncommon visitor might choose to appear to +them. + +Consequently after Ridgwell had opened his birthday presents the first +thing in the morning, he held a sort of council of war with Christine. + +"You see, Chris, fortunately the house hasn't any underneath part," +explained Ridgwell, "so that we can keep watch, both of us, all on one +floor so to speak. You take guard of the French windows in the +drawing-room where you can see the greater part of the garden, and I +will watch the windows of the dining-room, where I can see the road +both ways up to the house." + +"Shan't we get tired of always looking at the same spot?" objected +Christine. + +"I have thought of a plan for that, Chris. When either of us want a +change, just shout out, 'Sister Ann, sister Ann, do you see anybody +coming?'" + +"I see," nodded Christine, "everybody will only think we are playing a +game." + +"Then," pursued Ridgwell, full of inspiration, "if Lal isn't looming in +sight anywhere, the other will shout out, 'Not a sail in the offing,' +then we change over rooms." + +"Anyway Lal couldn't sail, could he?" queried Christine. + +"You don't know how he might come," whispered Ridgwell. "He might even +come in a motor car, and anyway it's only so that other people shan't +understand." + +"It seems to me," remarked Christine logically, "that people won't +understand him anyway, and less when they see him than when they don't." + +"It's an anxious time, isn't it, Chris?" + +"Very," assented Christine, "and anyhow we shall have to drop Cookie a +hint, because you see her window in the kitchen looks over a part of +the garden that we can't see from the drawing-room." + +"Of course," mused Ridgwell, "the weak spot about Cookie is that she +gets shocks so quickly." + +"She's sure to get one to-day," commenced Christine hopefully, "when +Lal comes." + +"Very well then, we'll give her a sort of hint," suggested Ridgwell. + +Now Cookie, beloved of the children, to say nothing of the household +generally, was a fat person, with very red cheeks, and very +good-humoured rolling green eyes that somehow always looked as if they +had been originally intended for gooseberries, which had boiled and +bubbled during her many cooking operations and had never been permitted +to simmer. + +"What do you children want in the kitchen?" commenced Cookie. "Master +Ridgie, you know quite well that your birthday cake ain't to be ready +till tea-time." + +"But, Cookie dear," commenced Ridgwell insinuatingly. + +Cookie dear continued the mystic rights over which she presided as high +priestess, her vermilion red hands and arms continued to splash about +in a very big basin, where she contrived to throw up little waves of +very white flour as if she were about to take a morning dip in it, yet +hesitated before taking the plunge. These mysterious rites having been +accomplished and the flour having as it were received a final blessing +from Cookie's hands, Cookie commenced to beat up eggs. + +"I know you've come wheedling for something," objected Cookie, "and you +ain't going to 'ave it, Master Ridgie. Why, you've only just finished +your breakfast." + +"I don't want anything to eat," announced Ridgwell. + +Cookie eyes boiled and rolled ominously, whilst a sort of faint concern +appeared upon the surface of them. "If you can't eat, Master Ridgie, +then you must be ill and want some medicine." + +"No, no," hastily interposed Ridgwell, "I don't want any medicine, we +only came in to ask you a question." + +"Well, you can't ask me any of your questions now, I'm busy," asserted +Cookie. "Ain't got no time." + +"Oh, Cookie dear, you can listen whilst you beat up an egg," +expostulated Ridgwell. + +"_Egg!_" shouted Cookie indignantly, "three blessed eggs for your cake, +and 2 1/2d. each, new laid too, and I only bought a dozen of 'em." + +"Yes, yes, Cookie dear. I meant three eggs, the number doesn't matter, +and it won't take a minute for us to tell you. It's just this. +Suppose a great big beautiful Lion came and sat in the middle of the +raspberry canes just outside your kitchen door, what would you do?" + +"Is this a conundrum?" demanded Cookie. "If so, I don't know no answer +to it, Master Ridgie." + +"It isn't a riddle, Cookie, at all. If a Lion really came to see you, +what would you do?" + +"I should fetch a policeman at once," announced Cookie. + +Ridgwell smiled. "A policeman wouldn't be any good, Cookie! Really, +you know, he couldn't do anything." + +"Then I should fetch two policemen," said Cookie, shortly and +conclusively. Cookie, at this point in the argument, beat the three +new-laids at such a furious rate, that the foam of them whirled round +and round very much like the agitated thoughts of Cookie herself at +being confronted with such an outrageous problem the first thing in the +morning. + +"'Owever," amended Cookie, "afore I went to fetch them policemen, I'd +throw all the boiling green water over him, from the window first, and +see if that wouldn't shift 'im." + +Both Ridgwell and Christine laughed outright, the idea was too +ridiculous. To think of their friendly and Pleasant-Faced Lal coming +to make a society call and having boiling cabbage water thrown over his +stately head, was altogether too much for their gravity. + +"How indignant he would be," laughed Ridgwell. "Oh! Chris only think +how hurt he would feel as he shook the stuff off his mane and whiskers!" + +This imaginary picture, however, seemed to be too much for Christine, +so she determined to speak seriously to Cookie. + +"Cookie," said Christine in her most earnest manner, "a lion may arrive +outside this door (pointing to the article in question in a most +impressive fashion) at any moment to-day." + +"Yes," added Ridgwell, "and we only want you to be prepared." + +Cookie's eyes seemed to boil a little faster for a moment, appeared to +swell in fact and be altogether overdone, as she fixed her orbs upon +the door in question, then up went Cookie's apron over her head, and +alas! down went the three new-laid at 2 1/2d. each, all spilled upon +the floor, and the cup broken as well. + +At this moment the children instinctively realised that discretion was +sometimes the better part of valour, and made speedy preparations to +vacate in favour of other quarters of the house, not, however, before +they could hear Cookie moaning beneath her apron: + +"Escaped I s'pose, oh! mighty 'Eavens! escaped from the Crystal +Palace, or the Zoo, or a circus or somethink, oh, it ain't safe living +in England! Blowed if I don't bolt the kitchen door, and nobody warned +me or told me it was in the morning papers. Thank goodness I've taken +in the milk, and them three eggs all spoiled. Only nine left now," +moaned Cookie, "and cutlets and pancakes for lunch too." + +"Come, Chris," whispered Ridgwell. "You see we can't expect much +support from Cookie." + +"No," agreed Christine, as they departed for the dining-room. "How +about Mother? Let's hear what she says." + +"Yes," assented Ridgwell. "You see Mother is very nice and kind always +to anybody who calls, and perhaps if she spoke to Lal and welcomed him +a bit when he comes, he might feel at home at once." + +"I can't think where we are going to ask him to sit, can you, Ridgie? +You see," explained Christine, "it's so inhospitable to leave him in +the hall, and if he walks into the drawing-room and swishes his tail +even contentedly, all the china would go over at once." + +"No, Chris, Lal is much too well mannered to do anything like that, but +I'm afraid the only place for him will be the hearth-rug in front of +the fire. Stop a minute, Chris, I've got it. Of course, the sofa in +the drawing-room. Nobody must sit on the sofa at all to-day, then it +will be all ready for him when he comes, and we shall only have to tuck +him in a bit at the sides if he's too big." + +Matters were not much better understood in the drawing-room, for a lady +visitor had just called and was waiting for Mother to come down. Mrs. +Tallcat was a lady who always deemed it her duty to call once a week +upon everybody, whether people wished to see her or whether they did +not wish to see her. + +Had a census of opinion been taken concerning Mrs. Tallcat's calls, +Mrs. Tallcat would have found, much to her astonishment no doubt, that +she possessed very few votes, and no votes at all from children. + +"Would you very much mind if you didn't sit upon the sofa?" commenced +Ridgwell gently. + +Mrs. Tallcat, always inclined towards huffiness at a moment's notice, +consequently selected a chair. + +"Is the sofa likely to give way?" inquired Mrs. Tallcat suspiciously. + +"No," explained Christine, "it is because it is so strong and firm on +its legs that we have chosen it." + +"I never allow _my_ boy to play upon the sofa," sniffed Mrs. Tallcat, +as if she were referring to a piano. + +"It isn't to play upon," remarked Ridgwell, "but we are expecting a +very, very solid visitor." + +Mrs. Tallcat sniffed for the second time. "I never allow my boy to +make any remarks whatever upon visitors who call," responded Mrs. +Tallcat icily. + +"Oh, Lal doesn't mind," said Christine cheerfully. + +"Who is Lal?" inquired Mrs. Tallcat, "a gentleman friend of your +father's?" + +"No," said Ridgwell, "Lal is a lion, and Father doesn't know him yet." + +"Tut, tut, tut," snapped Mrs. Tallcat crossly. "Directly _my_ boy +begins to talk nonsense I send him straight to bed." + +"It's bad for the health to go to bed at the wrong time," suggested +Ridgwell pensively. + +"My boy always does as he's told," announced Mrs. Tallcat triumphantly; +"if he doesn't, he is whipped." + +At this point a new idea suddenly struck Ridgwell. "Chris," he +whispered audibly, "we must somehow get the old cat out of the way." + +Mrs. Tallcat instantly bridled, and her face became inflamed with +anger. "How _dare_ you!" commenced the indignant lady. + +"I mean the _other_ cat," explained Ridgwell, "our own cat." + +The explanation, although convincing, was perhaps ambiguous. It was +undoubtedly fortunate that Mother timed her appearance at this point to +a nicety, and so prevented any further complications. + +"Dreadful time her boy must have, don't you think, eh, Chris?" asked +Ridgwell. + +Christine nodded. + +"Only fancy, Chris," pursued Ridgwell, "calling her little boy Tom. +Tom Tallcat; why, he'll be chaffed no end at school. I do feel sorry +for him; and then the way she dresses him, coloured velvet and a +brigand's hat with a feather in it, just as if he was part of a circus. +I'm glad Mother doesn't dress me like that. The other day I met him +and he'd got a bow and arrow. She'd actually sent him into the street +with a bow and arrow. I said 'Hullo, Robin Hood,' not meaning +anything, and he began to cry; it was awkward, and I'm sure he feels +it. Father said that the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children +ought to interfere, but I think that was perhaps only one of Father's +jokes." + +"I think," suggested Mother, who had caught audible fragments of this +conversation, "I think you children had better run away now and play." + +The morning appeared to go quite quickly up to the cutlets and the +pancake stage. + +The late afternoon shadows threw their creeping patterns over both +lawns, and still there was no sign whatever of their eccentric friend +Lal. + +Tea-time came and passed, and then the shadows grew deeper, first blue, +then violet, then black, the trees and shrubs could scarcely be +distinguished at all; and, as ill luck would have it, there was no moon. + +At length the time arrived when the family not unreasonably suggested +that the blinds of the house should be pulled down. Here was a +dilemma. How was it possible to warn the household of the +Pleasant-Faced Lion's approach if the blinds were pulled down? When +Ridgwell found, in spite of much lingering, that the last crumb of cake +had been consumed, to say nothing of the last currant which he had made +last quite a long time, and that the third summons to go to bed must +have some sort of notice taken of it, he resigned himself to the +inevitable, and with a hopeless look at Christine, prepared to talk to +Father. + +Father was reading quite quietly, and apparently deeply engrossed in a +book, and somehow that didn't help matters. + +"Please, Father, would you mind very much if the hall door and the back +door were both left wide open all night?" + +Father considered this somewhat odd request for a space, then inquired +with a stray gleam of amusement in his eyes, "Do you consider the house +stuffy? Or have you suddenly adopted one of the Futurist ideas +concerning Health?" + +"No, it isn't that, but Chris and I expect somebody; no, I mean +_something_, and we should be so disappointed if it, no, I mean _he_ +didn't come." + +"Rather a late visitor," said Father, "and rather an inconsiderate one +if this quite Eastern welcome of him includes us all catching our death +of cold. No, Ridgie, I'm afraid he will have to knock." + +"But, Father, I'm not sure he can knock." + +"Then ring," suggested their parent, "nice new electric bell I've just +had fixed up. He's only got to push the button." + +"Perhaps he doesn't understand about electric bells," objected Ridgwell. + +"Your friend seems a trifle old-fashioned," observed Father, +good-naturedly. + +"And then," said Ridgwell, "his paw is so big he might never find the +bell-push." + +"I see; a dog, eh?" + +"No, bigger than a dog, much." + +"Well, then, say a donkey." + +"No, Father, bigger than a dog, and not so big as a donkey." + +"I give it up," said Father, "but I promise whatever he is he shall be +attended to and entertained if possible." + +"I cannot think what you will say to him," debated Ridgwell anxiously. + +"I will do my best, Ridgwell; but from your description I should +imagine the conversation will be a little one-sided. However," +remarked Father drily, "perhaps he can be persuaded to smoke, or drink." + +"No, Father, he never smokes, and he only drinks water." + +"Ah! very abstemious," murmured Father; "perhaps he is a vegetarian as +well, sounds like it, and they are always the most difficult people to +entertain." + +At this moment the conversation was interrupted by a loud knocking at +the front door, and immediately the new electric bell sounded +throughout the house. Ridgwell and Christine nearly tumbled over one +another in order to get to the hall door first. + +"It's Lal after all," shouted Ridgwell. + +"Sure to be," chimed in Christine. + +At length in the struggle the hall door was opened, but it wasn't the +form of the Pleasant-Faced Lion who greeted them, only Mr. Jollyface, a +friend of Father's and a happy, jolly old bachelor, who loved both of +the children. + +"Anybody with you?" inquired Ridgwell anxiously, as he peered either +side of Mr. Jollyface's portly form. + +"No, only me," chuckled Mr. Jollyface. "Whom are you expecting? Glad +to find you children up; I've got something for you in my pocket, +Master Ridgie; your birthday, isn't it?" + +"Yes," confessed Ridgwell, but it could be plainly seen that his former +enthusiasm had died a sudden death. "But do tell me, Mr. Jollyface, +did you see anything as you came along?" + +"Lots of things," replied Mr. Jollyface, cheerily. + +"A lion?" whispered Ridgwell mysteriously. + +"No," debated Mr. Jollyface, "no, I think I may say that a lion was the +only thing I didn't see." + +"Oh, Mr. Jollyface, are you sure?" + +"Yes," replied Mr. Jollyface gravely, "I can really be quite certain +upon that point." + +"If you had seen a great lion, Mr. Jollyface, what would you have done?" + +"I think," debated Mr. Jollyface, as he prepared to disencumber himself +of his great-coat, "I think I should have wished him good-evening and +passed politely, like the--ahem--Levite, on the opposite side of the +way." + +"Oh, Mr. Jollyface," sighed Ridgwell, "if you only knew we have waited +all day long for a lion." + +"Now, that's very funny," whispered Mr. Jollyface, "for I have actually +brought one for you in my pocket, I have really. Here it is," +announced the imperturbable Mr. Jollyface, as he produced a parcel from +his pocket and thrust it into Ridgwell's hand. + +"No, no, not that sort of lion," remonstrated Ridgwell. + +"Well, perhaps this one would do," suggested Mr. Jollyface. "It's the +best sort of lion, you know, really, and made of the very finest +chocolate, too." + +Here a well-known voice was heard to remark: "If I have to speak to you +children once more about going to bed there will be trouble." + +"Scamper off," exclaimed the good-natured Mr. Jollyface; then he added, +"you know you can eat chocolate in bed quite as well as you can +anywhere else. I used to enjoy it as a boy more than I should have +done upon a plate in the dining-room. Off you go; good-night, kids." + +Thereupon Father claimed Mr. Jollyface, and as the children slowly +mounted the stairs they could hear him saying: "So it was you the +children were waiting for, and the animal friend they expected was a +chocolate lion, eh?" + +"Very likely," agreed Mr. Jollyface. "Ha! ha! ha! so they have been +puzzling you, my old friend, eh?" + +"Well, children's riddles are very difficult to guess," said Father, +"and yet they are always so simple." + +"Chris," observed Ridgwell dejectedly, as they reached their room and +turned the handle of the door, "they none of them understand; isn't it +dreadful? and they are grown up, too, and really ought to know." + +"We've waited and waited, Ridgie, and there's nothing else to be done; +Lal won't come now, and he's never broken his word before, has he?" + +"He might come, Chris; let's roll up the blind." + +"No, the garden looks the same as it always does; there isn't a thing +in sight. Suppose we don't go to sleep just yet and keep awake a bit; +Lal might come and throw a stone at the window." + +"Let's eat the chocolate," suggested Chris, who was occasionally +practical, "while we wait." + +Ridgwell untied the small parcel, a wooden box, about half the size of +one of Father's cigar-boxes, and appeared to be made of the same kind +of brown wood. + +Disclosed to view at length, the birthday present was seen to be a +fairly large chocolate lion lying upon a pedestal. The entire +sweet-meat model was covered in thick golden paper; this was quickly +stripped off, and Ridgwell did the honours as possessor. + +"I'll eat his head half, Chris, and give you the other half; I think +that's a fair division." + +"Right," agreed Christine; "we can't eat more than that to-night, and +the pedestal part will do for the morning." + +"I can't understand Lal disappointing us to-night as he has done," said +Ridgwell, as he slowly munched his chocolate. "Can you, Chris?" + +"No--isn't this chocolate good, Ridgie?" + +"Yes, but fancy having to be contented with a chocolate lion when we +know a real one! On my birthday too, and yet he promised faithfully we +should see him again." + +"He has forgotten us," confessed the children as they went to bed. + +"Suppose he has too much to think of," said Ridgie; "he can't remember +everything." + +Christine never knew quite how long she had been asleep that night, +before she distinctly heard muffled mutterings from her brother +Ridgie's bed the other side of their little room. Surely Ridgie +couldn't be saying his prayers at this time of night; then Christine +was certain she heard half-smothered sobs. + +"Ridgie, what's the matter; are you crying?" demanded Christine. The +sobs became very audible now, and even an apparent effort to stifle +them with the bed-clothes did not seem in any way to lessen them. + +Christine pressed the button of the electric light, and in the sudden +illumination regarded her brother across the room. + +"Ridgie, why are you crying? are you in pain? have you eaten too much?" + +"No," sobbed Ridgie, "no, but oh! Chrissie, I've--I've--we've eaten +Lal." + +Christine sat up in bed. + +"Ridgie," demanded Christine, "are you dreaming?" + +"No," whispered Ridgie, between his sobs; "don't you remember-- + + Christian child or Pagan child + Which is my denomination? + Have I eaten dear old Lal + In my birthday celebration? + +Here, overcome by recollections, Ridgwell broke down completely. "I +_have_ eaten him," moaned Ridgwell; "at least, _we've_ eaten him, for +you helped. He said we should eat him, and we've done it. That's how +Lal meant to come to us; now, I remember, it was exactly like him. +Just as--as he is in Trafalgar Square on his pedestal. Oh, Chris, +after all the Christians have eaten a lion; he said we should; we +aren't Christians any longer, we're Pagans, and--and," confessed +Ridgwell with a final outburst, "I feel like a cannibal; it's beastly." + +Christine had become quite pale during this recital; but she thought +for awhile before replying. + +"Perhaps, Ridgie, Lal meant us to eat him--I mean his likeness in +chocolate--all the time, and most likely he isn't angry with us at all. +He might have arranged it all as a joke." + +"It isn't a joke at all," sniffed Ridgwell, "it's horrible. We have +eaten one of our very best friends. Oh! if only the Order of Great +Imagination hadn't been taken away from us!" + +"I am not so sure, Ridgie," observed Christine, with feminine +intuition, "that you have lost _all_ your order of imagination; I think +you have still a lot left, or you would never have discovered Lal's +riddle." + +It was Ridgwell's turn now to sit up in bed, and he asked eagerly-- + +"Do you really think it was only a riddle, Chris, and Lal meant only to +have a joke with us?" + +Christine nodded gravely. + +"I feel very comforted with that," said Ridgwell, "so turn off the +light, Chris, and we'll go to sleep again; but oh, won't I just tell +Lal next time I pass him in Trafalgar Square!" + +Some few moments afterwards in the darkness Christine answered-- + +"You hadn't better make any remarks to Lal in public; you know he +cautioned us about attracting a crowd." + +"Crowd or no crowd, I mean to tell him what I think of him," asserted +Ridgwell before he turned over and went to sleep. + + * * * * * + +The clock in the hall was just chiming twelve, and Mr. Jollyface was +taking his departure. + +Father and Mother were wishing him good-night and thanking him for +bringing the chocolate lion for Ridgwell. + +"It is really quite remarkable how I came to buy it," agreed Mr. +Jollyface; "but I was passing through Trafalgar Square when I +remembered that I hadn't bought Ridgie a present, and the sight of the +corner lion, as I crossed the Square, made me remember a sweetstuff +model of him I had seen in a chocolate shop in the Strand, so I went +and bought it. But really the most wonderful thing about it is the +almost uncanny intelligence of your children. Bless my soul! they +couldn't have known I had bought it; and yet, would you believe it, +they actually expected a lion, and asked me if I had brought one with +me." + +"Yes," agreed Father, "it's very wonderful; they were trying to +describe a lion before you came in. I think at times children must +have second sight, and that is why I am afraid we sometimes do not +understand them. Good-night, Jollyface; come and see us again soon." + + + + +BOOK II + +WHAT THE WRITER AND THE LORD MAYOR DECLARED + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE WRITER APPEARS UPON THE SCENE + +There had been a certain amount of excitement when Father and Mother +had started for their holidays abroad, but nothing in any way to be +compared to the excitement of the day when the Writer made his first +appearance. + +Ridgwell and Christine distinctly heard themselves being asked for by a +visitor, one day when the sitting-room door was open, and to be +inquired for personally was at least something of an event. "I want to +see the children," a voice had said, and there was no mistaking the +significance of the words. Without any undue delay, Ridgwell and +Christine immediately presented themselves. + +The stranger was led in captive, one upon either side of him, and being +placed upon the sofa was regarded steadfastly for some little while. +During a very thorough scrutiny the prisoner smiled affably, produced a +pipe which he lighted carefully and puffed at steadily, and then +inquired casually if they both thought he would do. + +"You look jolly," announced Ridgwell, "only I can't make out who you +are; but you know Father and Mother very well, don't you?" + +"Rather," said the stranger, "great friends of mine." + +"But we've never seen you, have we?" added Christine. + +"No," replied the stranger, "but I thought it was quite time I made +your acquaintance, so I thought I would call upon you. Sorry I haven't +got a card, but you can supply something in its place which will be +quite as good. Where does Father keep his books?" was the sudden and +somewhat unexpected question. + +"It just depends," debated Ridgwell, "what particular lot you want. +Biography, Philosophy, Romance or Poetry." + +"I think the Romance and Poetry department," suggested the stranger. + +"This way," said Ridgwell; "I will show you." + +The stranger ran his finger over the well-stocked orderly shelves, then +he paused at four volumes side by side about the middle of the second +shelf. + +"Of course you both read?" inquired the stranger. + +"Not those sort of books," explained Ridgwell. "We haven't quite got +up to those sort of books yet." + +"Anyway you can read the author's name upon the back of each of them." + +The children nodded. + +"That's me," confessed the stranger. "I have the misfortune to write +books that you don't read." + +"Father does," Ridgwell hastened to explain; "I've often heard him talk +about you. Why, you're quite famous, aren't you?" + +"I hope not," said the Writer. + +"Anyway," concluded Ridgwell, "Father said you wrote jolly good stuff, +only it was over the heads of the people, but Father said one of these +days when you woke up, you would knock 'em, and I've heard him say that +anyway it was better than some of the drivel a lot of people wrote +nowadays. He hoped you'd reform, though." + +The Writer laughed. "A very candid opinion, Master Ridgwell, and I +really must reform and mend my ways." + +"Don't you write fairy tales as well?" inquired Christine upon the way +back to the dining-room. + +"Sometimes," agreed the Writer. + +Without more ado, Christine drew three chairs invitingly round the +fire, almost by way of an invitation to recount some upon the spot. + +The fire was really very cheerful in spite of the fact that it was late +spring. The daffodils nodded their yellow heads quite contentedly, and +filled the bowls upon mantelshelf and table with colour, and the little +room with fragrance, at one and the same time. The coloured crocuses +peeped in from the window boxes outside, whilst the sparrows chirped +and hopped about and hoped that the Writer had something pleasant to +say about them. It was all very peaceful with the sunlight stealing +into the room through the lattice panes, making little patterns upon +the floor, the flickering red of the fire playing at hide and seek with +the diamond patterns and never quite catching each other; the yellow +flowers nodding drowsily over the two childish heads that were now +regarding the Writer most earnestly. The clock upon the mantelpiece +chimed its mellow notes. Three o'clock it said. The afternoon had +seemed almost dull up to that time, but now it all appeared to have +changed in some curious way, ever since the Writer had made his +appearance. + +"I wonder," commenced Ridgwell, "if by any chance you could have been +sent to us; you know we were faithfully promised that a Writer should +come and see us and write down for us something we particularly want to +remember. I wonder if you are the man," ended Ridgwell, quizzically. + +"Shouldn't wonder at all," murmured the Writer; "delighted if I have +had the honour to be chosen for the mission, and it really sounds to me +like one of Lal's very rash promises." + +"What!!!" It was a shriek from two children at once. Two pairs of +arms were suddenly flung around the Writer's neck, two pairs of arms +that were almost hugging him to death. + +The Writer endured this onslaught throughout in the most becoming +manner. + +"Lal _did_ send you then," shouted Ridgwell. "I knew it. How lovely! +Fancy your knowing him! Tell us all about it." + +The Writer smiled. "I have known Lal almost as many years as I can +remember; he is one of my oldest and very dearest friends." + +"Ridgie," said Christine solemnly, at this point, "do you remember the +motto of the cracker we pulled last night? It said-- + + "I'll whisper on this little page + A secret unto you: + The greatest wonder of the age + Shall suddenly come true." + + +But Ridgwell was beyond crackers, and beyond poetry; he felt, not +unreasonably, amidst the development of this new wonder, that he was in +possession of the real thing. + +"I think," said the Writer, "I had better tell you all about it from +the very beginning, but you know really it is quite a long story." + +Ridgwell and Christine arranged themselves comfortably to listen; +sometimes they looked at the fire, but more often at the face of the +Writer, but they never missed one word of his story. + +"I expect," commenced the Writer, "my story is going to be very +different from anything you children may have imagined; in fact, my +life has turned out so utterly different from anything it promised to +be in the early beginning, that at times upon looking back it seems to +be like some wonderful fairy tale--utterly unlike the ordinary fairy +tales, however, one reads in books. + +"The only two good fairies in my case were first and foremost our good +old friend Lal, and, secondly, a gentleman who in the early stages of +my life was always called the Miser, but who since has become one of +the wealthiest, most generous and notable personages in the City of +London. As a rule, whenever I think of my early childhood it is with a +shudder, for I was running about the streets of London minus any shoes +or stockings, with hardly any food save of the smallest and coarsest +description, selling newspapers in the streets until late at night, and +invariably soundly beaten if I did not take back some miserable coppers +at the end of the day. + +"I may say that these pence I had procured with so much toil were +always expended in the public-house by both the man and his wife who +were supposed at that time to provide me with the weird accommodation +they were pleased to call home. My particular portion of this edifice +was a dirty mat by way of a bed, which I shared with a rough-haired +terrier dog called Sam. We two, Sam and I, were roofed in with many +panes of broken glass in a species of outhouse which may at one time +have formed a small conservatory. It must have been a hopeless +failure, I am sure, as a conservatory, for I cannot imagine anything +growing in it at all. + +"One thing I am very certain of, I should never have grown either, but +should most likely have withered and died in it had I remained, like my +possible predecessors the plants, a few blackened and withered sticks +of which could still be seen in some broken red flower-pots upon a +shelf out of my reach. How these people came to have charge of me I +shall never know, but I have sometimes believed, from odds and ends of +conversation they let drop when they were quarrelling, which they were +always doing, that my real father and mother had died when I was a tiny +mite. + +"The woman, who seemed at one time to have been better off, was left a +sum of money to bring me up, as no relations appeared to claim me. At +this time the woman was single, and had not met the man she afterwards +married, the man who used to beat me so cruelly. Whether she spent all +the money left for me, or whether they both spent it, appears to be of +little consequence; anyway, once it was gone I was regarded with black +looks as an encumbrance, and turned out into the streets to make some +money, or do something for my board and lodging, as they expressed it. +I have already told you what the lodging was like. Well, the board +part of it corresponded to the rest of the picture in every way. +Crusts of old dry bread, which they couldn't eat themselves, did for me +and the dog, sometimes a little milk, varied by an occasional awful +form of hard cake which the woman cooked, and which was impossible to +eat unless first soaked in something. In the long hours of waiting +between selling the newspapers I learned to spell, and then to read, +very slowly at first, but still I learned. Then one of the men +employed at the newspaper office I collected papers from, although I +should imagine a very poor man himself, found a few pence every week to +have me taught to write and spell, together with arithmetic, grammar, +history and other things. This rather uncertain method of education +went on for about two years. I was getting on fine, and absorbing +everything I was taught with great rapidity, when my one friend, who +had provided the night school education, departed to another world +where I always hope he found the conditions easier than the one he had +left. I might have been at my miserable home in the slums with the man +and woman for years after this, only a curious form of providence was +working upon my behalf. + +"It had been a bad night for selling papers, I had a few coppers only, +and my heart sank down when I approached the hovel where we all lived. +The man and woman were quarrelling violently. As I slunk in white of +face and with a terrible quaking feeling inside me, I saw at once the +man was worse than he had ever been, and as I entered the door of the +squalid room he struck the woman an awful blow, then he saw me. He +grabbed me, and I think might have killed me that night, but I wrenched +myself away after he had given me the first blows; he pursued me, +catching at my coat, which at the best of times was only rags; he tore +part of the coat away, which was left in his hand, and I ran for dear +life. The man was mad and didn't know what he was doing, maybe, but +the only thing he could lay his hands upon was a broken brandy bottle; +he hurled this at my head. It struck me as I reached the street and +cut the back of my head open. Although I was hurt I staggered on. I +was dizzy and sick and the blood was dripping all over my shirt, but +though I swayed about I never stopped, I would go anywhere away from +the horror of that place. I never meant to go back there again. + +"The next thing I remember was some sort of Square, which I had never +seen until then, for I had never gone so far West in London before. +There was nobody about, and I sank down beside a sort of stone thing +and held my head, which hurt me horribly, and began to cry, I think. + +"I was only about ten or eleven years old at that time, if as much, for +no record of my age had ever been kept. Whether it was the pain, or +simply fright because the few clothes I had were covered in blood from +the wound in my head where the bottle had cut me, I don't know, but +there is no doubt that I lost consciousness, probably for some +considerable time. When I came to myself and woke up, it must have +been very late at night. It was a fairly cold night, but the moon was +shining, and the Square where I was sitting all looked like polished +silver, and the clock of a big church at the side of the Square boomed +out one. + +"I looked about me, and raised myself up painfully upon one elbow and +tried to think. + +"Here I was outside everything--no shelter, no home, alone in London +with a vengeance. True the other place had been a hateful home, yet at +the very worst it had been a shelter, and, moreover, the rough-haired +dog Sam and I had somehow squeezed together to keep ourselves warm, and +Sam was the only thing that was in any way fond of me, and Sam was +really good company. + +"As the thought of him came across my mind, and how I had lost him for +good now, I think I was about to start crying again, when a rather +gruff but quite kindly voice just over my head called out-- + +"'Now then, stop that.' + +"Of course I was only a very common Cockney little street boy at that +time, and I couldn't either speak the Queen's English properly or spell +it correctly, so when the voice said 'Stop that,' I said 'Wot?' 'Going +to cry,' said the voice." + +Here Ridgwell was so overcome with excitement by reason of a strange +coincidence that he interrupted. "Why, that is exactly what Lal first +said to me, and I can guess what the next thing was that he said to +you--wasn't it 'Here, jump up'?" + +The Writer smiled. "Yes," he said, "it is really very wonderful how +history repeats itself. That is exactly what he said, but what I said +is perhaps even more singular. + +"I raised myself slowly and looked up gradually, for my head still +ached and throbbed horribly, and when I saw it was a big bronze lion +that was speaking to me and looking quite pleasant, all I said was-- + +"'Lor lummy, if it ain't a bloomin' lion a-talking to me. 'Alf a +jiffey, cocky,' I said, 'an' I'll 'ave a climb up atween them paws of +yours.' + +"'You mustn't call me cocky,' remarked the Lion, reprovingly, when I +had once landed up safe and sound; 'you must call me Lal.' + +"'Right oh!' ses I. 'Can I sleep 'ere safe without a bloomin' copper +a-coming and diggin' of me art 'alf-way through my nap?' + +"'Yes, of course,' said Lal. 'Sleep here comfortably, and cover +yourself over with the policemen's capes. You'll find three of them +beside you. Hitherto they have always annoyed me by placing them +there, but upon this occasion I am really grateful to them, as they +will be useful for you to keep yourself warm with.' + +"'I fits in 'ere fine,' ses I, 'and so 'elp me I think ye're a stunner. +But I never knowed as lions talked afore.' + +"'My good little boy, there are many things that you do not know,' +answered the Lion, 'one of them being that you do not know how to speak +English correctly. I am afraid you are quite ignorant.' + +"''Ere, 'old on, Mister,' ses I, 'I've been to school, yer know.' + +"'The wrong schools, I fear,' replied the Lion; 'and would you oblige +me by not calling me Mister; in future always call me Lal.' + +"'Do them other three lions talk, Lal?' I asked. + +"'No, I am the only one that talks.' + +"'Then I should say as 'ow you're the best of the 'ole bunch,' I +remarked. + +"Lal sighed deeply. 'How dreadfully wrong,' he said; 'imagine a bunch +of lions! No, you certainly cannot speak at all correctly, so I think +perhaps you had better go to sleep instead.' + +"Well, before I went to sleep I remembered at the night school I had +gone to they always said people ought to say their prayers, so I +thought to myself for a minute, and I'm afraid this is something in the +nature of what I said-- + +"'Please send me as soon as you 'ave it, a goodish-sized lump o' bread +and drippin', or a big baked 'tater, cos' I am as empty as ever I can +'ang together. I don't want nothink tasty, but jist somethink fillin'. +I'm very grateful for lions wot talk and 'elps yer like a pal; and +please don't let no blighted coppers a see me, and lock me up. Don't +forget the drippin'--any sort, beef, mutton, or pork. Amen.' + +"'Humph!' remarked the Lion, when I concluded, 'that is a most singular +petition; to whom is it addressed?' + +"'Up there, Lal,' I answered, looking into the sky; 'they say you gits +everythink from there.' + +"'Dear me,' replied the Lion, 'really most singular. I notice you did +not describe the manner in which you expected these provisions to +arrive.' + +"'I'll get 'em, Lal; if not ter-night, ter-morrer.' + +"The Lion looked down at me quite kindly I thought. 'What is your +name?' he asked. + +"'Ain't got no name that I knows of 'cept Skylark.' + +"The Lion purred softly. 'You will have a name some day,' he said, +'and a great name, too. Why are you called Skylark now?' + +"''Cos I sings and whistles, t'other blokes in the streets calls me +that.' + +"I was just starting to show him how I could whistle, and had done a +bit, when we heard pitter-patter, pitter-patter, and the sound of +flying padded feet over the stone Square. + +"The Lion sniffed. 'It's a dog. What is he doing here to-night? I +suppose he is lost.' + +"I looked out between his paws, and I gave a shout of delight; I was +answered by loud yelps of gladness. + +"'It's Sam,' I shouted. 'Oh, Sam, 'ole cockie, 'ere I is; jump up wiv +me and Lal.' + +"'Is he all right?' asked Lal. + +"'Yus,' I yelled, 'a friend, a fust-class friend. 'Ere, Sam, I'll 'elp +yer up by yer paws,' and he scrambled up and licked my face. Then he +looks at the Lion. + +"'He'll do,' said Lal. 'Tell him not to attract attention by barking +or making any more of that noise. You must both go to sleep; and I +must say that you are a remarkably strange pair. However, here you +are, and here you must stay.' + +"When I woke up in the morning it was just beginning to be daylight. I +spoke to Lal, but he wouldn't answer, he was cold and still, and didn't +look as if he had ever spoken or moved in his life, and never would +again. I folded the policemen's aprons up tight and thin like +truncheons in case they missed them, clambered down, followed by Sam, +and had a wash in one of the basins of the fountains, and got fairly +clean and respectable, except my coat, all torn in half, which I +couldn't help, and then I set out to see what I could find. It was Sam +who nosed out something like a breakfast. + +"Two stale buns in a bag. I should think some child had thrown them +away--penny buns they were. I never tasted anything better, and Sam +had some of them, and he thought they were all right. + +"I made twopence that day, carrying a bag. The man who gave me the job +gave me the unnecessary caution at the same time, not to run away with +it, just as if such a thing was likely. Why, I could hardly lift it, +and I couldn't have run two steps with it. + +"He was an inquisitive man too, wanted to know if I had stolen the dog. +I said no, I didn't steal. 'Well,' he asked, 'if you don't steal, how +do you get a living?' I said, 'I'm getting it now.' He said it must +be a hard job. I replied, 'Golly, you're right, governor, this 'ere +bag is that 'eavy it drags me vitals out; wot's it got inside of +it--bricks?' Then he drove me off and said I was a cheeky little +devil, but he gave me twopence. Sam and I went to an eating-house and +got two big lumps of pudding on the strength of it, and that fed us +bang up for that day. + +"I waited around at night with Sam, and directly I saw the Square was +deserted, I hopped up into my old place and Sam after me. + +"'Hullo!' said Lal, 'you two have turned up again, have you?' + +"'Yuss,' I replied; 'it's the only 'ome we've got, yer know, Lal.' + +"'I must see what I can do for you,' mused the Lion. 'There is a man I +know who could give you work and help you at once, only his heart is +very hard at the present time; unfortunately success hasn't softened +him--he is a miser.' + +"'Ain't a miser a bloke 'oo grabs all wot 'ee gits?' I suggested; 'if +so 'ee wouldn't do nothink 'ansome for Sam and me; the only copper as +we would git art of 'im would be the ones 'eed call up ter give us in +charge. A miser don't seem no good to us, as they wants change out o' +nothing.' + +"'My dear little boy,' said Lal, 'your language may be pithy, but it is +so incorrect; your metaphors, moreover, are so mixed. I think,' said +the Lion, 'it is high time I took the Miser in hand; he is capable of +better things, and if success cannot give him the milk of human +kindness, I must try what sterner measures can effect. Get down now,' +continued the Lion, 'and both of you slip round the other side of the +pedestal and hide yourselves. I expect the Miser to pass this way +shortly, and you are not to interrupt on any account, or come back +until he has gone away, you understand.' + +"'Yuss, Lal, anyfink to oblige. Come on, Sam, and may 'is 'eart +soften,' I said. + +"Well, about a quarter of an hour afterwards, sure enough, a tall, +thin, elderly gentleman, with grey hair, in a top hat and frock coat, +came along, and he paused when he got to Lal, and looking round first +to see that he was not observed, he stopped beside Lal, and greeted him +with, 'Well, my old friend, and how are you this evening? do you feel +inclined to converse with me, or will you remain immovable, silent and +cold as you sometimes choose to be? Indeed I hope you feel disposed to +talk kindly to me, for I am far from happy, in fact it never entered +into my calculations that a highly successful man could ever be quite +so miserable.' After saying so much as this the elderly gentleman +paused, and observing that Lal had not taken any notice of his remarks +whatever, added in a lower tone, as if speaking to himself, 'Ah, not +communicable to-night, only bronze and stone, eh?' + +"Then the Lion spoke. 'I am not the only thing of bronze and stone. +Have you ever thought how the definition might perhaps apply to +yourself, for instance, Alderman Simon Gold?' + +"The tall thin gentleman appeared to be slightly taken aback by the +Lion's words. + +"'You have a front of bronze,' continued the Lion, 'and as hard; you +have a heart of stone and as useless.' + +"'It seems to me, my old friend,' replied the tall thin gentleman, +'that you have some grievance against me by the hard words you are +giving me. I came to you for comfort, but you don't seem to have +anything of the sort to bestow. However, I suppose all of us have our +ill humours.' + +"'True,' assented the Lion, 'save that some of us never change that ill +humour, but continue with it all through life. You yourself are one of +those people.' + +"'Humph! I certainly have displeased you,' vouchsafed the tall thin +gentleman; 'how I really cannot imagine.' + +"'I will tell you,' replied the Lion. 'Listen, therefore, carefully. +Let us go back to the very beginning of our acquaintance. I am correct +in stating that you were a homeless, ragged little urchin prowling the +streets of London.' The tall thin man nodded. 'I gave you the only +shelter you knew; others have used it since, all of them models of +gratitude compared with yourself. My friendship did not stop there. +You wanted work, a home, a name and riches. Who directed you to the +City? who told you how to start, and where you would find all those +things so long as you worked hard and were honest?' + +"'I did all those things,' interrupted the tall thin man; 'I did work +hard, I got a home, name, riches, and I have been honest.' + +"'Until to-day,' purred the Lion, 'until to-day, Alderman Gold.' + +"'To-day,' echoed the Alderman, but he started slightly. + +"'Those shares you bought in the City to-day, a very great number, do +you call that transaction honest?' + +"The Alderman's eyes sought the ground. + +"'Three people will be ruined in that transaction if you keep to it.' + +"'Think of the money.' + +"'Think of your name.' + +"'I must have money.' + +"The Lion laughed. 'You have heaps more than you require. Can you +name one good thing you have done with your money or your influence +since I plainly pointed the way out to you how to acquire them?' + +"There was no answer. + +"'Will you still decide to acquire those shares dishonestly?' + +"'Anybody in the City or on 'Change would do the same thing, it is done +every day.' + +"'Because burglaries may be committed every night, is it any reason why +you should commit one?' + +"'The world is the world,' replied the Alderman. 'I have to live in +it, and I have to fight it with its own weapons.' + +"'You have no wife.' + +"'No, Lal.' + +"'No child.' + +"'No.' + +"'No single soul your wealth can do any good for.' + +"'I need it all for myself.' + +"'You are hoarding money fast.' + +"'I shall need it all when I can no longer work; the value of money +decreases day by day. What is a fortune now will only be a pittance a +very few years hence.' + +"'All for yourself?' + +"'Yes.' + +"'Nothing will change you?' + +"'Why should it? I have only myself to consider, and I mean to make +more and more, and more, and never stop; there shall be no limit to +what I shall acquire, it is the only thing I care about now in life.' + +"'In addition,' said the Lion, 'you are cutting down every little +comfort and every luxury you might enjoy because you are becoming +frightened at every small expense.' + +"'Yes, growing expenses are the worries of my life.' + +"'In fact, you are becoming daily, slowly and surely, a miser.' + +"'It's not a nice word.' + +"'It is the truth. Your clerks are the most ill-paid of any in the +City of London. Only last week you cut down your office boy's tiny +salary from ten shillings a week to seven shillings, although you know +he has to pay two shillings a week for fares to and from your office.' + +"'How can I help his living out of town?' + +"'You know he has to live with his mother and brothers and sisters, +five of them in addition to himself. He only takes home five shillings +every week, but he _gives_ it all up; he is happier than you are.' + +"'Any way, I know how to arrange my own business,' snapped the +Alderman. 'I have prospered so far, and I intend to go on and prosper; +I am not going to change a single thing in my life or my methods of +business. I have prospered up to now, I shall prosper even more.' + +"'And hoard more?' inquired Lal gently. + +"'Yes, you call it hoarding. I call it amassing, and I shall strain +every nerve to amass more and more; it is too late in my life to alter +now.' + +"'We shall see,' said the Lion. 'I was going to ask you to do +something for me, something for some one who is as penniless as you +were once yourself; but if I did ask you a favour now I should only +waste time.' + +"'I have no time for charity,' said the Alderman. 'I heartily begrudge +the subscriptions we have to give from time to time in the City, yet +one is compelled to assist some of those for the sake of business; but +as for any outside charity, pooh! it's all rot, it's been proved long +ago they are all frauds. I shall always decline absolutely to give +anything or do anything for any outside charity. Life is too short.' + +"'We shall see,' said the Lion. 'Good-night.' + +"When Lal's friend from the City had departed, I came out from the +corner where I had been waiting, and Sam and I clambered up into our +old place out of sight. At that time I considered the City Alderman a +very horrid mean old man, and remembering Lal's words that he was a +miser, I made a mental resolution that although this was the first +specimen of the kind I had ever encountered, I never wished to meet +another of the same sort. + +"'Well?' inquired Lal, as I lay and looked up into his face before +settling down for the night. 'What do you think of him?' + +"''Ard-hearted, ain't 'e?' I replied. + +"'Humph! yes, at present,' mused Lal. + +"'Wot will yer give 'im ter take for it?' I asked. + +"Lal smiled. 'Oh, a little prescription of my own.' + +"'That bloke wot's just gone won't do nothink fer me. Can't yer +suggest somethink else, Lal, somebody as I could go to as would give me +some work?' + +"'If you have patience,' answered Lal, 'and look around and get a few +odd jobs, and a little grub for yourself and Sam every day for a little +while, like the small London sparrow that you are--I beg your pardon, I +should have said Skylark--I shall be able very shortly to bring our +friend to a better frame of mind; at the present moment his sense of +proportion is all wrong.' + +"'Wot's sense of proportion, Lal?' I inquired. + +"'If,' replied Lal, 'you persisted in thinking that you were as big as +I am, for instance, your sense of proportion would be bad; if I +imagined that I was as great as St. Martin's Church yonder, my sense of +proportion would be worse.' + +"'Lor' lummy, don't I jist wish I was as big as you.' + +"'Why?' asked Lal. + +"''Cos I'd 'ave a bit more weight to do fings wiv. There ain't no +doubt that strength tells in the end.' + +"Lal only chuckled at what I said, and I again went sound to sleep, as +upon former occasions, in my strange roosting-place. + +"The Alderman was in the habit of crossing Trafalgar Square every +evening upon his way home, although I had never observed him until the +night Lal had pointed him out to me; consequently, a few evenings +afterwards, I first noticed how strangely he was beginning to walk. I +can only describe it as a sort of zigzag from side to side, and +occasionally a sort of stumble, as if he was not quite certain where he +was going. + +"Now I had often noticed the man who used to beat me, and from whom I +had run away, walk something like that, and yet I knew at once it was +not owing to the same reason, and I was rather puzzled to account for +it, as the Alderman had never walked like that before, and had always +been so upright and brisk. + +"As the different evenings went on he grew worse and worse, until one +night I found him slowly groping his way across the Square, with his +hands stretched out in front of him, as if he was frightened of running +into something at every step: that was the first evening I led him +across the Square and over the road the other side; he seemed to +dislike the idea of the steps, and always avoided them, I noticed. + +"I did this for several evenings, and he never gave me anything, but as +he was an old friend of Lal's I did it more for Lal's sake than for the +Miser's, as I now called him; yet he seldom even thanked me for +assisting him, although it was only too evident that he ought not to be +walking by himself. A few days went by with nothing in particular to +remember about them, until the evening arrived that was to be the +turning-point in two people's lives, but at the time I knew nothing of +this, for my small mind was overwhelmed with the first great childish +grief of my life. I hadn't earned even one copper that day, and Sam +and I had not had a crumb to eat. I think we must have both looked +very thin and white. I know that Sam's bones could be seen plainer +than ever through his dear, shaggy old brown coat; but Sam never +complained, he stuck to me closer than ever; nobody ever had a better +friend than he was. + +"As ill luck would have it, Sam and I were crossing the wide street +where the traffic is always heaviest, before turning in at our old +quarters for the night. One of the many omnibuses passed, and somebody +either dropped or threw a small bag of biscuits over the side of it; +some rolled in the road, but a lot were left in the bag. + +"Sam, who was the finest dog for spotting grub I have ever known, went +for it like lightning; he had got it in his mouth, and was scurrying +back to me in triumph with his old ears back, full of the importance of +his find, when a two-horsed mail van struck him down in the road and +went over him. I went in between all the maze of wheels and got him +out; he was whimpering like a hurt child. I didn't wait for anything, +I carried him along towards the old place by Lal; but he only gave me a +lick, and died in my arms before I got there. + +"I couldn't climb up to Lal with Sam in my arms, and I wouldn't leave +him, so I don't know how long it was I crouched down in the shadow and +cried over Sam--bitter tears I wept, I know. I was alone and utterly +wretched, and Sam wouldn't ever speak to me again, would never do any +more of his tricks. When I noticed that even in his death he hadn't +released the bag of biscuits from his mouth, my tears flowed anew, and +I couldn't somehow have touched one of them if I had been twice as +hungry as I was. My grief at the death of Sam was so great that I +didn't seem to want to tell Lal about it, so I lay huddled up by the +corner of the pedestal where the shadow is darkest for what must have +been some considerable time. Then I heard feet groping about and the +voice of Alderman Gold talking. + +"For a long time I didn't care to listen to what he was talking to Lal +about. I heard the man say mockingly, 'Well, I suppose I'm beaten, and +you have been right all the time, my old wise Lion. What cannot be +endured, however, can sometimes be cured, so here's your health.' + +"I heard a low angry growl from Lal, unlike any sound I had ever heard +him make before, then Lal raised his paw and knocked something out of +the Alderman's hand that fell with a tinkling sound of broken glass. + +"I came slowly out of my corner to see what it was all about, and in +time to hear Lal say, 'You fool, oh! you fool, when will your eyes ever +be opened?' + +"'I was going to close them for ever. What's the good of having them +open _when I cannot see_?' + +"The Miser seemed to be angry as well as Lal, for his voice was +trembling with passion. 'Why,' continued the Miser, 'should I remain +_blind_ to please you, in order that all your prophecies may come true? +Why destroy the stuff I had bought just when I had need of it?' + +"The Lion regarded the Miser steadily with those fine great eyes of +his, somehow he seemed to look the Miser right through; then the Lion +sniffed thrice, very contemptuously. + +"'Do you know _why_ you are blind?' he asked the Miser. + +"'No,' answered the man, 'to be going blind is terrible enough without +asking the reason of it; what matter what this or that theory may be, +when the thing is there to speak for itself? I know I cannot see, and +that being the case my life is finished.' + +"'Or perhaps beginning,' ventured the Lion contemplatively. 'You +cannot see, Alderman Gold, because your eyes are filled with the colour +of the thing you have made your God all through your life; it is the +gold dust that has blinded you. The dazzling golden hoard you desired +through life, watched, kept, gloated over. This love that tinged all +your life and thoughts and feelings has poisoned you, has permeated +with its fatal colour everything so that you cannot any longer see the +beauty of the blue sky, the ripple of the moving waters, the tender +bloom of blossoming flowers and trees. Remove the terrible gold-dust +from your eyes that you have worshipped and you will see again, perhaps +better than you have ever really seen before.' + +"'Cease! cease!' broke in the Miser; 'you are only mocking my misery +now, and even if what you say is true, it is too late now to help me.' + +"'Not too late,' returned the Lion, more gently, I thought, than he had +spoken hitherto; 'just in time, I think, just in time.' Then he called +me. 'Skylark,' said the Lion, 'come here.' + +"I came out from my hiding-place, still hugging the body of poor Sam +close to me. The Miser peered at me curiously, though he couldn't see +me very well, or what I was holding, judging from the expression of his +face. + +"'I suppose,' said the Miser, 'this is the ragged little wretch who is +always hanging about here.' + +"'He is very ragged now,' said the Lion patiently, 'but he will be very +great one day.' + +"The Miser laughed his harsh, unpleasant laugh, and peered down to see +what I was carrying so carefully, then he put out his hand and touched +Sam's coat. + +"I pushed his hand away with my own dirty and grubby paw, but in a very +determined way. + +"'Don't yer touch 'im,' I cried. + +"'It's a dog,' said the Miser, 'and it's dead; a dead dog isn't of much +use to any one,' and he laughed again. I felt when he laughed that my +blood was boiling. + +"'Look 'ere, if 'ee's dead, 'ee's gone straight to 'Eaven, which is 'is +proper place, an' where 'e'll 'ave fields an' the country and rabbits +to chase, an' all them fings wot 'e ought ter 'ave 'ad in his life +'ere, an' 'e'll a wait fer me there sure as 'e always waited fer me +'ere, an' don't you say nothink agin Sam, 'cos in 'is life 'e was a +damned sight better than wot you are, so there.' + +"By this time my outraged feelings had so overcome me that I was +shouting at the Miser, who stood stock still saying nothing, for the +suddenness, to say nothing of the impudence, of my attack seemed to +have rendered him speechless. + +"'Steady, Skylark, steady,' said the Lion; 'try and behave a little +more respectfully, and cease to use that distressing street language;' +then Lal added by way of an afterthought, 'Come, climb up here, I want +to talk to you.' + +"I laid Sam down for the first time and complied with his request. + +"'Now,' said Lal, 'what shall I do with Alderman Simon Gold?' + +"''Im?' I asked, pointing to the Miser. + +"'Precisely.' + +"'Well, can't yer jist blow that there gold dust out of 'is eyes wot +seems to be a-choking of 'em as you sed 'e 'ad? You can do most fings, +Lal; 'ave a go, and see if 'e don't get better.' + +"The Lion smiled his very wisest smile, then he asked me, 'Little +Skylark, what have you got round your neck?' + +"'Only rags, Lal, but I can't 'elp them, you knows that.' + +"'Look again, little Skylark.' + +"'Lor lummy,' I said, 'wot is it?' for I was startled by the +unexpectedness of the thing I saw. Something seemed hanging round my +neck that glowed and glistened and sparkled like ever so many jewels. +The sort of gems that had made me wink my eyes whenever I had seen them +in the shop-windows. + +"'Lal, wot is it? 'ow did it get there?' + +"'It is the Order of Imagination,' said Lal solemnly, 'and oh! little +Skylark, there are only a few, such a few in the world who have ever +worn it, even for a few minutes. You will think of this some day, you +will remember my words always. Take it off your neck, Skylark, and put +it over the neck of Alderman Simon Gold for an instant, for he is only +just worthy to wear it. Look, there are two tears in his eyes, tears +of pity, the first he has ever shed in his life, and tears of pity, +little Skylark, are the keys that open the Golden Gates of Heaven.' + +"I did as Lal bid me, and I shall never forget. Simon Gold's face +became radiant. + +"'I can see,' he gasped, 'can see! Oh, Lal, what a brute I have been! +What have I been thinking about? Why am I so different? Why do I feel +that I want to give something to all the world? Why, Lal, I want to +give, I insist upon giving. Lal, why am I a different man, with +different feelings, with a _heart_?' + +"Once again Lal smiled that wise smile of his. + +"'The Order of Imagination does many things,' said Lal. 'If you want +to give, why not give with all your heart now and as long as you live? +Everybody, however, has to make a start. Well, start by giving the +Skylark a home, a good education, help him towards being the great man +that I say he will one day become. You will have found a faithful, +loving, lifelong friend, something as faithful and devoted as the +friend whose life he himself mourns to-night.' + +"'Poor old dog,' said Alderman Gold, 'I can't help him now, I wish I +could, but I'll help the other, by Jove, I will; of course I'll see he +has a good home, I'll see he's educated.' + +"'I think he will repay you for all the money you will spend upon his +education,' said the Lion, significantly. + +"'And I mean to spend money,' said the Alderman. 'I've been a beastly +miser, that's what I've been, but I shall never have that taunt flung +at me again.' + +"'Good,' nodded the Lion. 'Help him bury his pet in the big garden of +your London house, and bury at the same time all the past you want to +forget.' + +"'I will,' said the Alderman. 'Here, come along and get fed. Here, +what's your name?' + +"'Skylark,' prompted the Lion. + +"'Skylark? A very good name,' said the Alderman; 'it suggests Spring, +and--and----' + +"'Going steadily upward,' prompted the Lion. + +"'By Jove, Lal, you're wonderful,' exclaimed the Alderman. 'How can I +thank you for giving me my sight again, for making a different man of +me? and, good gracious, now I come to think of it clearly and +reasonably, every single thing you have told me has always been true.' + +"'If you believe that,' said the Lion, 'listen attentively to the last +thing I tell you, even more upon account of it being the last time I +shall actually _speak_ to either of you.' + +"'Say on, Lal, we cannot do without your help; I know I can't, and I +thought I could do most things.' + +"'You may consider it most inconsequent of me to mention such a +childishly fabled person to you as Dick Whittington, and yet strangely +enough that hero of a nursery legend will have a great deal in common +with both of you in your future lives.' + +"'Shall I be Lord Mayor of London three times?' laughed the Alderman, +who had appeared suddenly to have discovered how to laugh, and it +sounded strange to hear him. + +"'I won't say _three_ times,' said the Lion, 'but you will be one of +the greatest Lord Mayors of London in about fourteen years from now; +you will be knighted, and you will become one of the most beloved and +benevolent men in the whole City of London.' + +"'That sounds fine,' said the Alderman; 'how about Master Skylark?' + +"'Too early to prophesy,' said the Lion, 'with certainty, but I may say +this; I think when he has also found another Dick Whittington, and one +ever so different from yourself, he will become great almost by +accident, but he has to find this Dick Whittington first. He will +never part with Dick Whittington when he has found him, but as a result +of sitting in front of him day by day in great perplexity, he will +suddenly do the first thing that will make his name. You will only +_resemble_ Dick Whittington in your career, the Skylark will _find_ +Dick Whittington.' + +"'By Jove,' said the Alderman, 'that is a pretty difficult riddle, Lal, +and as I shall never solve it we can only wait and see.' + +"The Lion smiled. + +"'I believe you thoroughly love a riddle, Lal, you old Sphinx. Well, +anything else? Tell me, how much more of the future do you see?' + +"'Oh, a lot of things,' answered Lal, 'a very great many of them you +would not understand now, even if I explained them to you, which I +shall not think of doing. For instance, I see a very happy, cheerful +and prosperous elderly gentleman--ahem!--whose acquaintance you will +one day make, and whose amiable personality you in common with others +will thoroughly appreciate. I see a future charming Lady Mayoress +whose--ahem!--friendship you will be most glad of. I see two old +friends falling out about a certain matter of business in all +likelihood, and the _younger_ of the two will be absolutely in the +right. I see an estrangement that doesn't last more than a few years, +then a joyful reconciliation, perhaps all the more joyful on account of +the former separation. Then,' said the Lion, 'I see +something--ahem!--a series of most painful incidents, most unbecoming +to myself as well as yourself.' + +"'Good gracious,' said the Alderman, 'I wonder whatever that can be?' + +"'Like most other things about which there is a great fuss and +commotion, it will rise from a simple cause. There will be a great +meeting held in a public building, and the result of that meeting will +be in your favour.' + +"'In my favour,' echoed the astonished Alderman. + +"'Distinctly in your favour, and it will make the whole of England +laugh.' + +"'At me?' inquired the Alderman, with an apprehensive note in his voice +of quite pardonable nervousness. + +"'No,' said the Lion, 'the laugh will be rather upon your side, I +think.' + +"'Indeed,' said the Alderman; 'well, that sounds a bit better.' + +"'Moreover,' continued the Lion, 'for my own part I regret to say I +shall be taken in a triumphant procession through the streets of +London, guarded upon all sides by the police, and the whole proceedings +throughout will be sufficiently ridiculous to cause me the acutest +discomfort, all of which will be most undeserved and brought upon me by +the extravagant adulation of my would-be admirers. However, I shall +have to comfort myself in that time to come by considering that I am +not the only victim who has been sacrificed from the same cause.' + +"'Apart from the deep mystery attached to your strange prophecies,' +observed the Alderman, 'which I do not pretend at present to +understand, but which nevertheless I know will all come true, I am +truly concerned about one thing. Are you really serious, Lal, in your +intention of never speaking to me again? I feel the loss will be +irreparable, for you have always been my wisest councillor from my +boyhood upwards, and I only wish I had profited by your wisdom before +and listened more attentively to your counsels in the past, whatever +alterations I make in my life for the future.' + +"'I shall never actually speak with either of you again,' replied Lal, +'but you will be able to live all your youthful days over again in +him;' here Lal pointed to me. 'You can help him to avoid all the +mistakes you have made yourself; yet do not misunderstand me, I shall +give both of you a sign, and an unmistakable sign, to show how pleased +I am if you fulfil all the expectations I shall have cherished about +you.' + +"'What sort of sign?' asked the Alderman. + +"'I shall not tell you now, and you will both have to do an awful lot +before I show you the sign that I am satisfied with you eventually.' + +"Now let me see,' mused the Alderman, 'isn't there any little thing we +could do for you to show that we hadn't forgotten you?' + +"'You know what I expect of you,' retorted the Lion, 'keep your +promises.' + +"'Apart from that,' suggested the Alderman, 'some sort of memento, some +sort of recognition.' + +"'Oh, no,' hastily interposed Lal, 'no recognition, please, it is the +one thing I dread most in the world owing to the curious position I +occupy in public life. However, in the years to come, if you can +reasonably and truthfully look back upon all you have accomplished with +a certain amount of justifiable pride and satisfaction, you can come +here quietly one night and place a big wreath of water-lilies; lay them +as an offering between my paws; on no account hang them round my neck +like the other terrible people do upon Trafalgar Day, it only makes me +look ridiculous.' + +"'Why water-lilies?' asked the Alderman. + +"'My favourite flower,' sighed the Lion, 'and, moreover, the one I +never see. You see, the fountains splash about so incessantly that +there is no peaceful place where they can grow, and you wouldn't +believe,' added the Lion earnestly, 'how I sometimes long for those +irritating fountains to stop, and for beautiful water-lilies to grow +there instead.' + +"'It shall all be done as you say, and I will ponder over every single +thing you have mentioned,' promised the Alderman. + +"'Good-bye till then,' said the Lion in his most sepulchral voice, and +then the Lion smiled at me and said, 'Good-bye, little Skylark.' + +"For my own part I had stood by quite silent without saying a word, but +I somehow realized that if I wasn't going to see and speak to my old +friend Lal any more, there were several things I wanted to say, and a +good many more things I wanted to ask. + +"'Ere, 'old on 'arf a mo', cocky,' I shouted. + +"'Oh, _don't_ call me cocky,' entreated Lal, 'and what _do_ you mean by +that expression "hold on"? Is not my whole life a perpetual exhibition +of "_holding on_"?' + +"'You've been a first-class, tip-top pal to me, Lal, an' I wants ter +know first where that there ring wot shined like blazes, and wot 'ung +round my neck and then round 'is, 'as a-gone to? Ain't I to 'ave it no +more?' + +"'You will have the memory of it,' replied Lal; 'you have possessed it +once, and I think you will have quite enough imagination left all +through your life without it; in fact, in the future, at times you will +have rather too much imagination for the comfort of your other +fellow-creatures.' + +"''Ave I got to go with 'im?' I asked; ''ave I got to say good-bye to +you?' + +"'Certainly,' replied Lal in his most stately way; 'you are going to +have a very happy life; you are a fairly respectable kid now, but you +will become more and more respectable until one will hardly recognise +you at all. You are going to have a ready-made Father and Mother which +I have provided you with.' + +"'Ain't 'eard nothink about no Muvver yet,' I said; 'where's the Muvver +come in?' + +"'Ah! you wait and see,' whispered the Lion mysteriously. + +"'Are you a-kiddin' me, Lal? if so, chuck it!' + +"'Oh! dreadful, dreadful expressions!' lamented Lal. 'Undoubtedly the +next time I see you I believe your grammar will have improved, and your +vocabulary have become more select. I hope so!' + +"It was at this point that something about Lal's eyes and attitude gave +me the idea he was going to shut up for good, so to speak, and my +feelings so overcame me, that without thinking I flung my arms round +Lal's neck, that is to say, as far as they would go, and hugged him. + +"Lal opened his eyes again, and somehow I am sure that he was grinning, +such a pleasant-looking, happy grin, but he spoke in his severest +manner to me-- + +"You must really restrain these exhibitions of feeling in public; if a +policeman chanced to observe you I think there would be the greatest +difficulty in offering any adequate explanation. + +"'No, Lal,' I answered; 'all I ses to the coppers when they ses anyfink +to me is "Rats"--always "Rats," and when I ses "Rats" they can fink +what they jolly well likes.' + +"Lal sighed, and said, 'How like Dick Whittington!' and those were the +very last words I ever heard him speak, although I little dreamed how I +was to meet him again." + + * * * * * + +At this juncture Cookie appeared carrying a most wonderful silvern +tea-tray, whereon a bright gilded urn sizzled happily, and a most +inviting-looking pyramid of toasted muffins nestled in apparently +friendly rivalry with the choicest cakes of Cookie's own baking; even a +heaped-up crystal dish of whole strawberry jam could not conceal its +blushes as the firelight played upon it. + +"Fairy tales," said Cookie, "I know; I've listened to them many a time +myself." + +"No, Cookie, you are wrong," ventured Ridgwell in tones of rebuke; "it +is not a fairy tale, every word of it is true." + +"That's what Cinderella always declared, Master Ridgwell," was Cookie's +imperturbable reply, as she prepared to depart. + +The Writer chuckled quietly. + +"Of course it is true, isn't it?" asked Ridgwell and Christine in +unison. + +"Of course," said the Writer, "every word of it, and anyway if it isn't +it ought to be, like all romances." + +"But you haven't finished," objected Ridgwell, whilst he munched a +muffin, and Christine poured out the tea. + +"No," agreed the Writer, "I haven't finished yet, but I warned you that +it would be a very long story, didn't I?" + +"Oh, but we are so anxious to know what happened to the Skylark and the +Miser, I mean the Alderman, for of course he wasn't a miser any more, +was he?" + +"Well, you see," explained the Writer, as he took his tea contentedly, +which he really felt he stood in need of, apart from any consideration +of deserving it, "nobody is able to read a long book all at once, and I +propose to tell both of you the remainder of this extraordinary story +in a few days' time." + +"Anyway, that's ripping," vouchsafed Ridgwell. + +"I think myself," added the Writer mysteriously, "that the great events +Lal spoke of so long ago are about to happen." + +"Do tell us when?" implored Ridgwell. + +"I fancy very soon now; of course, you children don't read the papers, +do you?" + +Ridgwell and Christine shook their heads. + +"Well, in to-day's paper there was one paragraph that threw out a very +decided hint that the present Lord Mayor of London was going to be +knighted by the King, not only on account of his public worth, but +because the wonderful Home for London Children he has built is almost +completed." + +"Of course, the new Lord Mayor is Alderman Gold?" inquired Christine. + +"He was Alderman Gold," said the Writer, "but I think myself before +many days have passed it will be Sir Simon and Lady Gold." + +"Who is Lady Gold? You never told us a word about Lady Gold," objected +Ridgwell. + +"Ah," said the Writer, "that will all come in the second part of my +story. Any way, no name was ever more appropriate than hers. She is +absolutely gold all through, head and heart and everything. Lady Gold +is, I consider, an absolutely suitable name for her, although two +people I know always call her Mum; and, do you know, I think she will +prefer that title, even when she gets the other." + +"Who are the two people who call her Mum?" + +"That's telling in advance," observed the Writer, as he helped himself +to a fourth muffin; "and of course to tell in advance always spoils a +story. But I intend that both of you children shall hear and see the +story to an end. In three days' time from now I am coming to fetch you +both, and you will be able to see the Lord Mayor drive past in state, +for I am giving a tea to celebrate that great occasion and also another +great occasion at one and the same time. I will finish the story then, +and you will both meet the Lord Mayor of London." + +"Will he have his robes on?" inquired Christine expectantly. + +"I don't know that he will wear them, but perhaps I could induce him to +bring them with him to show us." + +"That's fine," said Ridgwell. "Will you really come to fetch us?" + +"Yes, in three days' time." + +"Where do you live?" asked Ridgwell, unexpectedly. + +The Writer pretended to be most mysterious all at once. + +"Where do you suppose I live?" he asked Ridgwell; "I do not think you +will ever guess." + +"Whitechapel?" hazarded Ridgwell. + +The Writer pretended to look almost hurt. + +"Peckham?" suggested Christine. + +"Very bad guesses," laughed the Writer. "You are both wrong. I have a +set of chambers facing Trafalgar Square, where every morning of my life +I can look out of the front windows and see my dear old friend Lal." + +Both the children gave a shout at this astounding piece of information. + +"And we shall see the Lord Mayor go past in state from the windows?" + +"Yes," said the Writer; "but if what I believe is coming to pass, +provided that the right time has come, and I think myself it has, we +shall all see the sign that Lal promised us he would give, so long ago." + +"The sign," echoed Ridgwell breathlessly; "I say, that's something +like!" + +"We shall see what we shall see, and as that is Chapter One of my story +I am going to take my departure." + +After the Writer had left, Ridgwell turned to Christine. + +"It's the jolliest afternoon we've had since Father and Mother left, +isn't it, Chris?" + +Christine nodded; she was considering many things. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +TWO DICK WHITTINGTONS + +The streets of London were alive with an unwonted gaiety, and crowds of +people waited patiently, and with an air of expectancy, to see the Lord +Mayor of London pass in state on his way from the Mansion House to the +Home for Children which he had built--about to be opened that day by +his Majesty the King. + +Ridgwell and Christine sat in the broad, chintz-covered window-seat of +the Writer's chambers overlooking Trafalgar Square, and viewed the +great crowds of people beneath them with astonishment and interest. + +"When the Lord Mayor passes my window," said the Writer, "he has +promised to look out as far as his dignity will permit and nod to me. +That he also intends to nod to our old friend Lal is a foregone +conclusion, for without that recognition upon his part I am sure the +day's ceremony would be incomplete." + +"Will it be like a circus?" inquired Ridgwell. + +"Yes, rather like a circus," admitted the Writer. "That is to say, a +very great deal of gilt and highly coloured horses, soldiers, and +inevitably one brass band playing, probably more than one." + +"We can see Lal perfectly from here," said Christine. + +"What is that large wreath for, placed between Lal's paws?" asked +Ridgwell. + +"That," declared the Writer, "was placed there early this morning by +the Lord Mayor himself. He ordered it from Covent Garden, and he had +great difficulty in procuring it even there. The wreath is entirely +composed of water-lilies, Lal's favourite flower, and is put there in +honour of the occasion. Of course this is undoubtedly one of the great +days in the Lord Mayor's life, and he looks upon it as one of the +crowning features in his whole career." + +A sudden increased agitation among the crowd, a rumble as of cheering +in the distance, and the first sound of trumpets and drums announced +that the procession was drawing near. + +The first sign of the vanguard were some mounted policemen who rode +ahead to clear the way. There appeared to be little need for this +precaution, as the crowds were standing in most orderly rows along the +pavements. + +"I'm sure Lal doesn't like those policemen," said Ridgwell decisively. + +"No," agreed the Writer, "he sees such a lot of them where he is and, +of course, he detests crowds of any sort, they jostle and bump his +pedestal so much that it makes him feel uncomfortable. Here come the +mounted soldiers; they look very smart, don't they? And here is the +band, blowing their trumpets for all they are worth; some of them +almost look as if they would burst with the effort." + +"Is that first carriage the Lord Mayor's?" inquired Christine. + +"No, the first carriages are all the other Aldermen." + +"Six carriages full," said Christine. "And look at those men in red +and gold standing up behind the last coaches." + +"Yes," said Ridgwell, "strap-hangers. I wonder how they keep their +balance and keep all that powder on their heads." + +"I fancy," said the Writer, "they have to practise it; and as for the +powder, I expect it is a secret preparation known only to themselves." + +A burst of renewed cheering greeted the appearance of six cream horses, +richly caparisoned with red and gold trappings, urged on by outriders. + +"Here is the Lord Mayor," exclaimed the Writer excitedly, as he +produced a large red silk handkerchief and waved it wildly out of the +window. + +There could be no doubt whatever that a fat old gentleman with red +cheeks and a white moustache, whose portly form was covered with a +scarlet and fur gown, around which hung a lot of glittering golden +chains, and who had one side of the state coach all to himself, saw the +Writer's greeting and returned it. The children saw him look up at the +window and deliberately bow, then he turned his head in the direction +of Lal, the Pleasant-Faced Lion, and bowed and smiled. + +"Quite gorgeous," observed Ridgwell when the procession had passed, +"but I always thought from what you told us that Alderman Gold was tall +and thin." + +"Ah," said the Writer, "that was at the beginning of the story, and he +was a Miser then, and most misers are thin; but as he grew more and +more cheerful, more and more happy, he grew a bit fatter and a bit +fatter still, and then he got colour in his cheeks, until he became the +jolly, agreeable, fat, old, good-natured gentleman you have seen just +now in the distance. However, you will be able to see him at closer +quarters and make his jolly acquaintance for yourselves presently, for +he will call here and see me after all the ceremony is over." + +"Will he be in time for tea?" inquired Christine. + +"No, much too late for tea, Christine, but there will be a welcome for +him, which I know he is looking forward to, and something I think he +will like better than the big City banquet he has presided at, and it +will be waiting for him here--a good cigar and a drink," and the Writer +indicated a very handsome piece of old oak furniture at the end of the +long room, which contained mysterious little cupboards which opened in +odd angles and unexpected curves. + +"I do hope he will turn up in his robes," ventured Ridgwell. "I rather +want to see what they are like." + +"We must wait and see about that, and as it must be some considerable +time before tea, and a longer time still before His Worshipful the +Mayor can possibly be here, I propose to finish the rest of the story I +told you, right up to the present time. Of course, Lal may give the +sign he promised to-night, or he may not; if he does you will both be +here to see it." + +Thereupon Ridgwell and Christine curled themselves up upon the broad +window seat, and prepared to listen. + +The Writer closed the window, and they all noticed that the crowds +beneath were rapidly dispersing; occasionally some one would stop for a +second and look at the big wreath of water-lilies between the Lion's +paws, but the majority of people passing appeared not to have noticed +it at all. + +"Where did I get to in the story?" asked the Writer. + +"Lal had said his last word to you," volunteered Ridgwell; "and what I +particularly want to know is this: how did that second mysterious +promise about Dick Whittington come true eventually, and did you ever +meet Dick Whittington as Lal declared that you would, and did he really +bring you fame and fortune when you met him?" + +The Writer smiled. "Yes, indeed I met him, but not in any way or +fashion that I should ever have expected. Of course both of you +children know Lal well enough by this time to realise that he loves a +little joke of his own at our expense, and many of his mysterious +promises, although they come true in a way, turn out to be utterly and +completely different from what he would seem to suggest to us by his +words; in fact, Lal is like a great happy conjuror or wizard who dearly +loves to mystify us with a trick. I am convinced he enjoys our +amazement at any of his pet tricks, as much as he enjoys the laugh he +has at our expense." + +"That's right," said Ridgwell; "he tricked Chris and me finely once. I +haven't forgiven him so very long for it, and it made me feel very +uncomfortable for a good while." + +"Everybody forgives Lal in the end," laughed the Writer; "one simply +cannot help oneself, but really his pranks are too absurd, and yet when +I found out how I had been tricked, I couldn't be cross with him, for I +actually loved his funny old ways more than before, if such a thing +were possible. To continue my story where I left off, Alderman Gold +seemed in some miraculous way to have had much more than his sight +restored to him that night. The first thing he did was to lift the +body of poor Sam very gently, and as we left the Square he called a +cab, and whilst we drove to his big mansion in Lancaster Gate, he asked +me to tell him everything I could remember about my short life up to +that time. Of course, I did so in my own peculiar fashion; the +verbiage of the street and the gutter must have been freely sprinkled +about during that narrative. Sometimes he looked thoughtful, and at +other times he lay back in the cab and laughed out loud. When we +arrived at his big house, which seemed to me at that time to be a +mighty great mansion, he first made his way into a very big garden at +the back where there were a lot of trees, and opening a gardening shed, +he got a spade and dug a grave for Sam deep down under the trees, and +it is there with his name, which was afterwards carved on a piece of +wood, until this day. + +"Whilst my childish tears were still flowing as the result of this sad +ceremony, a lady came down the garden path in the moonlight, and as she +joined us I noticed that although she appeared a little startled, she +had a most beautiful face. + +"'I didn't know it was you, sir, I couldn't think who could be digging +in the garden at this time of night, and I grew frightened.' + +"'Mrs. Durham,' said the Alderman earnestly, 'I was digging a grave for +the dead pet of this small piece of humanity here, who will henceforth +be one of your special charges.' + +"Mrs. Durham glanced at the Alderman rather in amazement, I thought, as +if he had suddenly taken leave of his senses, but she looked at me as +she has ever done in a most kindly way. + +"'Skylark,' said the Alderman, 'this is Mrs. Durham, my housekeeper.' +Perhaps the Alderman had seen the expression upon Mrs. Durham's face, +and had interpreted it correctly, for he added, 'Mrs. Durham, I am +somewhat ashamed to say that in the grave of a faithful and most +devoted creature I have here buried metaphorically, for good and all, +as many of the reprehensible habits of my old life as I can cast at +once, therefore, if I seem to you to be very different in the future, +you may know there is a good reason for my being so. Could you +conveniently take this infant and get him something substantial to eat +and drink, and see he is put to bed?' + +"Mrs. Durham said, 'Very well, sir,' and taking my hand led me into the +house; but she still looked amazed, as if she had seen a ghost, I +thought. + +"A good many other people, I fancy, must have looked amazed the next +day, when in the Alderman's big City offices all the clerks found that +their salaries were to be raised. I rather imagine the office boy was +the most astonished of all, for upon discovering that his master had +raised his weekly remuneration to a pound a week, he was heard to +exclaim, 'Well, that knocks all, that is if the Governor hasn't got +softening of the brain!' + +"The Alderman didn't stop there by a long way, for I know that all the +servants in his house commenced to have a different time of it, and his +thoughtfulness, as far as I was concerned, was more than wonderful. + +"I remember a few days after my arrival he called a council of war with +Mrs. Durham, at which I was present, and I may say in passing, that +Mrs. Durham and I were by this time fast friends. + +"'There is one thing that must be done at once, Mrs. Durham,' I +remember him saying during that important interview; 'the youngster +must go at once to school. Now the difficulty is this: I don't want +him to start at a disadvantage from the very beginning, and speaking as +he does now, no ordinary school would take him.' + +"'I'm afraid not, sir,' debated Mrs. Durham. + +"'Very well, then,' said the Alderman, 'at present there is only one +thing to do; we must have somebody here to teach him English, anyway to +speak properly and to write and spell before he goes to a school. It +must be done, but I think myself it is going to take time,' concluded +the Alderman. Then he put on his hat and started for the City. + +"I am not going to dwell upon this youthful period of my life, for +everybody's school-days very much resemble every other person's, but I +do know that the Alderman's belief that my education would take time +proved to be only too true. I shall never forget how long and +painfully I worked and toiled to speak my verbs in their proper tenses, +to stop dropping my aitches, how I longed to drop the Cockney slang, +how my life became possessed with a sort of terror that I should come +out with some expression that would cause concern to either my +benefactor or to Mrs. Durham. + +"Well, I strove, and at last I succeeded so well that I was sent to a +fine school where I received a first-class education, and the only +effect of the great struggles I went through at this time was a sort of +nervousness which I shall have all through my life, and which results, +no doubt, from intense anxiety all those years not to make mistakes. + +"And so I skip along until one night after the school had broken up at +the end of a winter term. I remember it all so well. I had taken the +best prizes in the fifth form, I was barely fifteen, and I rushed home, +tore into the library, and emptied all those beautifully bound books +into my benefactor's lap. He had been smoking his cigar, and was +dozing in front of the fire. + +"'What do you think of that, Dad?' I yelled. I always called him Dad +as a sort of distinction, for although he wasn't my father really, he +had been a ripping father to me. + +"'Bless my heart, my boy,' he said, 'have you taken all these prizes? +Why, I'm proud of you.' + +"'And I proud of you,' I said; then I laughed at him. 'You've tried to +keep a secret from me, Dad,' I cried, 'and you haven't succeeded a bit. +Where's Mum?' + +"'Now how on earth did you know that, miles away at school, too?' +laughed the Alderman. + +"'Read it in the papers days ago. Where is she, Dad? I want to give +her a good hug.' + +"'I'm here, dear boy,' said a voice just over my shoulder, a voice I +knew so well, that had helped me more in my childish hours than I could +ever count, a voice that was perhaps the one that had taught me to +speak correctly in those trying early days. She wasn't Mrs. Durham any +longer, she was Mrs. Gold, but she hadn't altered one bit, and she was +Mum then, as she has always been since. + +"It wouldn't be honest to skip the next part of the story, and yet I +always want to omit this part somehow, because it is entirely composed +of events brought about by my own selfishness, obstinacy and +pig-headedness, although as a young man I never realised the great +grief and the real trouble I was causing to people who had always loved +me and done everything for me. + +"It started after the time I had left the University of Oxford. I had +just commenced to feel my wings, so to speak. Everything there had +helped to increase and nourish my love of literature, the set I mixed +with had placed me on a sort of pedestal which I in no way deserved, +everybody seemed to expect a lot from me, every one seemed to believe I +would do great and wonderful things, and what was more disastrous +still, I believed I should do wonderful things myself. Imbued with +these beliefs, I went home after my last year at Oxford, determined to +be a great writer, mark you, not an ordinary writer, since I was +positively assured of the fact that I had only to make an appearance in +print to be instantly proclaimed one of the immortals. Whilst I was in +this ridiculous frame of mind, Dad unfolded to me the cherished scheme +of his life. It was that I should go into his office and learn the +business, and one day become the head of the firm. + +"I think my blank face must have told them the utter hopelessness of +the scheme, even before I had explained to them all my hopes and +beliefs as to what I intended to be. One of the things I regret most +in my life was the grief I saw only too plainly upon the old Dad's +face. He had been brought up a business man all his life, he didn't +believe in Literature as a living. He never argued, he didn't storm, +hardly said anything, except begging me in an appealing sort of way to +reconsider my decision. But I saw at once that I had dealt a +death-blow to all his hopes, and, like the selfish young brute I was, I +didn't care so long as I got my own way. + +"I must have been utterly mad at the time, or intoxicated with my own +belief in myself, for I even went further, and said I was going away +without any further help of any sort, and that I would make a name, and +not come back until I had done so. I refused all assistance; I only +wanted their good-will and belief in me, and this I knew neither of +them could honestly give me. The Dad implored me to let him assist me; +they both begged me to live at home until I could rely upon myself, +feel my own feet, or lastly, the most fatal sentence they could have +uttered in my state of pride, to remain at home until I realised the +_failure_ I was about to make and alter my mind. + +"What a hopeless and silly thing is pride. It must be a dangerous +thing, too, if it can suddenly choke years of love and devotion. + +"Pride was uppermost then when I left the house where we had all been +so happy, and went out into the world, and I told them both I would +only return when I had made myself famous, and not before. I believe +they both broke down when I left, but I was a selfish young brute, and +I never saw their view of things, nor how bitterly it must have hurt +them. Retribution was not long in coming; I found as time went on that +there were dozens of men, and women too, who could write better than I +could. I found a living was not easy to get. I went even further +still, and found at last that it was impossible to get any living at +all. Education--there were hundreds of men, highly educated men, too, +without any means of earning a living. Inspiration--and I had prated +about inspiration often enough; inspiration only became inspiration +when it was recognised as such. Luck, chance--I found there were no +such things, save as words. Money--I never made any now, and gradually +I went down and down, grew shabby, was passed hurriedly by friends of +my own choosing; then followed shabby rooms and little food, only to +give place in turn to an attic and no food at all. Pride must have +been still at work with a vengeance, for whatever I suffered there was +not a single day or night that I could not have rushed home and been +welcomed like the Prodigal of old, and been rejoiced over. But the +very idea of this gave me a chill feeling of horror. How could I go +home with all my boasts unfulfilled? Was I to creep home a +self-confessed failure, with the alternative of acknowledging it and +mending my ways and becoming the head of a business firm with a heart +embittered for life? I felt I would never do this. I would prefer to +starve upon the Embankment, and when I made that resolution I knew only +too well what I was in for. I had done the same thing in my earlier +life, only it needed a far greater courage to face that life now than +it required then. Things were at their very worst when one day, as I +was wending my way through the poverty-stricken locality in which I +lived, I was hailed by my name. The man was shabbily dressed, but +about my own age as far as I could gather, yet I never remembered +having met him before. + +"'You don't remember me?' he asked. + +"'No,' I replied. + +"'Humph!' he rejoined, 'and yet at school you had quite a slap-up fight +upon my behalf, which ought to have been a lesson to snobs in general, +simply because I insisted upon talking to my own father when he was +driving one of his own furniture vans.' + +"'Murkel Minor,' I murmured. 'Jove, yes, I remember.' + +"'Well, I'm a dealer now, got a place of my own, first-class antiques, +you know, doing rather well, too.' + +"I nodded. + +"'But, I say, how about yourself? you don't look up to much. What are +you doing? You know all the swell chaps at school, who always looked +down on me, used to think you would do no end of things.' + +"Somehow or other a sudden feeling of utter frankness came over me. 'I +am not doing anything,' I said. 'I've never done anything, and I don't +believe now I ever shall do anything.' + +"'What are you supposed to do?' asked Murkel, and he asked it in rather +a nice way. + +"'Writing,' I said. + +"'Books?' + +"'Yes, and stories, and any blessed thing that comes along; that is to +say, when it _does_ come along.' + +"Murkel mused for awhile as we walked along, and to this day I do not +know whether he considered he was paying off an old debt, or whether he +really required my services. Anyway he told me he wanted a descriptive +catalogue written of some of his best antiques, their history +guaranteed and authenticated, and that he would pay me a fair sum for +writing it. + +"I left my one-time schoolfellow Murkel Minor, with the certainty of +work for which I should be paid, and with something like a ray of hope, +and oddly enough I did not lament over the strange fortune which had +prevented any one from accepting any of my books or poems, but had +given me instead the writing of a catalogue of bric-a-brac. There was +one thing I often resented in my own mind, and frequently sneered at +most bitterly whenever I remembered it; that was the fact that Lal had +prophesied that I should become great, and also that I should meet Dick +Whittington. Both these imaginary things I regarded now as being +utterly unreliable, and looked upon as two ghostly myths of the past. +I might have known better. The nervousness from which I suffered, and +which I have already alluded to, was becoming so marked that it greatly +stood in my way, particularly whenever I had any writing to do. I +would fidget, bite my fingers, nibble the pen, break the nibs, a +thousand things sooner than deliberately sit down to write. +Concentration seemed at times to me wholly impossible. One day, after +sacrificing many nibs, and breaking my only ink-bottle, I settled down +sufficiently to finish Murkel's catalogue, and received the sum of five +pounds for the work. It seemed untold riches to me at the time. As I +went homeward through the maze of dirty streets towards where my garret +was situated, I had to pass through one where the outside pavement +stalls were always heaped up upon either side of the way with every +imaginable thing from greengrocery and scrap-iron to old prints and +china-ware. + +"Upon one of these stalls an inkstand immediately attracted my +attention, partly from the fact that I had broken my own ink-bottle, +and had resolved to buy another, but more particularly because this +inkstand appeared to me to be one of the most uncommon receptacles for +ink I had ever seen. It was made in what I judged must be some old +form of china-ware I never remembered to have seen before, and beneath +the dirt which was thickly coated over it I could see that both the +modelling and colouring of it were very beautiful. It represented a +figure lying upon the ground beside a big tree-stump, which, after the +mud should be scraped out of it, was evidently intended to contain ink, +and a milestone, when a similar operation had taken place, would +doubtless contain one pen; a coloured three-cornered hat flung beside +the figure upon the ground was obviously designed to hold a taper. + +"The inkstand attracted me strangely, and I was so fascinated with it +that I could not take my eyes off it. The woman to whom the stall +belonged, doubtless spotting a likely customer, asked me how much I +would give her for it. I deliberated for some time, as I had not the +remotest idea what its value might be in her eyes, so I offered her +eighteenpence as a sort of compromise between the inkstand and other +articles ticketed upon her stall. + +"'Give us two bob, and it's yours,' suggested the stall woman. +However, I was firm, and was upon the point of going away when she +called me back, and thrust it into my hand, carefully holding on to one +of the square corners of it until she saw the money safely deposited. + +"It took me some time to clean it properly when I got it home, but I +must say it fully rewarded all the efforts I made to wash it, and +somehow the more I looked at it the more beautiful I thought it was. + +"There was something about that contemplative figure lying upon the +grass that gave me confidence and reassurance, and I found myself +regarding it as an old friend and talking to it, and when the big +tree-stump was filled with ink I used to sit and write from it for +hours. There always seemed to be encouragement and inquiry in the +laughing face that looked from the figure on the inkstand, as if it +were saying, 'Well, what are you going to write now, and when are you +going to finish it?' I began to imagine that it gave me inspiration +whenever I wrote; whether that was so or not, it certainly answered +much better than its predecessor, the dull old ink-bottle that had been +broken. + +"So day by day I worked hard, and somehow became convinced that the +wonderful little inkstand helped and inspired me in some curious manner +which I could in no way account for, and after a few months I finished +my book, eking out a scanty existence with other odd literary jobs. It +was about this time that Murkel called on me. + +"He stumbled up the winding stairs to my garret one day, smoking a +quite objectionable pipe, and declared that I was the only old +schoolfellow he had ever cared to call upon, as all the rest were +snobs, and wound up by stating that we probably got along so well +together as he came from the people, and he was certain that I came +from the people also, and only those people who came from the people +themselves ever got there eventually. + +"After I had listened patiently to this harangue he came to the point +by declaring he was a great friend of a publisher who sometimes bought +the Murkel curios, furniture, china, pictures, etc., and if I liked he +would get him to read my new book. + +"I was only too thankful to accept this offer, and was saying so when a +curious thing happened. Murkel, whose eyes had been roaming around my +one attic room with the curious instinct of the dealer, and finding +nothing that in any way interested him, suddenly crossed over to my +rickety writing-table, and pouncing upon my inkstand emitted a low and +prolonged whistle which might have been emblematical of either +astonishment or delight. + +"'Don't drop that inkstand,' I said. 'I'm very fond of that.' + +"'Drop it!' almost shouted Murkel, 'drop it! Great Scott, do you know +_what_ it is?' + +"'Yes,' I said, 'of course, it's an ink-stand.' + +"Murkel looked at me almost pityingly. 'Oh, my great aunt,' he said, +'the ways of writers are beyond understanding. Here's one who lives in +a garret, probably hasn't enough to eat, and upon a rickety +three-legged writing-table, which would be a disgrace to a fifth-rate +coffee-house, he has a jewel worth a hundred guineas and more.' + +"'Bosh! you're joking,' I retorted. + +"Murkel gave a queer smile. 'Am I?' he said. 'Well, I am prepared to +go back to my place and write you a cheque for a hundred guineas for +this, now on the spot.' + +"I suppose I still continued to stare at him stupidly, and most likely +the signs of my utter disbelief were plainly to be seen in my +countenance, for Murkel continued hurriedly-- + +"'It's my business, I never make a mistake. This inkstand is Old Bow +china, date--early Queen Anne. My friend, there are not five of these +left in the world to-day, there are not four, and this is probably the +most perfect one in existence; and what makes it so valuable, apart +from its glaze, is that it was done by a fine artist, and it is a +famous legendary figure perfectly executed. In fact, it is none other +than the famous Dick Whittington.' + +"'What!' It was my turn to shout this time. 'Dick Whittington!' I +cried. + +"'Of course,' said Murkel; 'Dick Whittington, only done in the costume +of Queen Anne's day instead of his own.' + +"'Then it is all true,' I shouted. 'By Jove, what a fool I've been; I +see it all now, every bit of it. Oh, Lal! Lal! how impossible you are +to understand.' Of course, this was all so much Greek to Murkel, who +hadn't the remotest idea what I was so excited about; but he was +thoroughly convinced that I meant to jump at his offer, and he thought +I was merely madder than usual when I told him that I wouldn't sell +Dick Whittington for five thousand pounds if he offered it to me. + +"Murkel replaced Dick Whittington regretfully upon the rickety table +and sighed deeply. + +"'I suppose,' he said, 'that some forms of mental derangement are +inseparable from some writers. The annoying part of it is that I +wanted this piece for my own cabinet. If I had bought it I should +never have sold it again. Well, if you want money, you know where to +get it, old chap.' + +"'I do,' I replied, 'and I have as good as found it in an unexpected +quarter.' I took up the MSS. of the new book, lying upon the rickety +table actually in front of Dick Whittington. + +"'I will prophesy to you,' I said, 'and although it is a second-hand +sort of prophecy it is going to come true nevertheless. You see this +manuscript; this is going to make the first lot of money.' + +"Murkel looked at me curiously. Do what he would the poor chap could +not rid his mind of the thought that I was mad, but I will say he was +very patient with me. + +"'Give me the introduction to your publisher friend, and I will bet you +a dinner, or two dinners, he accepts this as a start, and most probably +everything else I write afterwards.' + +"'Of course,' debated Murkel, 'you are a very amazing person. I meet +you one day and you swear that nobody ever wants anything you do, and +is never likely to want any of your work again; and then a few days +after, without rhyme or reason, you swear they will take everything, +even the things you haven't written. I don't pretend to consider you +at all sane, but I am prepared to tackle the publishers for you; and, +by Jove, you are really eccentric enough to have done something really +good, so you may be right. But I cannot and will not understand why +you cannot take a hundred guineas down for that little Dick +Whittington.' + +"'Do you believe in mascots, Murkel?' I asked. + +"'Yes,' he said. 'I've got a black cat in the shop that always sits on +a big Chinese idol whenever I have any luck. I don't know what it is, +but the combination of my black cat Timps and that Chinese idol is +extraordinary, and the greatest mascot I know.' + +"Well, I told him that my mascots were a lion and the china Dick +Whittington. + +"'Where's the lion?' asked Murkel, always on the look-out for curios. + +"'Oh, that is at present in a collection,' I told him, at the same time +fervently hoping that Lal would forgive me for ever referring to him as +being in a collection, for I knew the feeling of majestic toleration +with which he regarded the other three lions. + +"Very little more remains to be told, except that the person who was +most astonished when my first book was instantly accepted was Murkel, +and his astonishment appeared to greatly increase as each of my +succeeding books made their appearance in print, whilst to-day is one +of the red-letter days of my life, for the most important of all my +books was published this morning, and so it is all doubtless intended +to form part of to-day's story; and, by the way, so is to-day's tea." + + * * * * * + +"Ridgwell, would you ring the bell for the housekeeper? I have ordered +all the sort of cakes you and Christine like best." + +"I think it is a more wonderful story than Dick Whittington's," +commented Ridgwell, as he rang the bell; "but before we have tea, we do +so want to see the little china Dick Whittington which made all your +story come true, and which is worth such a lot of money." + +"You shall both see him presently, but at the present moment Dick +Whittington is safely packed up; he is going to be given away this +evening with a copy of my new book." + +"Given away?" echoed the children blankly. + +The Writer nodded. + +"I can't make out how you can bear to part with it," suggested +Ridgwell; "I know I would never give it away. Who is it for?" + +"You will both see presently; and really, you know, if you come to +consider it, it is not of any use giving anybody something one does not +care for, for that is not a gift at all." + +"It seems jolly hard to part with the one thing you like best," +observed Ridgwell. + +The Writer laughed. "Ah! Ridgwell, that is the only kind of gift +worth giving in the world." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE LION MAKES HIS SIGN + +Tea was finished, the remains of it were cleared away, and the heavy +curtains drawn over the big windows overlooking Trafalgar Square. +Having turned on all the electric lights he could find, the Writer led +Ridgwell and Christine by either hand towards the door. + +"The Lord Mayor has arrived," he whispered, "I can hear him coming up +the stairs. Now as he comes into the door let us all bow down with a +low curtsey, and say, 'Welcome, Sir Simon Gold, Lord Mayor of London.'" + +"Bless him, he is still puffing up the stairs," whispered the Writer, +"so we shall have time to rehearse it once before he gets here. Now +then, all together," urged the Writer. "That's fine; why, you children +make obeisance better than I do, but of course I was forgetting you had +both been to the Pleasant-Faced Lion's party. That must, of course, +have been an education in itself. Now then, get ready." + +Outside somebody who was puffing and panting somewhat heavily could be +heard exclaiming between these exertions in a cheery voice: "Good +gracious me, why ever does the boy live in such a place? These stairs +will be the death of me; positively fifty of them if there is one. +Really at my time of life it is most unreasonable; he ought to have a +lift put in, I will make it my business to see he doesn't live up here +in the clouds any longer, whether he always wants to see Lal or whether +he doesn't." + +The Writer grinned at the children, and Ridgwell and Christine gave a +faint chuckle by way of an answer. At last the door was flung open and +the pleasantest-faced old gentleman it would be possible to find +anywhere, with round pink cheeks, merry eyes, a snowy white upturned +moustache and white hair to match, peering through big gold-rimmed +spectacles like a cheerful night-owl, stood in the doorway. + +Thereupon the three people inside the room bobbed down in a most +profound curtesy, and there was a perfectly timed and simultaneous +chorus from three voices, "Welcome, Sir Simon Gold, Lord Mayor of +London." + +"Bless my soul," said the Lord Mayor, "very impressive, upon my word; +but as His Majesty the King has only knighted me twenty minutes ago, +how on earth did you come to hear of it?" + +"Magic," said the Writer. "Besides, Lal prophesied the event." + +"Who are the children?" asked the Lord Mayor. + +"Friends of Lal's and myself," replied the Writer, "and very anxious to +see you in your robes." + +"They are all in this bag," vouchsafed the Mayor, "and it may be vanity +upon my part, but I brought them up on purpose to stand in front of the +window so that Lal could have a good look at them and see the effect of +his own handiwork. And now, you rascal," demanded the Lord Mayor of +the Writer as he helped himself to a comfortable chair, "what excuses +have you got to give me for not coming near either Mum or myself for +ages, and for taking up your abode in this absurdly high flat which is +as bad as mounting the Monument?" + +"I have my excuses all labelled and wrapped up, Dad, and you and Mum +must accept them when you have looked at them." + +Thereupon the Writer fished out of the mysterious odd-fashioned +cupboard two packets very neatly done up, and placed them in the hands +of genial old Sir Simon. + +The old gentleman opened the first packet with evident pleasure; it was +a well-bound book fresh from the printer's press. + +"Open it, Dad, and see whom it is dedicated to," suggested the Writer; +"you will find it upon the first page." + +"Beautiful," murmured the old gentleman, whilst his hands trembled +slightly as he held the book and read out, "Dedicated to my dear Dad, +to whom I owe everything--created Lord Mayor of the City of London in +the year----" + +The old gentleman coughed and wiped his spectacles carefully, and even +suspiciously, for they appeared to be quite misty. "Oh, you bad boy," +he burst out unexpectedly. "How dare you write books and become +famous, when you ought to have been sitting upon a stool behind a glass +partition as a junior partner in my counting-house? However, I believe +Lal was right, he usually is; he said we should disagree, and that the +youngest one would be in the right, and upon my word, my dear boy, I +never believed how very right he was until to-day. Bless me, I'm proud +of you." + +"And I'm proud of you, Dad," was the Writer's answer. + +"Goodness alive," declared the old man, as he turned and beamed upon +Ridgwell and Christine by turns, "do you children know, those were the +very words this rascal here used sixteen years ago, when he deposited a +lot of ridiculous prizes that nobody ever wanted to read in my lap when +I was asleep in front of the fire in my library. Bless me, history +does repeat itself." + +"And prophecies come true," added the Writer. + +"Tut, tut," said Sir Simon, "there was one prophecy our friend Lal made +that never came true. How about that absurd statement of his that you +would find Dick Whittington? That was all a lot of riddle-me-ree, as +you may say, thrown in like the cheap-jack's patter to mystify all of +us." + +"You haven't opened the second parcel," quietly remarked the Writer; +"but when I read in some of the papers three years ago that you had +started collecting valuable old china, I always determined you should +have this piece." + +"It all sounds very mysterious," replied the old gentleman, as he +gingerly prepared to take off the outside wrappings. + +It was at this point that Ridgwell could contain himself no longer, for +he felt as if he were present upon a Christmas Day before the gifts +were opened. + +"It's worth more than a hundred guineas," shouted Ridgwell. + +"Then it is simply disgraceful extravagance," replied Sir Simon, "and I +shall certainly not accept it." + +"I am sure you will," ventured Christine, "it is the thing that he +values most of anything he has got." + +The last wrapping was undone, and the beautifully coloured and modelled +Dick Whittington was disclosed to view. There was not even a spot or +trace of ink anywhere upon his enamelled coat, the tree-stump, the +milestone or the three-cornered hat, he had been washed and cleaned for +the cabinet with a vengeance, and looked as beautiful and as spick and +span as the day the artist had turned him out to an admiring world. + +"Bless my heart!" exclaimed Sir Simon, as he viewed the treasure with +the keen admiration of a connoisseur. "Why, it is perfect; I don't +believe there is another one in existence like it. Where did you get +it, and who is it meant to be?" + +"Why, Dick Whittington, of course, Dad; so you see Lal was right after +all." + +Sir Simon placed the little figure carefully upon the table, and +folding his hands regarded the Writer severely. "Do you happen to know +that it was this particular piece of Lal's nonsense that has worried me +more than anything else all these years?" + +"It worried me for a long time until I found out his trick," confessed +the Writer. + +"Yes, but mine is a most disheartening story," declared Sir Simon, "and +nearly succeeded in alienating me from all my friends; and as for Mum, +I dare not so much as mention Lal's name to her for fear of having my +nose snapped off; she never did and never will believe in him, declares +that the whole thing is a preposterous lot of nonsense, and declines +even to discuss the subject with me at all. You know, my dear boy, +that Mum is very sensible upon other points, but about Lal she is +openly scornful and secretly adamantine; in fact, the mere mention of +Lal is like poison to her, and he was entirely responsible for the only +difference we have ever had in our married lives." + +"Light a cigar, Dad, before you start; and what will you have by way of +a drink?" + +The Writer had opened other compartments in the mysterious old oak +cabinet that seemed to possess more doors than a Chinese temple. + +"These Coronas I remembered you used to smoke, so I got some." + +"Excellent," declared Sir Simon, "and, let me see, why, bless me what a +lot of bottles you have there. I hope you don't drink them all. Some +of that green stuff, my dear boy, if you please, Creme-de-Menthe; yes, +I think a couple of liqueurs of that would be most beneficial to me +after the most indigestible banquet we all partook of at the Mansion +House to-day. The stuff is largely made up of peppermint, I'm sure; +and, of course, peppermint, when it is tastily got up like this +liqueur, is very good for indigestion, isn't it?" + +The Writer lighted the old gentleman's cigar, and placing the +Creme-de-Menthe upon the table, filled a tiny liqueur glass to the brim. + +"Of course," commenced Sir Simon, "from the very first nothing would +induce Mum to believe that the Pleasant-Faced Lion, our old friend Lal, +ever had anything to do with my life, or ever influenced me in any way. +You know, my boy, it is one of women's weaknesses to invariably believe +that they do more than they really do. She declared that everything in +my life was owing to your influence and to hers." + +"Mine?" asked the Writer in astonishment. + +"So Mum always insisted, and so she always undoubtedly believed, and +when the time came that you ran away,--yes, you dog, for you did run +away, don't deny it,--well, what with sorrow for the loss of you, and +trouble with your mother, for she declared I had driven you from home +by not encouraging you to write, and women are most illogical and +unreasonable when they once get a fixed idea into their heads,--well, +between one and the other of you I had a very bad time. The fact +remained that you were gone, never gave us any address, and I got all +the blame for it. But the thing that annoyed Mum more than anything +else was my everlasting habit of going to the Pantomimes." + +The Writer laughed. "Well, I never knew before, Dad, that Pantomimes +were a special weakness of yours." + +"Neither were they, my boy, but as sure as ever Christmas came, and the +inevitable Pantomimes also, so did I go to every one; not only in +London, but every city of the United Kingdom." Here Sir Simon, as if +overcome with emotion, groaned aloud. "My boy, pity me; I believe I am +the only person still alive who has ever sat out every single Pantomime +that has been written for ten years, and oh! what twaddle they were." + +"But what on earth did you go to them for?" asked the Writer, aghast. + +"To find you." + +"Me? Good heavens, at a Pantomime? Dad, were you dreaming?" + +"Yes," answered old Sir Simon, shaking his white head at the +recollection. "I was dreaming of what Lal had prophesied--that you +would make your name and fortune when you met Dick Whittington, and +then you would come back to us. And the more I thought of it, the more +I was convinced that there was only one possible way of meeting Dick +Whittington in the world to-day, and that would be when some lady--and +they were always ladies, plain, fair, ugly, tall, lean, fat, +pretty--who appeared as that character--met you whilst impersonating +Dick. You rascal, I believed that you would meet one of these female +Dick Whittingtons, would ever after write the rubbishy Pantomimes in +which she appeared every Christmas season, train up your children to be +Pantaloons and Harlequins, and have the audacity to appeal to me to +keep the family after having christened the eldest child after me. +There is not one single lady," continued the Lord Mayor, as he mopped +the perspiration from his face, "from here to Aberdeen, and back to +Liverpool and Manchester, who has ever played Dick Whittington that I +have not treated to either port wine or champagne (for those were the +refreshments they all seemed to favour most) in the hope of finding +you; I have spent more than ten times the reputed worth of that Dick +Whittington inkstand, in railway fares and buying stalls and +programmes. Yet the worst of all to relate is, that when Mum saw the +programmes underlined upon my return, she accused me of being enamoured +of these extraordinary ladies who stalked the stage in the most +indescribable costumes, accompanied by cats. My boy, I know every +ridiculous speech, every stupid gag spoken by every Lord Mayor in all +those Pantomimes by heart, and the one dread of my life is that I shall +one day come out with some of it in one of my speeches at either the +Guildhall or the Mansion House." + +The Writer lay back in his chair and roared with laughter. + +"Poor old Dad, I had no idea you were undergoing such an awful penance!" + +"You think it funny, do you?" asked the Lord Mayor indignantly. + +"I think it is the funniest thing I have ever heard, but I am sure that +all the blame rests with Lal for playing us such a trick." + +"Humph! Well, Mum didn't think so, and every time Christmas came there +was a coldness between us. Perhaps she will be convinced when I take +her this inkstand and explain what it is," wound up Sir Simon +triumphantly; "she will believe in Lal then, and believe in me at the +same time." + +Some two hours later Ridgwell and Christine, having viewed the Lord +Mayor in his state robes, were safely despatched home in a carriage +with the Writer's housekeeper in charge, but not before old Sir Simon +had promised to send one of his state coaches, attended by servants in +livery, to fetch them to the Mansion House Children's Ball. + +Upon taking his departure, Ridgwell had inquired most particularly if +the state coach would drive up to their door for them. The Lord Mayor +assured him that this would be the case. + +"I believe," declared Ridgwell, as he said good-bye and made his +departure, "that all the neighbours will believe we have something to +do with fairies." + +"I shouldn't wonder," chuckled Sir Simon, "and I will get the Lady +Mayoress to send you both two costumes that will help the illusion +enormously." + +"I do wonder what they will be like," mused Christine; "I do so love +dressing up." + +"So does the Lady Mayoress, my dear," laughed Sir Simon, "so I am sure +both of you will get on capitally together, and really she is the life +and soul of a children's gathering. I don't know how I should get on +without her." + +"It certainly seems very strange," remarked Sir Simon, when at length +he and the Writer were left alone, "that Lal has not given any sort of +sign; this is undoubtedly the night of all nights that he ought to show +he is pleased." + +Sir Simon helped himself to a third cigar, and a second +Creme-de-Menthe, and after drawing back the curtains, looked anxiously +down into Trafalgar Square for at least the twentieth time that evening. + +The lights of London twinkled gaily, lighting the Square up in +fairy-like brilliancy of colours. Signs were to be seen in plenty; +they burst from the tall roofs of houses, in coloured electric lights, +which worked out advertisements for Foods, Patent Medicines, brands of +Cigarettes, brands of Whisky; nearly everything, in fact, that one +could not be reasonably in need of at that time of night; but still the +Pleasant-Faced Lion remained obdurate and made no sign at all of ever +having been alive. + +"There is one thing that both Mum and I insist upon," commenced Sir +Simon. + +"What's that, Dad?" + +"Directly we leave the Mansion House, and I may say at once that +although it is undoubtedly very stately, and all that sort of thing, we +neither of us feel at home there, and for my part, I would as soon live +in the British Museum--directly we leave, I insist that you come back +to your old home and live with us, and complete the old happy party we +three used to make." + +"All right, Dad, I'll do that, I promise you." + +"And now that you have made a name and fortune for yourself in spite of +my doing everything I could to prevent you----" + +"No, no, Dad, that isn't fair, and really, you know, I don't believe we +could help ourselves, everything has come about exactly as Lal arranged +it." + +"I am very angry with Lal and his tricks, and if I thought he would +listen to me for one minute, I would go down now and--Good gracious +alive!" broke off Sir Simon, as he stared somewhat wildly out of the +window; "what's that?" + +"What's what?" inquired the Writer inconsequently, from his easy-chair +at the other end of the room. + +Sir Simon rubbed his eyes, then he looked out of the window again, then +he rubbed his spectacles in case by any chance they were deceiving him. + +"My dear boy," faltered Sir Simon, "is that--is' +that--ahem!--Creme-de-Menthe you gave me exceptionally strong by any +chance?" + +"No, same as it always is, Dad; why?" + +"Then I'm not mistaken, Lal's eyes have gone a _bright_ green, the same +colour as the liqueur in that bottle. Green," shouted Sir Simon, "and +they are blazing like fireworks. Look! look at them." + +The Writer rushed across the room to the window. + +There could be no doubt about it that the calm eyes of the +Pleasant-Faced Lion, which were wont to gaze haughtily upon the more +commonplace things around him in Trafalgar Square, had suddenly changed +to the colour of living emeralds, and were terrible to behold. + +"Great Scott!" muttered the astonished Writer, "I have never seen him +look like that. He's angry about something." + +"He's more than angry--he's furious," suggested the Lord Mayor +nervously. "What on earth can be the reason of it? Why, yes, I see. +Why, how dare she!" spluttered Sir Simon. "There's a woman dancing, +positively waltzing round the Square with his wreath of water-lilies I +put there for him! I'll stop her, she must bring it back at once." + +Without another word, Sir Simon rushed for the door and downstairs with +the most surprising speed, followed closely by the Writer, who +considered his old friend ought not to be deserted upon such a mission. + +"Ho! hi! stop thief," puffed the Lord Mayor, as he toiled three parts +round Trafalgar Square after the corybantic lady, who was dancing on +ahead with the huge wreath held with both arms, swaying over her, as +she danced a sort of bacchanal in front of the enraged Sir Simon. + +"Hi!" panted the Lord Mayor, as after frantic efforts he came +alongside. "Woman, bring that wreath back at once; how dare you take +it away!" + +"Oh, go on, ole dear," retorted the lady good-humouredly; "ain't it +making me much 'appier than an old lion? Why, bless you, it put me in +mind of the days when I used to play Alice in Pantomimes. Lead, I used +to play, once, yes, s'welp me if I wasn't. What 'arm am I a-doing? +Oh, look 'ere, if you're going to get snuffy, 'ere, take your ole +wreath. I'm blowed if you don't look as if you come out of a Pantomime +yourself, in them red robes! 'Ave yer been playing in a Pantomime?" + +"Certainly not," replied Sir Simon, somewhat stiffly. + +"Why, now I sees the light on your face, I knows you quite well; 'ow do +yer do, ole sport? I'm Alice; don't you remember little Alice in the +Pantomime of Dick Whittington ten years ago at Slocum Theatre Royal? +Why, you gave me a bouquet, and stood me two glasses of port." + +The Lord Mayor groaned. + +"Little Alice," he queried vaguely; "let me see, little Alice?" + +"Yes," averred the lady, who must have weighed fully eighteen stone, +"shake hands, old pal." + +The Lord Mayor felt thoroughly uncomfortable, more particularly as the +Writer joined him at that moment. + +"Ahem! an old Pantomime friend," explained Sir Simon. + +"Yes, my dears," continued the lady, "and I don't get no Pantomimes +now, been 'ard up, I 'ave, for a long time, can't even get chorus now; +but bless your 'earts! coming along to-night, when I gets to Trafalgar +Square, I somehow could 'ave declared I saw that there Lion a-laughing +at me, and then when I sees the wreath, blessed if I didn't want to +dance once again all of a sudden. Look 'ere, old sport, you used to +have plenty of the shinies in the old days, you used to chuck the 'oof +about a bit; I remember you was a-looking for some bloke who +wrote--that you had an idea in your 'ead all us girls wanted to marry." + +The distressed Lord Mayor fumbled in his pockets and produced two +sovereigns. + +"Thank you, ole dear," observed the lady, as she pocketed the gold with +alacrity, "you was always one of the best; and Cissie Laurie, that's +me, you know--Cissie--who used to play Alice, will always swear you are +a tip-top clipper. Lor! when I sees you in them robes, and you ain't +told me yet why you've got 'em on---- + +"An inadvertency," stuttered the Lord Mayor; "most unfortunate." + +"Well, when I sees you in them robes it puts me in mind of the dear old +Pantomime, when little Alice flings herself at the Lord Mayor's feet," +and here, overcome with past recollections of the drama, the fat lady +sunk upon her knees, and dramatically clasping the robes of Sir Simon, +to that worthy old gentleman's utter confusion and consternation, at +the same time gave forth aloud the doggerel lines that had once +accompanied the incident in the play-- + + "Oh! Dad, I'm your Alice, in whom you're disappointed, + And here is Dick Whittington, whose nose was out-of-jointed, + Though your heart be as cold as an icicle king's, + Forgive us and say we are nice 'ikkle things." + + +"Oh, hush! hush! dreadful," implored the Lord Mayor, endeavouring in +vain to extricate himself from the dramatic lady's clutches. + +At this moment a gruff judicial voice, which sent an immediate thrill +down the worthy Lord Mayor's back, broke in upon the scene. + +"Now, then, what's all this? Move on, there!" + +A dark blue policeman stood in the pale blue moonlight. + +The Lord Mayor only shivered. + +The dramatic lady was equal to the occasion. + +"Aren't we a picture?" she asked coquettishly. + +"Get up, then," commanded the policeman dryly, "and be a movin' one." + +"All right, don't get huffy, dear, we're professionals." + +"So I should think," observed the policeman shortly. + +The Writer thought this a most propitious moment to seize the Lord +Mayor by the arm, and hurry him in the direction of his own rooms, +across the almost deserted centre of the Square, without waiting for +any further conversation of any description. + +The policeman stared after them suspiciously as they moved away. + +"What's he doing in them things?" inquired the policeman of the lady. + +"Lor', 'ow should I know? I guess he's a good sort, though, he gave me +some money." + +"Oh, did he?" remarked the policeman in a sepulchral voice. "Well, I +hope he came by it honestly, that's all." + +"Oh, that old chap's all right, old tin-feet," retorted the once time +Lady of the Drama. "I only think 'e's a bit balmy in his 'ead, that's +all. So-long, I'm off 'ome!" + +"Balmy in his head, eh?" grumbled the policeman gruffly. "Ah, I +thought there was a funny look about him; yes. Well, I had better +follow him up, and see that he doesn't get up to no mischief of any +sort." + +"I say, Dad," suggested the Writer, "you had better let me carry the +wreath, whilst you lake off those robes; you know they attract a lot of +attention, even at this time of night." + +"I am afraid they do," confessed the Mayor. "What a dreadful and +degrading scene! That upsetting fragment of a pantomime enacted in the +open air, too, which is only a specimen of the stuff I was compelled to +listen to for so many years!" + +"She evidently regarded you as an old friend, and a patron of the +theatre," laughed the Writer, "without in any way guessing your +identity." + +"It was a terrible situation," groaned the Lord Mayor; "however shall I +be able to tell Mum about such an incident when I arrive home?" + +The worthy Lord Mayor got no further either in his remarks or in +removing his bright robes, for as they approached the position occupied +by the Pleasant-Faced Lion, Sir Simon became aware of another figure +standing menacingly in front of it. + +A short, thick-set man in a sailor's dress was holding his hands to his +head, and regarding the Lion with his mouth and eyes wide open, whilst +an expression of horrified wonder and astonishment appeared to have +petrified his face into a sort of ghastly mask of perpetual +astonishment. + +Whilst the sailor continued to stare and mutter, the Lion's eyes could +be seen to shoot out the most brilliant green fires; they looked like +the flashing of two wonderful green emeralds. + +The Lord Mayor quickened his pace almost to a run. "Look, look! what's +the thing that man is flourishing about in his hand?" + +"It's a big sailor's knife," replied the Writer uneasily. + +"Quick, quick!" shouted the Lord Mayor, "he is going to do Lal some +harm with it! Good heavens! he's swarmed up the pedestal and he is +positively contemplating cutting Lal's eyes out. Stop, you villain," +shouted the Lord Mayor, whilst he ran towards the spot. "Come down at +once; how dare you touch that beautiful Lion's eyes!" + +Without so much as turning his head, and apparently heedless of any +remarks addressed to him, the sailor continued to flourish his +ugly-looking knife, shouting meanwhile in the Lion's face as he did so-- + +"Emeralds, bloomin' emeralds here in London under my very nose. I'll +'ave 'em out," yelled the sailor. "I'll have 'em out in no time. I've +come from Hindia, where they've got jools like these 'ere in the +hidols' eyes. I couldn't get at them there, but I can get these 'ere," +whereupon the sailor made a frantic jab with his knife at the +Pleasant-Faced Lion's right eye. + +He had no time, or indeed any opportunity of continuing his unpleasant +execution, for the enraged Lord Mayor had seized the wide ends of the +sailor's trousers and had dragged him down with such abruptness and +goodwill that the over-venturesome son of Neptune, dropping his knife, +lay upon the ground volunteering expressions which at least had the +merit of showing that his travels must have been indeed varied and +extensive to have left him in possession of such a widely stocked +vocabulary. + +"I'll have you up for attempting to mutilate the beautiful statues of +London," shouted the enraged Lord Mayor. + +The Writer restrained the sailor's more or less ineffectual efforts to +get at the Lord Mayor, but the Writer found it singularly impossible to +control the shouted execrations of that abusive mariner, among a few of +whose remarks could be mentioned, by way of sample, that he wanted to +know why an old bloke dressed like an etcetera Mephistopheles meant by +coming along from a blighted Covent Garden Ball and interfering with +him; that if he, the mariner, could once get at +the--ahem!--Mephistopheles in question, he would never go to a fancy +ball again as long as he lived, as he would not have a head to go with, +and his legs wouldn't ever be any use to him again as long as he lived. + +The Writer being sufficiently athletically active to control, or at any +rate postpone, these amiable intentions of the mariner, the Lord Mayor +was afforded a few brief seconds to climb up and examine his favourite. +Flinging the wreath of water-lilies around the Lion's mane to get it +out of the way, the Lord Mayor clasped his old favourite Lal round the +neck, uttering words of consolation and affection. + +The Lion's eyes had changed from their bright emerald colour to a dull +topaz yellow, which in turn subsided to their wonted colouring during +the Lord Mayor's affectionate address. + +The countenance of the Lion gradually resumed its ordinary +pleasant-faced expression, and two large tears fell upon the Lord +Mayor's outstretched hands. + +The worthy Lord Mayor was quite overcome with emotion at this obvious +sign from the Pleasant-Faced Lion! + +"Dear old Lal," murmured the Lord Mayor, "dear, faithful, loving soul, +these are the first tears I have ever known you shed. Are they tears +of gratitude because we have rescued you from this ruffian with a +knife, who would have destroyed your noble sight? Or are they tears of +pity? Speak to me, Lal; if they are tears of pity, they will open the +gates of----" + +"A police station," interrupted a cold, judicial voice, and the good +Lord Mayor turned to find what the Writer, although fully occupied with +the mariner, had seen approaching with consternation and alarm, the +same policeman who had spoken to them before, followed by a small crowd +of late night loafers, who were already starting to exchange remarks +and jeer at the somewhat unusual scene. + +"Just you come down," said the constable, in his severest and most +judicial tones. + +The Lord Mayor prepared to climb down, looking somewhat crestfallen, +whilst the unsympathetic crowd uttered a faint, ironical cheer. + +"This is the second time to-night I have spoken to you," said the +constable. "Now, as you have been behaving most strangely and +attracting a crowd, I'll just trouble you for your name and address," +and the constable unfolded an uncomfortable-looking pocket-book, bound +in an ominous-looking black case, produced the stump of a pencil and +prepared to take notes. "Now then, out with it, what's your name?" + +"Gold," faltered the Lord Mayor, fumbling vainly for a visiting card, +which he was unable to find. + +The stolid constable misunderstood the action. "No, you don't bribe +me," said the constable loftily. + +"I was not attempting to," objected the Lord Mayor. + +"Well, what's your name, then?" + +"Gold," repeated the Lord Mayor. + +"Oh, I see," muttered the constable; "what else?" + +"Simon Gold." + +"What else?" pursued the remorseless officer of the law. + +"Sir Simon Gold," groaned the helpless Lord Mayor. + +"What address?" + +"The Mansion House." + +"Here, I don't want none of your jokes," vouchsafed the constable +sternly; "this is no joking matter, as you will find out when you're +charged afore the magistrate." + +The worthy Sir Simon's plump cheeks flushed red with anger at the bare +mention of such an indignity. "How dare you suggest such a thing to +me?" spluttered Sir Simon. "Do you know who I am? I am the Lord Mayor +of London." + +This remark was greeted with a loud cheer from the rapidly gathering +crowd. + +The constable smiled a maddening smile. + +"A likely tale," observed the constable. "Why, I was present keeping +the crowd off when his Worship, the Lord Mayor of London, opened his +Home to-day; he returned hours ago; and I think myself it's some sort +of Home as you have got to return to, and I don't leave you until I +find out which Home it is." + +Whether the mention of the word Home suggested sudden possibilities to +the Writer, or whether, like Ulysses of old, he longed so ardently for +a return to that blissful abode that he even stooped to emulate the +sort of stratagem Ulysses might have adopted in similar circumstances +will never be known. Yet the fact remains that the Writer turned the +fortunes of war for the time being. + +He drew the constable quickly upon one side and spoke rapidly and +earnestly to him for some moments. At the end of these whispered +explanations the constable closed his pocket-book with a snap, and +pointed across the way in the direction of the Writer's chambers. + +The Writer nodded. + +The constable touched his forehead significantly at the side of his +helmet. + +Once again the Writer nodded. + +"Very well," said the constable, "if you are the one who looks after +him, you can go; better get him home as quickly as you can." + +Amidst a parting ironical cheer the Writer hastily seized the worthy +Lord Mayor by the arm and broke through the assembled crowd with all +possible speed. + +As they passed upon their way one small incident, however, caused the +Writer grave misgiving. + +A tall man who had undoubtedly watched the whole proceeding nodded to +him and remarked sarcastically, as he passed-- + +"Good-night; a really most interesting and illuminating episode." + +Having safely gained his own abode, the Writer gazed apprehensively out +of the window. + +The sailor could still be seen supporting himself against the pedestal +of the Lion's statue, the policeman appeared to be engaged upon a new +crusade of note-taking. The small crowd was melting away, but the +sinister face of the sarcastic man could be seen wreathed in a cynical +smile of triumph. + +The Writer whistled, and drawing the curtains close, turned up the +electric light and anticipated the worst. + +The Lord Mayor sank into the most comfortable chair he could select, +and helped himself to a drink; he felt he needed one badly at that +moment. + +"What a dreadful and degrading scene," lamented Sir Simon. "Good +gracious, if anybody had seen me who recognised me, I should never have +heard the last of it." + +The Writer lit a cigar thoughtfully, and passed the box to Sir Simon. + +"I am afraid, Dad, we never shall hear the last of it," prophesied the +Writer gloomily. + +"What do you mean?" inquired Sir Simon. + +"Did you notice that man who spoke to me at the edge of the crowd, who +had presumably seen the whole thing?" + +"Of course not," replied Sir Simon; "how on earth could I notice +anybody under such distressing circumstances? Who was he? what about +him?" + +"That was the famous Mr. Learned Bore." + +"What, the man who is always advertising himself?" + +"Yes," agreed the Writer, "and unfortunately he has the power to do so +through the medium of the newspapers; his letters to London are one of +the features of the Press," added the Writer significantly. + +"Don't tell me," entreated the Lord Mayor, with an imploring look in +his eyes, "that he will make me, the Lord Mayor of London, a subject +for his heartless gibes." + +"He's certain to write two columns about it in one of to-morrow or the +next day's papers," declared the Writer hopelessly. "Do you suppose +such a man would waste such material and copy as that for one of his +satirical eruptions?" + +The Lord Mayor groaned aloud at the very thought of this new terror, +which threatened to descend like the sword of Damocles and crush all +the joy of his new civic dignity. With trembling hands he folded his +bright robe and glittering chain of office; the Lord Mayor felt that he +could no longer bear the sight of them. + +"What on earth I can say to Mum for being out as late as this I don't +know," lamented the Mayor dolefully; "she will, of course, believe I +have been to another Pantomime; she always taxes me with having gone to +a Pantomime whenever I stay out late. However," sighed the Mayor, "I +shall show her the Dick Whittington which has really been the cause of +all the trouble." + +It may have been that Sir Simon was still unusually agitated from the +scene he had recently passed through, to say nothing of the vague +foreboding caused by the knowledge that Mr. Learned Bore might +conceivably do anything within the next few days. There is a +possibility that his hand trembled; whatever may have been the cause, +as Sir Simon lifted the little Dick Whittington from the table, he let +it fall. As it crashed upon the hard polished floor it broke into a +dozen pieces, and the merry little figure of Dick Whittington was +hopelessly shattered. Sir Simon looked blankly at the Writer. + +The Writer looked blankly back at Sir Simon. + +As poor Sir Simon ruefully picked up the pieces, he looked disconsolate +enough to be upon the verge of tears. The Writer, although keenly +affected by the loss, tried, although unsuccessfully, to comfort him. + +"Never mind, Dad, it can't be helped, and I suppose Dick Whittington +has served his day." + +"To think I have broken the most perfect specimen in the world," moaned +Sir Simon; "that you must have denied yourself greatly to give me, and +to think I shall never be able to convince Mum now, or even mention it, +for she wouldn't believe one word of the story. Besides," wound up Sir +Simon, "it is so dreadfully unlucky to break china. Call me a cab, my +dear boy," implored the old gentleman, "a four-wheeler, if possible; I +really dare not go home in a taxi, I feel some other dreadful accident +would happen to me if I did." + +Upon his way home Sir Simon ruminated upon the events of the evening. +He found himself unable to make up his mind which portion of the +adventure had been the most discomforting to him. Finally, upon +approaching the Mansion House, he caught himself indulging in +speculation and uttering his thoughts aloud. + +"I wonder what possible story he could have told the policeman, to get +me out of that dreadful situation so quickly; and I wonder," mused Sir +Simon, "why the policeman tapped his head in that curious manner; he +must have told him something that appealed to him at once. I dare say +even policemen have their feelings, and looking back upon matters +calmly, I suppose my conduct must perhaps have appeared a little out of +the ordinary. However, if I ever come across that constable again, I +must try and make him a little present." + +Sir Simon little realised that he was to meet the constable again very +soon, and certainly never realised where, otherwise it is safe to +assume that the good Sir Simon would never have slept the tranquil +sleep he did that night, full of peaceful dreams, over which the +Pleasant-Faced Lion presided like the protecting guardian watch-dog +that the good Lord Mayor always believed him to be. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AN UPSETTING ARTICLE IN THE MORNING PAPER + +Some few mornings after the events just recorded the Lady Mayoress sat +down to breakfast in one of the most cosy of the morning-rooms in their +private suite in the Mansion House. A very smart manservant of quite +aristocratic appearance solemnly poured out some most fragrant coffee, +and removed many covers from a most delicately appetising +breakfast-table, as a preliminary to removing his aristocratic presence +from the room altogether. There could be no doubt that the Lady +Mayoress was a singularly pretty and attractive lady, and despite her +well-dressed head of iron-grey hair, looked fully fifteen years younger +than her age, which is invariably a pleasing reflection for a woman who +has passed the age of forty-five. + +The Lady Mayoress sipped her morning coffee, and in the absence of her +husband the Lord Mayor, who was late for breakfast on this occasion, +unfolded the morning newspapers and started leisurely to peruse their +contents. + +The Lady Mayoress, being exceedingly popular, and having taken a +prominent part in a number of social functions, like most women, was +never averse to reading any paragraphs which might chance to mention +her sayings, doings, and, more particularly, her dress. The Lady +Mayoress read on; there appeared to be very little in the particular +paper she was perusing that interested her, so refolding it carefully +the Lady Mayoress selected another morning paper, and opening it, +smiled as she read in big print, "Audacious attack by Mr. Learned Bore." + +"Ah!" commented the Lady Mayoress, "he certainly is a particularly +audacious, as well as being a very naughty man, who makes fun of +everything and everybody, but at least his articles and letters are +always amusing." Thereupon the smiling lady gently stirred her coffee, +folded the newspaper to the required place, and proceeded to enjoy Mr. +Learned Bore's contribution to the morning journalism. + +Suddenly the little silver coffee spoon dropped from the Lady +Mayoress's hand, and she sat bolt upright in her chair as if she had +received a galvanic shock. At this inauspicious moment the Lord Mayor +made his appearance, very jovial and full of happy morning greetings, +mingled with pleasant apologies for being late. + +Something in the expression of his wife's face, however, gave the +worthy Lord Mayor an uncomfortable, apprehensive sort of feeling, the +cheerful flow of his morning remarks died away in little sentences, as +if the promise of their young life had been cut short. + +The Lord Mayor chipped an egg nervously, and made a brave show of +gulping his coffee. + +"Well, Mum, you seem very interested in the morning paper," observed +Sir Simon, with an assumption of hearty cheerfulness he was far from +feeling. + +Something in the expression of Mum's face seemed to baffle all +analysis, as she continued to read without vouchsafing any answer. +After a terrible pause the Lady Mayoress refolded the paper, and laying +it upon the table, regarded her husband steadfastly with flushed face +and sparkling eyes. + +Sir Simon's heart seemed to sink into his boots. + +"I thought you distinctly told me, Simon, when you returned, at what I +can only describe as a most eccentric hour in the early morning, that +you had been visiting an old friend." + +"Quite right, my dear, I assure you I had. I'm right upon that point +at any rate." + +"You told me you had not been to a Pantomime," continued his wife, +heedless of the interruption. + +"No, my dear,--no Pantomime, I assure you; I never entered a theatre or +a building of any such description." + +"Apparently not," came the icy reply; "the Pantomime in this case +appears to have taken place in the open air. Read that paper," +commanded the Lady Mayoress, "and offer any suggestion you can find as +to how I can keep up my position, or your position, whilst such a +statement as this" (tapping the opened paper) "remains uncontradicted." +Then the Lady Mayoress swept from the room. + +Sir Simon groaned and closed his eyes before venturing to look at the +offending article. He instinctively felt he was about to receive a +shock without the necessary strength to bear it. Sir Simon gingerly +unclosed one eye and read, "Audacious attack by Mr. Learned Bore." Sir +Simon shivered and hastily closed the one eye he had opened. Then he +valiantly tried both eyes and read by way of a second and happy +headline, "The Lord Mayor revives Paganism in London." Sir Simon never +knew how he finished that article. It was a most scurrilous attack. + +All the biting satire and vitriolic irony that Mr. Learned Bore had so +well at his command was here employed to compliment the Lord Mayor upon +being acclaimed a great Christian in the afternoon after opening his +New House for Children; whilst he was found at night like any Pagan of +old worshipping one of the lions in Trafalgar Square, around whose mane +he had hung a votive wreath of water-lilies, across whose unresponsive +neck the Lord Mayor had wound his arms in supplication, imploring it +that it might speak, and give a sign like the Oracle in Delphi. + +Was the Lord Mayor of London the last of the great Pagans? asked the +writer, or had he merely gone back a few thousand years in imagination, +owing to the insidious suggestions of another Heathen Deity who had +doubtless presided over the Wine-press with an unstinted hand earlier +in the day during the banquet at the Guildhall? The writer dared to +express a hope that it was merely a form of Civic debauchery emanating +from the oft-replenished toasts of the Devil's cup, rather than a +classical intoxication which if persisted in might plunge the whole of +London once more into the perverted darkness of Pagan ages. + +The Lord Mayor seized his hat and called for his carriage, and arrived +at the Writer's chambers overlooking Trafalgar Square, purple in the +face. + +"Yes, I've read it, Dad," remarked the Writer as he observed Sir +Simon's signs of almost apoplectic agitation. "It's very bad form, and +what is worse it's very badly written." + +"The pen is mightier than the sword," shouted Sir Simon, "and +unfortunately the sword is out of date nowadays, or I would challenge +him upon the spot; but, my boy, you have the pen, and you can use it, +and a jolly sight better than the silly ass who wrote that article. +Will you answer him for me?" + +The Writer smiled and shook his head. + +"No, Dad, that is exactly what he wants; he would get all the +advertisement out of such a controversy that his soul craves for, and +which is absolutely necessary for him now to keep up his reputation. I +have something to suggest much better than that." + +"What is it?" asked the Lord Mayor helplessly. + +"Did you ever consider some of the characteristics of Ulysses, Dad?" + +"Oh, they talked about him in my school-days, but I didn't have much +schooling, you know; and what on earth has Ulysses to do with this?" + +The Writer grinned. "Because, Dad, he possessed a remarkably wily gift +of always finding his enemies' one vulnerable spot." + +"Well?" + +"I know at least two of Learned Bore's most vulnerable spots." + +"Eh? Unbounded conceit and unlimited calumny?" questioned Sir Simon. + +"No," rejoined the Writer, "I should say he was _invulnerable_ upon +those two points. However, two things he dreads more than anything +else. He has a horror of ridicule when it is turned upon himself, and +an unutterable and most unnatural hatred of all children." + +"Well, I don't see how that helps me," rejoined the Lord Mayor. + +The Writer looked at Sir Simon significantly, and spoke slowly and +deliberately so that his words might have their full effect. + +"Lose no time in bringing an action against him for libel; as a +defendant he will be off his pedestal,--and at a disadvantage." + +The Lord Mayor opened his eyes and whistled softly. "I never thought +of that," he confessed; "and where does his horror of children come in?" + +"The chief witness for your side will be little Ridgwell," suggested +the Writer quietly; "it will be something that Learned Bore doesn't +understand, has never encountered, and will not know how to deal with, +and of the two I know whose story will be believed, however fantastic +it sounds. The child will be the one who will score, they always do in +Court, and I think that Learned Bore will live to gnash such teeth as +he hasn't had pulled, and employ the venom of his remaining fangs upon +some one else." + +Sir Simon lay back in his chair and laughed heartily, and all his old +good-humour seemed to be restored to him. + +"'Pon my word," he declared, "it is a capital idea of yours. How shall +I commence the action?" + +"I'll find the man for you and get Vellum and Crackles, the solicitors, +to instruct him at once on the case. His name is Mr. Gentle Gammon, +K.C., a famous barrister. He was at school with me, and afterwards at +Oxford. Why, Dad, you must remember him, he returned home once with me +and spent the Christmas holidays with us at Lancaster Gate. Mum +thought an awful lot of him." + +"I remember!" exclaimed Sir Simon excitedly; "meek manner, gentle +voice, but the young devil always got his own way, I noticed, before +any one even knew what he was after." + +"He gets his own way rather more now than he did then, if possible, and +by the same means. He always wins his cases too." + +"Engage him," commanded Sir Simon, "engage him at once, my boy; and are +you going to undertake to coach little Ridgwell?" + +"Little Ridgwell won't want any coaching," chuckled the Writer. "I +only want little Ridgwell to appear in Court and talk to them about the +Pleasant-Faced Lion as he talks to me, and I think it will be a +refreshing and unusual experience for them all; and I firmly believe +for the first time in his life Mr. Learned Bore will not be able to +find anything to say." + +"It's very odd," remarked Sir Simon as he rose to take his departure, +"really very odd that you should have mentioned that chap just +now--what's his name--Ulysses; as far as I remember he was a very +cunning person, uncannily cunning, and I'm afraid really quite +underhand, so to speak, and sometimes deceitful in his methods; and do +you know, my boy, you rather remind me of him, now I come to think of +the matter." + +The Writer grinned affably. + +"And whilst we are upon this subject," pursued Sir Simon, "I should +really like to know what explanation you gave to the policeman that +night, that he considered so convincing and satisfactory." + +"Even Ulysses didn't reveal all his wisdom, Dad. Good-bye." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE WRITER PLANS WICKED PLANS + +Now it so happened that the Writer chanced to be quite as fond of jokes +as the Pleasant-Faced Lion, and the Writer contended, taking all the +circumstances into consideration, that an action for libel with the +Pleasant-Faced Lion involved in it would be an excellent great big +joke, to say nothing of a graceful retaliation upon the Pleasant-Faced +Lion himself for a few of the jokes which that Pleasant Animal had +played upon the Writer. Not to mention the fact that such a case +promised to supply the Writer with a little light recreation almost in +the nature of a holiday, after the labours of producing his last book. + +Consequently, as soon as Sir Simon had left, the Writer selected his +favourite pipe, filled it with his choicest tobacco, and having lit it, +stretched himself at ease upon the most comfortable divan in his rooms, +and thought out subtle schemes. + +There he lay laughing and chuckling for all the world like a wicked +Puck, bent upon mischief, joyfully and solely devised for a confusion +of his enemies, particularly Mr. Learned Bore. + +Cheered and emboldened by such happy reflections, the Writer hit upon a +scheme haphazard which for sheer unscrupulous impudence would baffle +all description; gradually embroidering his machinations with that +whimsicality that had always served him so well as an author, until his +plans appeared to be complete. + +"Very fortunate," murmured the Writer as he knocked out his pipe, "that +those kids told me all about the Pleasant-Faced Lion's party. Great +heavens, what a chance! and it will be worth a fifty-pound note to have +Lal brought into Court and to hear the Griffin's song sang in Court, +and sung it shall be, only I must alter the words to fit the occasion." +Here the Writer sat upon the edge of the table and rocked with +delighted laughter. + +"Ha! ha! ha!" gurgled the Writer, "only one man in London who can set +it, and, by Jove, I'll ring him up on the 'phone at once; a few +judicious rehearsals--before Vellum and Crackles, the solicitors, are +communicated with--to say nothing of Gentle Gammon, and--ha! ha! +ha!--what a glorious joke. What's Billy Cracker's number in the book?" + +A quarter of an hour afterwards, in answer to a most urgent summons by +telephone, Mr. William Cracker made his appearance in the Writer's +rooms. + +Mr. William Cracker, called Billy by his friends, was rapidly rising to +fame as a writer of musical comedy--a tall, sleek personage, with +straw-coloured hair brilliantined very flat over his head, and +carefully parted in the centre, wearing a monocle in one eye, which +appeared to grow there, and was always lavishly adorned as an exact and +living replica of the latest fashion plate. + +Billy greeted the Writer and stared at him through his eyeglass +quizzically. + +"Whenever I hear you give that Mephistophelean chuckle at the end of +the 'phone," commented Billy, "I always know you have got some +particularly impish scheme on. Well, what is it?" + +"Oh, Billy, Billy," chuckled the Writer, "I have indeed got a scheme, +and it is funnier, Billy, than any of your musical comedies." + +"In that case," announced Billy, as he leisurely helped himself to a +smoke which the Writer offered, "I shall steal the plot." + +"Listen, Billy. Could you write a tune, a refrain, an air, whatever +you call it, so catchy that people would hum it and sing it on the +spot? I want a perfectly irresistible tune, Billy." + +"All my tunes are irresistible," confessed Billy modestly. + +"Yes, but I want an absolute dead cert. The sort of thing you used to +write at Oxford before you took up music as a profession; you know, one +of those catchy things we all used to stand round and sing the instant +you played it." + +"Of course," returned Billy equably, "it's my profession. I turn out +any amount of such things." + +"Oh, yes; but, Billy, this has got to be a Comic Classic." + +Billy considered for a space. + +"Is it to be sung in a Comic Opera?" he asked. + +"No, it's going to be sung in Court." + +Billy stared through his eyeglass. + +"You're joking!" he said. + +"Of course I'm joking," retorted the Writer, "you only have to read the +words to gather that fact." + +"Have you got the words?" + +"Yes, here they are; but wait a minute, old chap, that isn't all, you +have got to coach a youngster I know to sing them." + +"Oh, that's a very different matter," demurred Billy; "I don't teach, +and anyway it would be awful waste of time." + +"I will pay you your own fee," grinned the Writer, as he fingered a +cheque-book, artlessly placed upon the top of a desk. "Nice fat +cheque, Billy, always useful." + +Mr. Billy Cracker appeared instantly to succumb to this suggestion and +to take very kindly to it. + +"Here are the words," said the Writer modestly, handing two half-sheets +of notepaper to his friend, "there is the grand piano, Billy, opened +already, a medium of expression only waiting for your musical genius." + +"Let's see the words," said Billy. + +Mr. Cracker perused the lines offered for his inspection with amazement. + +"I say," he observed, "they seem awful rot." + +The Writer laughed. + +"Ah, Billy, that's only because you don't know the situation yet." + +"True," assented Billy; "I've had worse given me to set in musical +comedies. Now let me see," murmured Mr. Cracker as he seated himself +at the pianoforte, "scansion is the great thing--scansion and rhythm." + +Thereupon followed a curious procession of tum tiddle, tum tiddle, tum +tiddle, tiddle tums, varied by little tinkling outbursts upon the +pianoforte, which there could be no doubt that Mr. Billy Cracker played +astonishingly well. + +"Easy or difficult to set?" inquired the Writer. + +"Oh, child's play!" + +"That's just what I want it for," remarked the Writer encouragingly, +"child's play, and the sort of tune a child would sing whilst he +played." + +"Half a mo," murmured Billy, "I'm getting it fine--lum, lum, lum, lum, +lum, lum, lum, lum, lum. Ha! What do you think of this?" + +Out rippled a delicious melody, harmonised with rich full chords this +time. + +"That's it!" shouted the Writer excitedly. "Oh! lovely!! Billy, +you're a treasure. Oh! play it again!" + +Mr. Billy Cracker obligingly consented. + +The Writer was dancing round the room and singing at one and the same +time. + +"Ripping! Billy, Ripping! Write it down at once!" + +"Suppose you haven't got any music-paper in the place? No, I thought +not; never mind, I can soon manufacture some from this +manuscript-paper." + +"No, not that," exclaimed the Writer hastily, "that's my new poem." + +"Humph! Hope it's better than the one you have given me to set." + +"Billy," exclaimed the Writer enthusiastically, "I am going to stand +you a tip-top lunch, and then I'm going to take you to Balham." + +"Balham, good gracious! what on earth for?" + +"You've got to give a music lesson in Balham after lunch, Billy, one +lesson will be enough with that tune. Why, it's in my head now, I +can't forget the thing." + +"Isn't that exactly what you required?" asked Billy languidly, as he +wrote down notes. + + * * * * * + +Messrs. Vellum and Crackles, most concise and conservative of +solicitors, found themselves suffering for the first time in the +history of the firm from a fit of astonishment, not to mention dismay, +regarding the strange nature and unusual features of a case concerning +which their firm had recently received instructions. + +The case was considered so unusual that a sort of hastily contrived +board meeting was deemed expedient, and was accordingly held in Mr. +Vellum's private room. + +At the end of the meeting, Mr. Vellum gave instructions for the writing +of a letter to the Board of Works, for special permission to have one +of the Lions, which would be, hereinafter, especially pointed out and +specified, removed from Trafalgar Square to the Law Courts, as its +presence in Court was deemed indispensable in a case of a peculiar and +special nature. + +"It is a very singular application," remarked Mr. Crackles thoughtfully. + +"I hope the request will not bring ridicule upon the firm," rejoined +Mr. Vellum. + + + + +BOOK III + +WHAT THE PUBLIC HEARD ABOUT + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE LION GOES TO COURT + +There was a curious hush of expectancy one early autumn afternoon in +Court X., about to be presided over by Mr. Justice Chatty. + +Outside in the streets London was suffering from partial darkness, +which is not infrequently the case, so a number of the lights in Court +had been lit, and although they burned a somewhat dull amber, the +lighting was sufficient to outline a truly remarkable scene. + +Mr. Justice Chatty, the Judge, had not yet entered and taken his seat, +so that the expectant hush which had momentarily crept over the Court +was all the more remarkable by way of contrast to the series of rushes +which had gone before this state of calm. + +Something approaching a small riot had taken place before the doors of +the Court had been opened. Crowds of curiosity-loving people, having +stationed themselves outside for hours, and who had even thoughtfully +provided themselves with sandwiches, now fought and kicked and +struggled in solid wedges to find a place, and even roundly abused the +police who controlled the doors when they were thrust away. The public +have an unfortunate habit of becoming abusive whenever "House Full" is +announced, after bravely enduring the probationary martyrdom of waiting +hours for one of their favoured entertainments to start. + +The belief that the Judge was about to take his seat was found to be a +false alarm, so the hum and hubbub inside the Court recommenced with +renewed activity. The solicitors chattered at their table like +magpies. The leading barristers turned over their briefs and snapped +out replies to the other barristers with them, and fidgeted with their +gowns. Everybody glared at everybody else in the amber-lighted Court, +but however eagerly they talked, and wherever they looked, the eyes of +every one in Court always returned to stare in amazement and wondering +curiosity upon one object. In the body of the Court, looming out of +the dimness, the head fully illuminated, was the enormous statue of a +bronze lion upon its stone pedestal. + +"Most extraordinary case in my recollection," drawled a junior +barrister to one of his fellows who was flattened beside him; "no +wonder there is no room in Court with that ridiculous thing stuck +there!" + +"Who's for the defendant?" + +"Dreadful, K.C., instructed by Brockett and Bracket." + +"Umph! then I suppose there will be explosions and fireworks in Court: +it's usually so when Dreadful starts." + +"Gentle Gammon, I see, for the plaintiff. Biggest spoofer on the Law +List, clever though." + +Even after the Court appeared to be packed with that overlapping +economy which is a characteristic repose of preserved sardines, small +bodies of juniors, some with wigs, some without wigs, some in whole +gowns, some with their gowns in shreds, forced their way in from other +doors and other Courts. Some conspicuously held briefs borrowed for +the occasion, some did not even pretend to have any such thing. + +The stalwart policeman who guarded this second door suddenly became +firm, and closed it with a mighty effort; that is to say, he all but +closed it, only was prevented by the foot and head of the last junior +hurrying in, who howled his agony aloud at having fallen into such a +trap. + +"No, no, Mr. Towers," expostulated the tall constable, "can't you see +the Court is full and won't hold another one?" + +"Lucas, let me in at once." + +"I can't, sir, more than my position is worth." + +"Then let me out," howled the suffering junior, "you're crushing my +foot and my neck." + +The stalwart policeman lessened a fraction of his weight against the +door, and the imprisoned junior was allowed to scrape himself out as +gradually as his peculiar position would admit. + +The one person who considered the presence of the Lion in Court to be +the most natural thing in the world was Ridgwell, who, standing beside +the Writer, peeped through the little glass panel let into the door +leading from a passage to one of the witnesses waiting-rooms. + +"Is the Round Game going to commence?" Ridgwell asked the Writer +innocently. + +The Writer admitted gravely that the Round Game was going to commence +with a vengeance. + +"The ones who lose have to pay the forfeits, haven't they?" persisted +Ridgwell. + +"Yes," agreed the Writer. "Exactly--ahem!--heavy forfeits." + +"I hope Sir Simon wins then," observed Ridgwell. + +"You see that man across there, Ridgwell," remarked the Writer, "big +fierce-looking man making ineffectual efforts to adjust his wig +becomingly over a pair of very big red ears, with two very big red +hands?" + +"Yes," agreed Ridgwell. + +"With the sort of expression upon his face that the first of the Three +Bears must have worn when he entered Silverlocks' kitchen and found the +bread-and-milk to be missing?" + +"Yes," laughed Ridgwell, "I remember, 'Who stole my bread-and-milk?'" + +"Well, that is the man who is going to try to make you and I and Sir +Simon pay the forfeits." + +"How?" inquired Ridgwell. + +"Well," suggested the Writer, "you know he will roar and shout and bang +the table with those red hands of his, and try to frighten everybody, +but the one thing to do is not to take the slightest notice of him. If +he annoys you, just smile; if he continues to annoy you, just glance +towards the Judge." + +At this moment the voices of the ushers were heard shouting for silence +and order, and a profound stillness reigned inside the Court, for his +Lordship the Judge had entered through the doors leading to his room +and had taken his seat. + +His scarlet robe only seemed to accentuate the colour of his puffy pink +cheeks, whilst the blackness of his little beady eyes and pointed nose +rather gave him the appearance of some overfed bird gorged to repletion +after a particularly satisfying meal, slightly apoplectic, with its +beak out of focus. The Judge, moreover, appeared to be afflicted with +a little wheezy asthmatical cough which attacked him at intervals as he +prepared to arrange his papers. The Clerk carefully placed a glass of +water upon the desk by his Lordship's side, but whether this was done +by way of a simple remedy for the Judge's wheezy little cough, or +merely as a gentle reminder that the case was likely to be a dry one, +cannot be guessed with any certainty. The preliminaries having been +arranged, the case having been called, the Ushers of the Court having +again shouted unnecessarily for silence, Sir Simon Gold having stared +at the Judge, and Mr. Learned Bore having stared at everybody, the +Judge having appeared to have closed his beady eyes in slumber, like a +broody hen upon a perch, Mr. Gentle Gammon rose and opened his case for +the plaintiff. + +As Ridgwell observed in a whisper, "the Round Game had started." Mr. +Gentle Gammon opened his case in his proverbially gentle tones. It was +a silky voice, purring in its gentleness, but with a curious power of +penetrating every corner of the over-crowded Court; it insisted even +whilst it soothed, and its effect upon his Lordship the Judge seemed to +be most pleasing, as he immediately appeared to nod to it as if in +greeting. Mr. Gentle Gammon related to the Court how his client, +holding the highest Civic position in London, had been made the subject +of a virulent and unscrupulous newspaper attack by a man who, in +addition to writing plays which nobody professed to understand, +undoubtedly wrote articles that all fair-minded people unquestionably +deplored. This unprincipled person, Mr. Learned Bore by name, had seen +fit to attack no less a person than the Worshipful the Lord Mayor of +London, and that, moreover, during his Lordship's tenure of office, +believing that he, an unscrupulous journalist, could drag the Lord +Mayor down from his exalted position by means of a few clap-trap +phrases written for money, although he, the learned Counsel, marvelled +how any one could find it in their hearts to remunerate such a person +engaged in such a calling using such questionable language in such a +preposterous case. + +He, the Most Worshipful the Lord Mayor, the observed of all observers +in the City as elsewhere, or in any assemblage he adorned with his +presence and ornamented with his personality, had been accused in an +offensive phrase of "imbibing too freely of the Devil's cup," the +Devil's cup in this instance signifying wine, the insidious inference +being that the Most Worshipful the Mayor was inebriated, and, moreover, +in public, and in Trafalgar Square of all places in London. The +Counsel paused dramatically, then a thrill of unutterable horror crept +into the hitherto purring voice of Mr. Gentle Gammon. + +"That, my Lord and Gentlemen of the Jury, is a foul calumny, an +insidious lie, uttered to drag down the exalted of the earth, and +bespatter the resplendent robes of Civic dignity with the spiteful mud +besprinkled from the nethermost garbaged recesses of the journalistic +gutter. + +"During the still and beautiful night hours, when this travesty of an +accusation is brought, my client, the Most Worshipful, had wandered +into the holy star-lit night, clad in the flowing robes symbolical of +his exalted earthly estate, to place a wreath, a beautiful wreath, upon +one of the monuments of London he deemed the most dignified and fitting +to receive it. That monument, if they but lifted their eyes, they +would see in Court. A stately noble Lion, whose presence there had +necessitated the removal of four separate sets of folding doors leading +to the Court in order that it might be present. Could this noble beast +but speak," urged Mr. Gentle Gammon, K.C., "could it even roar, it +would speak its severest censures, would roar its loudest denunciations +at the libellous statement that the noble Civic head of London who +honoured it, could possibly have done so, could conceivably have +climbed to such a height upon its back, unless he had been eminently +sober, unfalteringly steady at the time when, clad in his robes in the +calm violet depth of night, he had placed his offering in happy +felicitation as a symbol and a greeting to his beloved City of London. +This should have excited only admiration; but seen through the prying +eyes of a prurient pressman, this touching tribute had been changed by +the vile alchemy of suspicion to an unseemly and ridiculous action of +midnight debauchery which could only have turned the noble Lion to +stone, had it not already been made of bronze. + +"My Lord and Gentlemen of the Jury, this Lion stands for liberty, as do +all British Lions. I claim the liberty and full right of my client, if +he deems fit, to be able to decorate any statue of London whenever he +pleases, at any or every possible hour of the night that he chooses, +without the stupid and interfering intervention of a constable, or the +slanderous pen of a Mr. Learned Bore, having the power to make a +lovable and harmless action wear the appearance of a midnight frolic of +bibulous recklessness, which, had it taken place, would have been only +food and gossip for the senseless and shameful, and reflective regret +for the wise. + +"My Lord and Gentlemen of the Jury, my client does not wish for big +damages, but he does demand strict justice. That is what he is here +for, my Lord and Gentlemen of the Jury, that is what we are all here +for. If I were given to emotion, which I am glad to confess I am not, +my deepest and innermost emotions would be called forth by the picture +of his Lordship there before us, who holds the scales of Justice in his +hands, who can pierce the outer coverings of dissembling and falsehood +with the eagle eye of truth, who can right this hideous wrong, who can +smooth out the crooked paths of falsehood, making all plain. Let the +false traducer beware, I say, he is veritably between the Lion and the +Eagle. His Lordship in this case is the Eagle (metaphorically, of +course)," hastily added Counsel, upon noticing the extraordinary +likeness of his Lordship to a bird roosting, "and the Lion and the +Eagle shall each of them turn and between them rend the truth and +nothing but the truth from the lying carcase of calumny. + +"Having now shown with impartiality, at the same time characterised +with reserve, that the condition ascribed to the Right Worshipful the +Lord Mayor was ridiculous, I will proceed to deal with the other +statement in this misjudged journalistic attack, that the Right +Worshipful was reviving Paganism in London, and in consequence +attracting a crowd. Far from the Right Worshipful either attracting +attention or causing a scene or obstruction in Trafalgar Square, I +shall prove indisputably that it was the Lion, and the Lion alone, that +caused the scene; the Lion also, who by a strange metamorphosis +occasioned a crowd to collect. We know from classical history that in +Babylon and Assyria bulls talked, we have heard of the oracle of +Delphi, and in Biblical history of animals who talked. I shall prove +by witnesses that this Lion has not only walked but talked as well." + +Sensation in Court. + +Here his Lordship the Judge appeared to show the first sign of interest +he had evinced in the case. + +"My learned friend must be careful," cautioned the Judge. "If what he +states is true, the Lion may have to go into the witness-box." + +Titters in Court. The Learned Judge smiles, rather pleased with his +own remark. + +Mr. Dreadful, K.C., at this point arose hastily; in fact, the learned +K.C. almost jumped. + +"My Lord, I protest against such a line of argument, such a travesty +being introduced to mar the seriousness of this case." + +His Lordship waved the learned and excited gentleman aside. + +"I am the Judge here," observed his Lordship, "and in that sense I even +resemble Daniel with regard to his duties in a similar capacity, but I +fear I do not possess his special knowledge with regard to Lions." + +Titters again in Court, in which the Learned Judge joins. + +"However, I am always anxious to learn." + +Renewed titters. + +Mr. Dreadful, K.C., seats himself hurriedly and grinds his teeth in +vexation, but finds time to whisper rapidly to a junior, who leaves the +Court hastily and mysteriously. + +"Pray continue, Mr. Gammon." + +"My Lord, I have little more to say." + +"I am sorry for that," interposed the Judge; "you were beginning to +interest me more than I should have believed possible." + +Mr. Gentle Gammon bowed ever so slightly, as if the Learned Judge had +crowned him with a compliment that he found too heavy for his head to +support, and proceeded-- + +"But, my Lord and Gentlemen of the Jury, if I say little else with +regard to this case before you, which is permeated throughout by the +mythical mystery of a classical age, it is only that the witnesses I +shall produce to prove this strange thing may speak instead of myself. +Three witnesses in all, and one in particular. The one in particular, +since only truth can issue from the lips of infancy, I shall call +first. My Lord, I shall put a child, a little boy, into the witness +box that you may hear his simple story." + +_Judge_. "Dear me, I hope he won't be frightened of the Lion." +(Titters in Court.) + +_Mr. Gammon, K.C._ "On the contrary, my Lord, you will find he regards +it as an old friend; and, my Lord, when you have listened to what he +has to say, I think we may all realise 'that there are more things in +heaven and earth than are dreamt of in--er--philosophy.'" + +_His Lordship_ (pleasantly). "I think I have heard that before." + +_Mr. Gammon_ (courteously). "Your Lordship is much too well read to +have missed it." (Thereupon Mr. Gammon, K.C., sat down.) + +_Judge_ (with a little snigger). "The only thing I am likely to miss +is how our _celestial_ knowledge is going to be especially advanced +this afternoon. However, the curious nature of the case as presented +possesses unlimited possibilities." + +Ridgwell, having been called, walked with the utmost composure into +Court and took his place in the witness-box. He looked very tiny, but +very self-possessed, and smiled pleasantly at the Judge. + +The Judge smiled pleasantly back at Ridgwell. + +Mr. Gammon rose to the occasion and to his feet at one and the same +time. He permitted the pleasing impression that Ridgwell had +unconsciously created to have its full effect upon the Court, and upon +everybody present with the exception of Mr. Learned Bore, whose +countenance alone wore the disgusted and horrified expression that +might have been expected had a great green toad been introduced into +the witness-box. Mr. Learned Bore's countenance afforded a strange +study of nausea struggling against outraged dignity. + +"Now, Ridgwell, do you see any one in Court that you know?" + +"Yes. Lal." + +"And will you tell us who Lal is?" purred Mr. Gammon. + +"Yes, Lal is the Pleasant-Faced Lion. There he is," said Ridgwell. + +"How do you know his name is Lal?" inquired Counsel winningly. + +"He told me so himself, it is short for Lionel. Lionel is his proper +name." + +"And when did this Lion Lal first speak to you?" + +"Some weeks ago. The night I got lost in the fog." + +This was altogether too much for Mr. Dreadful, K.C. + +"My Lord," shouted that gentleman, as he bounded to his feet, "my Lord, +I take this opportunity of protesting that the witness is not the only +one who complains of being lost in the fog. I myself, my Lud, am +completely lost owing to the same cause." + +"In that case," said the Judge, testily, "always keep quite still, and +you will in time find out where you are." + +Titters in Court. + +"My Lord," roared Counsel for the defendant, "I protest!" + +The Judge interposing. "My learned friend, there is only one thing +present in this Court that has a right to roar, and it is noticeable +what a good example he sets you by refraining from doing so." +(Amusement in Court.) "Kindly sit down. The little boy is giving his +evidence very well indeed." + +"Am I to take this witness's evidence down, my Lord?" inquired the +Judge's Clerk in a whisper. + +"Certainly, certainly," replied the Judge. "If a Hans Christian +Andersen comes into Court, or sends a deputy, the evidence must be +taken down, the same as anybody else's." + +"And now, Ridgwell," said Mr. Gentle Gammon, in his gentlest tones, +"will you please tell us in your own way all that befell you when you +became acquainted with the Pleasant-Faced Lion." + +For a considerable time the Learned Judge folded his claw-like thumbs +and listened, and the Court sat amazed and stupefied whilst Ridgwell +told of all the adventures that had befallen him after his acquaintance +with Lal. + +First came the tournament, then his first ride home to Balham on the +Lion's back. + +"Rather a long way, little man, eh?" suggested the Judge, affably. "He +could never have been away so far from Trafalgar Square before. How +did he find his way?" + +"Oh, he followed the tram-lines," said Ridgwell. + +Titters in Court. + +"Good indeed, a most admirable witness this," observed his Lordship. + +Then followed a simple but glowing description of the Pleasant-Faced +Lion's wonderful evening party. + +"Dear me," again observed his Lordship, "you had Royalty present, too!" + +"Yes," said Ridgwell. "King Richard, King Charles, Queen Boadicea; and +Oliver Cromwell came in and shouted 'Ho!' at King Richard and 'Ha, ha!' +at King Charles. Then the Griffin ordered Oliver Cromwell out, and +Christine thanked him." + +"Very extraordinary and interesting," observed his Lordship; "and who +is Christine?" + +"She is my little sister." + +"I have her deposition here, my Lord," broke in Counsel for plaintiff, +"bearing out her brother's statements." + +When Ridgwell came to a description of the Griffin, his sayings, +doings, his woes and his character generally, the entire Court rocked +with amusement which nobody made any effort to subdue. + +"And now," said Counsel, who had watched everything up to this point +with the cunning eye of a fox, "and now, little man, will you kindly +sing as well as you can the song you say the Griffin sang at the party +before the Lion?" + +At this point Mr. Learned Bore, with his hands covering his ears, sank +his head upon the solicitor's table at which he sat. If there was one +thing Mr. Learned Bore hated more than children, it was music, in any +shape or form, and when they both came together Mr. Learned Bore shared +all the unpleasant feelings from which Mephistopheles was supposed to +have suffered whenever he heard church bells. In a beautifully clear +childish voice Ridgwell sang the merry song in the merriest way +imaginable. + + "Of a merry, merry King I will relate, + Who owned much silver, gold and plate," + +commenced Ridgwell triumphantly, in a quite wonderful rendering of the +Griffin's favourite ballad. The tune was haunting, the swing of the +air irresistible. The entire Court became slowly infected with the +seductive gaiety of the song. The Juniors began to move their feet, +the solicitors began to wave their quill pens to it. The Usher of the +Court nodded his head, and his Lordship the Judge was so carried away +by the melody that he unconsciously beat time gently by wagging one +finger, whilst he smiled around upon the Court; and so in a burst of +pleasing song Ridgwell continued-- + + "Yet one thing the merry, merry King forgot, + That it would be his Griffin's lot + To be very, very cold or very, very hot--" + + +"High up in Fleet Street," sang the entire Court. + + "So slowly the faithful creature got + Chilblains in Fleet Street." + + +"Chilblains in Fleet Street," yelled all the Juniors in chorus. On +went Ridgwell without a breath-- + + "The Griffin grew prettier day by day, + Directing the traffic along each way, + With always a pleasant word to say," + + +"High up in Fleet Street," burst from the Court, who knew the phrase +quite as well as the refrain by this time, and could not have sung it +better if they had practised it. + + "One trouble alone caused him dismay," + + +"Chilblains in Fleet Street," came the chorus, which drowned Ridgwell's +last notes entirely. + +Frantic applause in Court, which the Judge instantly suppressed. + +"If," said his Lordship, forgetful of the fact that he himself had +helped in the scene by beating time, "if I have any more of this +disgraceful disturbance in Court I shall give orders for it to be +instantly cleared." + +"Thank you, that will do. You can step down now, Ridgwell," said Mr. +Gentle Gammon. + +"And very well sung," observed his Lordship, as Ridgwell departed. + +The next witnesses were called, Cissie Laurie and John Bowling. + +"Are you sure you have those names correctly?" asked the Judge. + +"Yes, my Lord; why?" + +_The Judge_ (facetiously). "It has been an afternoon of ballads; we +have just heard one very well sung, and it seems to me that the +collection would not be complete without _Annie_ Laurie and _Tom_ +Bowling." (Much laughter in Court, in which the Learned Judge joins in +a high-pitched alto.) + +John Bowling admitted that he behaved most oddly, but he did so because +the Lion seemed to be behaving strangely. Said he thought the Lion's +eyes had gone green; believing that they were real emeralds, he had +tried to cut them out with his knife. + +_Judge_. "What! tried to gouge out the Pleasant-Faced Lion's eyes?" +(Laughter in Court.) + +The Sailor admitted it with contrition. + +_The Judge_. "Such a gentle creature, too! Lal, the Children's +friend." (Much laughter in Court.) + +_His Lordship_. "Had _you_ been to the party?" (Renewed laughter.) + +_Sailor_. "No, my Lord, not his, another." (More laughter.) + +Counsel here asked witness to relate what exactly happened upon the +evening in question. + +_Sailor_. "Well, yer see, governor, I can't say, 'cos I can't remember +much about it; yer see, I was tuppence on the can, so to speak." + +_Judge_ (interrupting). "I don't understand that expression; is it a +term used in the Navy? What does he mean by 'Tuppence on the can'?" + +_Sailor_. "Well, in other words, I was blind, your Worship, I mean +your Lordship." (Titters in Court.) + +Counsel hastened to explain that Mr. Bowling wished to convey the +unfortunate fact that he was intoxicated. + +_Sailor_. "You've caught it, governor!" + +Counsel was here heard to murmur words to the effect that he was +thankful to say he had not caught it. + +_Witness_ (continuing unabashed). "Yer see, the reason as I was like I +was, I 'ad snatched five dog's-noses right off." + +_Judge_ (plaintively to Counsel). "What does he mean by saying he +snatched five dog's-noses? Why, was he possessed with a mania for +mutilating animals?" + +_Counsel_ (explaining). "No, my Lord, the dog's-noses the witness +refers to is a form of alcoholic stimulant--ahem!--gin, I believe, with +some other ingredient, such as ale, mixed with it." + +_His Lordship_. "Oh, very well." + +Counsel. "Did the witness consider the Lord Mayor of London was sober?" + +_Sailor_. "Do you mean that there old cove in the red gown?" + +_Judge_ (excitedly, and in needless alarm). "Of whom is he speaking?" + +_Counsel_ (hastening to explain). "The Lord Mayor, my Lord. I asked +the witness did he consider the Lord Mayor sober upon the night they +met." + +_Witness_. "Yes, he was sober enough, but I think he was balmy, and I +shall always think he was balmy." + +_Counsel_. "Thank you, that is sufficient; you can stand down." + +Cissie Laurie, upon being called, went skittishly into the witness box, +curtseyed to the Court, and blew a kiss to the Judge. + +His Lordship glared at the lady in shocked amazement. + +Upon being questioned, Mrs. Laurie confided that most of her early life +had been passed playing in Pantomimes, therefore she had always been +fond of dancing. At the present time she kept a lodging-house for +theatricals, and the only chance she had of indulging in her old and +favourite pastime seemed to be to dance attendance upon these lodgers. + +"Never mind what you do indoors," suggested Counsel. "I want to know +what you do out of doors, what you did out of doors on the particular +night in question when you met the Lord Mayor of London." + +"Well, I felt young and girlish," confessed Cissie. "The first floor +back and the second floor front had both gone out, and the house seemed +dull with no lights and nobody in it." + +"Never mind about the house or the lighting of it," interrupted +Counsel. "You went out for a walk in the streets of London." + +"When I got to Trafalgar Square," continued Cissie, "I felt skittish, +thoughtless and jolly, and I could 'ave declared he laughed at me and +then winked." + +_Judge_ (interrupting). "The witness tells her story very badly. Who +laughed and winked at her? The Lord Mayor?" + +_Counsel_ (hastily). "No, no, my Lord, not the Lord Mayor; the Lion." + +_Judge_. "Oh, well, why doesn't she say so?" + +Then proceeded Cissie, heedless of all interruptions-- + +"I sees the wreath round his neck, and I at once thought of the Russian +dancers----" + +_Judge_. "Tut, tut, tut! what has the fact of the Lord Mayor of London +having a wreath round his neck to do with the Russian ballet?" + +_Counsel_ (in despair). "Not the Lord Mayor, my Lord; the Lion." + +_Judge_ (testily). "Then will the witness please say the word Lion +whenever she wishes to refer to the Lion?" + +_Cissy_ (imperturbably). "I don't want to refer to it no more, 'cos I +collared the wreath, and 'olding it over my 'ead I danced round the +Square, just like the posters of them Russian dancers." + +_His Lordship_ (irritably). "Which particular poster was she desirous +of realising?" + +_Counsel_. "My Lord, I think it must be the one of a slim and classic +youth dancing the Bacchanal with a wreath uplifted over his head." + +_His Lordship_ (looking at Cissie's ample form completely filling the +witness-box, murmurs), "No, I cannot see the picture at all." + +_Counsel_. "Nor I, my Lord, believe me." + +Then volunteered Cissie, "He gave me two sovereigns." + +_Judge_. "What, the Lion? does he give money as well as parties?" + +_Counsel_ (desperately). "Not the Lion this time, my Lord, but the +Lord Mayor. Did you consider that the Lord Mayor was sober when he +gave you this money?" + +_Cissie_. "Lor bless yer, yes, as sober as his Honour there the +blessed Judge himself." + +_Judge_ (with complexion rapidly changing from pink to crimson). "Do +not refer to me again in such a way. It is most improper." + +_Cissie_ (obligingly). "Very well, my dear." + +_Judge_ (very annoyed). "Do not address me as my dear, do not address +me at all, direct your remarks to Counsel, please." + +_Cissie_ (tossing her head). "Wot o'! now we shan't be long." + +_Counsel_ (soothingly). "No, Mrs. Laurie, as you observe, we shall not +be long now. Will you kindly tell me where you met the Lord Mayor, +previous to your meeting with him in Trafalgar Square?" + +_Cissie_. "Yes, I first met him in a Pantomime." + +_Counsel_. "In a Pantomime; very good." + +_Cissie_. "Yus, I was playing Principal Boy, dressed in a green velvet +jacket, green ostrich plumes in my 'air, and a pink pair of silk +tights. Oh, you should just 'ave seen the pink silk tights, bran new +ones." + +_Counsel_ (hastily). "Thank you, that is sufficient; a detailed +description of the costume you wore is immaterial to the case." + +_Cissie_. "Oh, is it? then I don't see the object of my being dragged +'ere if I ain't to describe my costume." + +_Counsel_. "That will do, thank you, Mrs. Laurie; stand down." + +_Cissie_. "Dragging me all the way 'ere, when the lodgers ain't got +their dinners yet; fish to fry for the first floor, and the second back +wanting macaroni with their stew, because they're I'talians." + +_Counsel_. "That's enough, Mrs. Laurie." + +_Cissie_ (still talking as she prepares to depart). "Oh, is it enough, +Mister Grey-Wig? Well, I call it a darned sight too much." (Cissie +here being persuaded out by an usher of the Court). "So the next time +you wants me to leave my work in the middle of the day you can fish for +me, same as the lodgers will 'ave to fish for their darned dinner this +blessed----" (door of the Court closes upon Cissie, rendering further +remarks inaudible). + +_Judge_. "A most garrulous woman." + +Here Mr. Dreadful, K.C., rose with an evil smile of triumph, that is to +say, it was a cross between a legal smile and a snarl. + +Mr. Dreadful, K.C.'s utterances rather suggested the muffled +discharging of pom-poms. Whenever he opened his mouth it was succeeded +by an explosion of words, then a whistle by way of taking breath, +another explosion succeeded by more whistles. Mr. Dreadful announced +that before placing his client in the witness-box, he would state that +all his client, the defendant's, written words were true in substance +and in fact. + +"The Lord Mayor of London had wandered out into the night, so had his +client, Mr. Learned Bore. This gentleman, a playwright, journalist and +writer, had wandered forth in order, no doubt, to get inspiration. The +source of any such inspiration as he might have derived from the calm +night had been utterly destroyed by the ridiculous antics of the Lord +Mayor of London; inspiration had vanished, giving place instantly to a +righteous feeling of strong condemnation that so beautiful a thing +should have been so ruthlessly crushed. Fancies had fled, driven from +their abiding-place by stern facts. Those facts had been embodied in a +glowing article, destined to be distributed through the medium of the +daily paper which his client adorned by contributions from his pen." + +"If the Lord Mayor of London objected to the ridicule which his +client's able article had heaped upon him--it was entirely the fault of +the Lord Mayor. Any sober person, such as his client, must have +instinctively supposed the Lord Mayor to be inebriated, when he was +actually discovered arrayed in his state robes, coaxing the statue of a +Lion to speak to him. Any Christian person, after observing this high +Civic official place a wreath about this effigy, would unquestionably +have believed him to be a Pagan, and a very ignorant one at that. +Finding it hopeless to either excuse or explain such conduct, the +plaintiff in this action, which ought never to have been brought, that +is if the plaintiff had been wise, had actually, with an impudent +audacity unparalleled in any Court of Law, urged that this lifeless +Lion not only talked, but made signs. I shall not cross-examine one +single witness who has appeared up to the present in this case, they +have sufficiently condemned themselves already." + +"The last lady, with a wealth of unnecessary words and adjectives, had +informed the Court that she was once in a Pantomime, and it is my firm +impression that is exactly where all the other witnesses in this case +ought to be, especially the child who had unblushingly told them a long +fairy story, and had attempted to sing them a song. A Pantomime was +the proper place for them all, a fitting setting, and especially +suitable for the Lord Mayor himself, robes and all. There, amidst the +medley of such an entertainment, the Lord Mayor could coax Lions to do +tricks, the sailor could indulge in his hornpipes and quaff +dog's-noses. The child could act fairy stories, and sing all by +himself, whilst the vociferating lady, who owned to a weakness for +dancing indecorous solos, would be able to delight her heart by +performing the Russian Carnival----" + +_Judge_ (prompting). "Bacchanal." + +"They would all be most suitable in a Pantomime, but not in a Court of +Law." + +"The one amazing thing which had horrified him inexpressibly during the +case was the fact that his learned brother Counsel, Mr. Gentle Gammon, +had so far forgotten his professional dignity as to declare that this +Lion actually moved and spoke at times. He feared, and also he +lamented, that his learned brother must be approaching his dotage. Yet +in order to satisfy each and every one in Court, he, Mr. Dreadful, had +sent an urgent and special messenger for a first-class veterinary +surgeon, having the letters M.R.C.V.S. after his name, and also for one +of the keepers belonging to the lions' house in the Zoological Gardens. +Their evidence would now be taken." + +Upon the appearance of the M.R.C.V.S. in the witness-box the Learned +Judge saw fit to interfere. + +_Judge_. "Have you ever attended a lion professionally?" + +_M.R.C.V.S._ "Never, your Lordship." + +_Judge_ (sagaciously). "Then what do you know about them?" + +_M.R.C.V.S._ "I have attended other animals, your Lordship." + +_Judge_. "Very likely, very likely, but a live ass is a different +thing to a dead lion." (Laughter in Court.) + +_Counsel_ (for the Defendant). "_Better_ than a dead lion, your +Lordship." (More laughter.) + +_Judge_. "Not in this case." (Loud laughter.) "The learned Counsel +for the Defence need not waste the time of the Court in hearing the +opinion of either Veterinary Surgeons or experts from the Zoo. What +the Learned Counsel ought to do is to produce Pygmalion." (Titters in +Court.) + +Mr. Dreadful, K.C., rising to protest. "My Lud, Pygmalion is a +mythical personage, and your Ludship knows he is of a necessity +shrouded in silence." + +_His Lordship_. "So is the Lion." (Laughter in Court.) + +_Mr. Dreadful_ (still exploding and still protesting). "My Lud, I do +venture to suggest that this Lion should somehow be thoroughly +examined." + +_His Lordship_. "Well, it is in Court, better try for yourself. I +only hope your efforts will be as successful as Little Ridgwell's and +his sister Christine, to say nothing of the Lord Mayor of London." + +_Mr. Dreadful_. "My Lud, I cannot treat with these people, it is like +dealing with the worshippers of Baal." + +_His Lordship_. "Well, I really cannot sanction digging a trench and +lighting fires all round it here in my court, to make it speak." (Loud +laughter.) + +After the laughter had somewhat subsided a slight stir was occasioned +in Court by the appearance in the witness-box of Mr. Learned Bore. + +In reply to many questions from Mr. Dreadful, K.C., Mr. Learned Bore +stated all the incidents in Trafalgar Square which he had witnessed, +and which had given rise to the present action. + +Cross-examined by Mr. Gentle Gammon-- + +"You are a famous playwright, Mr. Learned Bore," commenced Counsel. + +"I am a playwright." + +"Do you write to instruct or to amuse?" + +"It is possible to combine both." + +"Can you give me an example?" + +"Yes, this afternoon's experience in Court." + +"Wonderful as that may have been, Mr. Bore, I suggest you have not +written it." + +_His Lordship_ (facetiously). "Give him a chance, he may." (Laughter +in Court.) + +"Of course," suggested Counsel, "you always enjoy reading your own +articles in the papers." + +"Oh dear no. I am only concerned with writing them." + +"But I suggest you read them before you send them in." + +"Never; the Editor saves me the trouble." + +"Your articles have a ready acceptance, I take it." + +"Always." + +"The Editor is so desirous of obtaining your work, I suppose he is +willing to pay a big price for it even before it is written." + +"Yes, and before it is read." + +"Indeed, so there must be a time when nobody knows what your articles +are about, including yourself, as you never read them." Counsel +continuing. "I presume you never contribute any articles during the +time of the year known as the Silly Season?" + +"On the contrary, my first effort in that direction has resulted in the +bringing of the present action." + +"You considered the Silly Season had started then, upon the night you +met the Lord Mayor?" + +"The Silly Season started then, has continued since, and appears to be +at its height here this afternoon." + +(Sweetly.) "Then you can congratulate yourself upon being thoroughly in +the fashion. Now tell me, Mr. Bore, in your opinion, should we take +the statues of London seriously?" + +"No, in my opinion we should take them all down." + +"All? Oh, surely not. Now, as an instance, let us go down the Strand." + +_His Lordship_ (interrupting). "No, no, no, I believe the correct +quotation is, 'Let's all go down the Strand.'" (Loud laughter.) + +_Counsel_. "I have never heard the quotation, my lord." + +_His Lordship_ (pleasantly). "What! I should have thought that +everybody had heard that, the difficulty is not to hear it. I have +even heard it set to music." (Loud laughter.) + +"Now, Mr. Bore," continued Counsel, when order had once more been +restored. "Has it never struck you that some of the statues of London +might, for example, sometimes come to life?" + +"Never. I cannot imagine anything less like life, than any of the +statues of London." + +"Surely the one in Court to-day is a good specimen?" + +"If it is a specimen it ought to be in its proper place--in a case." + +_Counsel_ (gently). "It is in a case." + +"And I object to it being in this case." + +"Sculpture is evidently not your strong point." + +"Neither are ridiculous fairy tales!" + +"You wish us to believe that you, a writer, are only capable of dealing +with facts." + +"I have not encountered any facts in this case at all yet, and I +utterly fail to understand what anybody here can mean by facts after +this afternoon's exhibition." + +_Judge_ (annoyed). "Tut, tut! Facts are facts: this is a Court of +Justice: I am the Judge; would you, for instance, regard me, _me_ as a +fact?" + +_Mr. Learned Bore_. "No, as a figure-head." + +His Lordship shrieks in his highest falsetto-- + +"Remove this witness at once, he is flippant. Order him to stand down, +or I shall commit him for contempt." + +Sensation in Court. Mr. Learned Bore leaves the witness-box, +hurriedly, and looking slightly scared. + +Mr. Dreadful, K.C., wishing to cover up the _faux pas_ as quickly as +possible, rises and announces in explosive tones-- + +"Call the Writer." + +The Writer entered the witness-box; inclined his head slightly to the +Judge, smiled in the direction of the Lord Mayor, and was immediately +bombarded explosively by Mr. Dreadful, K.C., whose pom-pom-like shells +whistling overhead seemed totally unable to disturb the Writer's serene +calm. + +"Now, sir, are you not the author of the song, the ballad, the bosh, +whatever you like to call it, that we have all been compelled to listen +to in Court this afternoon?" + +"Yes and No." + +"Don't prevaricate, sir; which is it, yes or no?" + +"Both." + +"I warn you, sir, I warn you; what do you mean by both?" + +"What I say." + +"Then kindly say what you mean, sir; you must mean one or the other if +you mean anything; you cannot mean both." + +"I rearranged the song you refer to only from hearsay." + +"Oh, indeed, sir, pray who is the original author?" + +"The Griffin." + +"Kindly stop talking nonsense, sir; it is bad enough to have to suffer +it from an over-imaginative child, from a grown-up person it is +intolerable. Do you suppose we are going to have the Griffin brought +into Court in addition to the Lion?" + +"I hope so." + +"Indeed, indeed, sir, why do you hope so?" + +"Well, judging from the Griffin's characteristics we have heard so well +described this afternoon, he must be feeling green with envy that he +has not received a summons here." + +"You are pleased to joke, sir, and you are attempting to be elusive, +but you will not slip through the fine meshes of evidence woven by the +law in that way. Kindly examine that paper!" + +Small piece of dirty paper passed to witness-- + +Witness smiles. + +"Is that your handwriting, sir?" + +"Certainly." + +"And the composition of the words are yours?" + +"No, only touched up from the Griffin's original." + +Mr. Dreadful, bellowing, stamping, and banging his hand upon table all +at one and the same time-- + +"The wretched Griffin is left entirely out of this case, sir." + +"It is a thousand pities; he would have enjoyed it so." + +"My Lord, I will venture to read this fragment mercifully dropped in +Court by the child confederate of this slippery witness: it is headed +_Chorus_, my lord; it doubtless forms a last part to the ridiculous +song we all listened to in pained surprise. I contend, my Lord, that +this fragment which has come into my possession is seditious; +seditious, my Lord." + +"Well, well, let us hear it," his Lordship adding hastily: "No, no, +don't sing it, read it." + +"My Lord, your injunction to me is unnecessary; indeed, my Lord, I lack +all training enabling me to sing, I am thankful to say, but what is +more to the point, my Lord, I almost lack the necessary self-control to +read these seditious words unmoved by indignation. However, my Lord, I +will make an effort." Counsel reads: "'Oh, my poor tender feet.'" +(Titters in Court.) + +_His Lordship_. "Well, well, that is harmless enough, the Griffin +complained of that, you remember." + +_Counsel_. "My Lord, I know nothing of the Griffin, and care less +whether he complained or what he complained of, but, my Lord, it is I +who complain, and rightly so, when the majesty of the law of England is +mocked at. Listen, my Lord and Gentlemen of the Jury, to the following +lines, and their harmful wickedness-- + + "Of what use are England's laws + Unless they protect my claws, + And keep me warm in the street? + What snuffy old Judge in Court, + Ever gives my poor feet a thought; + Ever thinks of the snows and frosts, + Or adds up my bill of costs?" + + +(Titters in Court from the juniors.) + +"There, my Lord," thundered Counsel, "can any one hear this iniquitous +document unmoved, these wantonly wicked lines mocking alike at Law and +Order, even at your Lordship's own almost sacred calling." + +_His Lordship_. "A highly offensive and seditious document; impound +it, Mr. Dreadful, and continue your examination of witnesses, please; +time goes on." + +"Now, sir," exploded Mr. Dreadful, "the Court, having with shame +listened to your ribald effusion, I will ask you what you had to drink +upon the night you and the Lord Mayor were found wandering under +extraordinary circumstances in Trafalgar Square?" + +"To drink--I personally? Nothing." + +"What did you have in the house, sir, at the time?" + +"Oh, the usual things." + +"Don't equivocate, sir; how does the Court know what you may consider +usual in your ill-regulated household. What did the Lord Mayor partake +of during the period he was in your company, in your rooms, before +going out to chase a lady who was under the impression she was a +Russian dancer--round Trafalgar Square, and before proceeding to play +bo-peep with one of the lions, placed in that Square to ornament +it,--what, I ask, sir, did the Lord Mayor partake of by way of +refreshment?" + +"Oh, two tiny glasses of Creme-de-Menthe." + +_Counsel_ (triumphantly). "I knew it; at last, my Lord, we have the +mystery explained. The mystery of the Lion's green eyes, the +strangeness of the Lord Mayor's attitude, the strangeness of his +speech, his dress, all due, my Lord and Gentlemen of the Jury, to +Creme-de-Menthe! My Lord, that one phrase explains this whole mystery, +and with it I finish my statement of this case, my Lord, finish it with +those three, deadly, green, significant words--Creme-de-Menthe." + +Whereupon, to everybody's relief, the pompom explosions of Mr. Dreadful +ceased. The last shell had been fired, followed by the usual whistles, +and he sat down. + +The silky tones of Mr. Gentle Gammon came as a positive relief as he +re-examined and asked gently-- + +"Have you got the particular bottle of Creme-de-Menthe in Court?" + +The Writer said he had brought it. + +The bottle was fetched promptly. + +"My Lord," observed Mr. Gentle Gammon, "I do not think the amount taken +could possibly have had any effect upon anybody. Your Lordship +observes that the bottle is nearly full, and the bottle produced is the +identical vessel used upon the evening in question. Was any other sort +of refreshment partaken of that evening in your chambers?" + +"None whatever." + +"One more question before you go. Of course this ballad, rearranged, +as you say, from the original by you, was written without any thought +of giving offence?" + +"It was never intended to be published at all." + +"Never intended to be read in Court, of course?" + +"_Never_, in the way it was read." + +"Thank you, that is enough," whereupon the Writer vanished gracefully +from the witness-box. + +After this period in the proceedings, if the Learned Judge slumbered +only fitfully during Mr. Dreadful's final peroration, it might have +been owing to the spasmodic explosions of that Counsel's voice; but +there could be no doubt that the Learned Judge slept peacefully during +the earlier portions of Mr. Gentle Gammon's final effort upon behalf of +his client. + +The Learned Judge had, however, a curious habit of hearing particular +things in his sleep, which, like the highly intelligent house-dog, +might have been either the result of long training or a naturally keen +possession of the intuitive faculty. His Lordship found frequent +occasion, therefore, to arouse himself in order to interpolate remarks +during the latter half of Mr. Gentle Gammon's closing speech. + +"Who are these sceptics?" demanded Mr. Gammon, "these disbelievers?" +After all they had heard that afternoon, might they not verily be +approaching that blissful period when the Lion should lie down with the +Lamb?... + +_His Lordship_ (opening one eye). "But it seems, according to +evidence, that the Lion didn't always lie down; it stood up and gave a +party." + +Counsel proceeds: he had not quite finished the beautiful and +well-known simile; here Counsel paused before continuing in a voice +mellowed by winning tenderness-- + +"And the little child shall lead them." + +_Judge_ (again interrupting). "No, no, the Lion, according to +evidence, distinctly led the children, even took them to Balham, we +gather, in the direction of the tram-lines." + +_Counsel_. "Your Lordship is pleased to interrupt my remarks." + +_Judge_. "No, no, not pleased at all; quite the contrary." + +_Counsel_. "I am sorry to have encountered your Lordship's +displeasure." + +_His Lordship_ (irritably). "You have not encountered anything yet, +save an inability to deal with the evidence, as evidence." + +_Counsel_. "But, my Lord------" + +_His Lordship_. "Hush, do not contradict me. Please continue; I shall +not interrupt again." + +_Counsel_. "I thank your Lordship for that assurance." + +_His Lordship_. "Please do not thank me, and do not provoke me." + +_Counsel_ (proceeds, slightly ruffled). He would take another case of +Biblical history; it was without question an ass who had upon a certain +occasion been the one to see when a Lion had stood in his path. Here +the case was unhappily reversed; it was only the asses who couldn't see +the Lion, as he ought to be seen in this case. + +_His Lordship_. "No, I cannot see that." + +_Counsel_. "Your Lordship only makes my remarks more pointed than I +actually intended." + +_His Lordship_. "Please do not set cheap traps or you may one day get +caught in them yourself." + +_Counsel_ (gallantly). "In that case, I can only hope that your +Lordship may be there to extricate me by the nimbleness of your wit." + +_His Lordship_ (beaming round upon the Court, and especially upon +Counsel). "Very pleasant, very clever; your speech interests me very +much; pray continue!" + +_Learned Counsel_ (continuing). "Shakespeare, our best guide, +philosopher, poet, thinker, and prophet, had fitly and most +appropriately even foretold this very matter with regard to the Lion; +maybe had prophesied it, when he told us there were sermons in stone +and good in everything." + +_Judge_ (awakening, after dozing). "Good gracious! I always +understood it was bronze." + +_Counsel_. "Ahem! Yes, my Lord, that is to say stone pedestal, bronze +beast." + +_His Lordship_. "Very well, but when you quote for a purpose always +quote with exact correctness." + +_Counsel_ (proceeds). "Did not the creature his Lordship had referred +to as the great Pyg--Pyg--Pyg-----" + +_His Lordship_ (prompting). "No, no, not a pig, a Lion." + +_Counsel_ (bows, and with a supreme effort of memory recollects the +word Pygmalion). "Had not the great Pygmalion so created Galatea that +she verily became endowed with life, and may we not suppose that the +genius of Sir Edwin Landseer, or whoever carved this wondrous lifelike +Lion, might not also have endowed it with some such strange new form of +existence? Was it reasonable to suppose that what had happened to +Beauty might not also happen to the Beast? Take the simple exquisite +statement of this child, this little boy Ridgwell, confirmed by his +sister." + +_Judge_ (prompting). "No, no, you can only be actually confirmed by a +Bishop." + +_Counsel_. "I spoke of another confirmation, my Lord." + +_His Lordship_. "Well, the issue, the issue, what does it show?" + +_Counsel_. "My Lord, I will explain at some length carefully." + +His Lordship immediately relapses into another short but placid slumber. + +_Counsel_. "This child Ridgwell, with the imagination worthy of +Christian in the _Pilgrim's Progress_, states simply, and you have +heard for yourselves how beautifully, that the Lion walked and talked +with him; and as I have used the touching illustration of the Pilgrim's +Progress, with which you are all familiar, I say this child is not +alone in his belief that the Lion came to life. There are others to +testify, others to write of it, among them a well-known Writer and +Poet. This Lion has not been left without a Bunyan." + +_His Lordship_ (waking almost with a start). "No, no! ridiculous; you +are mixing matters. All the Lion had was a swelling in the foot caused +by a thorn--I know the fable well." + +_Counsel_. "My Lord, believe me, I spoke of a different matter." + +_His Lordship_. "Well, you must not really wander from the point, it +makes it almost impossible for me to follow you, and if I cannot follow +you I don't know where you will be." + +_Counsel_ (glibly). "I trust it is I who will always follow your +Lordship, and be led, as it were, by your Lordship." + +_His Lordship_ (obviously highly pleased). "Very true, and very aptly +expressed. Pray do not let me interrupt you." + +_Counsel_ (bowing). "Your Lordship's remarks are in themselves a +Commentary, and worthy of all preservation." + +_His Lordship_ (almost playfully). "Exceedingly apt. But I must +refuse to be prejudiced by your clever advocacy." + +_Counsel_. "And now we come to the touching and beautiful story of the +Lord Mayor of London, the Right Worshipful" (with a rising inflexion of +admiration in his voice), "who, after many years, had been knighted +like Dick Whittington." + +_His Lordship_. "What has Dick Whittington and his Cat to do with the +present Lord Mayor of London and the Lion?" + +_Counsel_. "Nothing, my Lord, save that----" + +_His Lordship_. "Then please omit it; we have had enough of the fairy +tale element in this trial without the introduction of any fresh fairy +stories or nursery rhymes whatever." + +_Counsel_ (continues blandly, as if unconscious of interruption). "The +Right Worshipful knew, and had always known, that one Lion was +different to the others. One only, the one present in Court, was +intelligent, a companion; the other three were _deaf_." + +The Learned Counsel hoped the Gentlemen of the Jury "would not resemble +those other three Lions by being deaf, deaf to the cause of justice, +deaf to the interests of his client the Right Worshipful, deaf to those +promptings of illuminating intelligence which had been especially +vouchsafed to them as Jurymen, deaf to their duties as citizens in a +strange world where there were to be found things even stranger than +themselves." Thereupon the Learned Counsel sat down. + +The Jury were asked if they wished to put any questions before His +Lordship summed up. + +One juryman, rising, wished to know where Trafalgar Square was, as he +had never seen it. + +Consternation in Court. + +_His Lordship_. "Good gracious, where do you live?" + +Juryman was understood to say he had lived all his life upon the +borders of Clapham Common. Questioned further with regard to this +extraordinary admission, confessed he had never seen any of the Lions +until he met the one in Court. Knew the Griffin well, as he had waited +beside it during the four different days he had been obliged to come to +town for the first time in his life. Had waited from an early hour +each morning for several days until his name was called, when the +different Jury lists were made up. Obliged to wait so many days on +account of the names being taken alphabetically on the List, his +beginning with Y, his name being Yobb. + +After this brief interlude his Lordship appeared to rouse himself up +and proceeded to sum up at one and the same time. His Lordship +commenced by observing that the case before them that day was without +exception the most extraordinary case that had ever come before him +since he had presided as a judge. The Learned Judge considered that +the child Ridgwell was exempt from--er--er--any deliberate desire to +pervert facts. This boy claimed that he had become the recipient of +some High Order of Imagination. He, the Learned Judge, had not the +remotest idea what this order meant, and he firmly believed nobody else +in Court had the faintest conception either concerning such a +possession. However, children would be children, which was +unfortunate, as he himself considered that children should be always, +ahem! grown up, yes, or nearly always. That is to say, as often as was +possible. + +But the defendant, Mr. Learned Bore, had not even got the plea of +childishness to excuse some of the very reprehensible, if not flippant, +statements he had dared to make in the witness-box. + +As a writer, the Learned Judge had always been led to believe that Mr. +Learned Bore was quite intelligent; as a witness, the Learned Judge +considered him deplorable. That a Lord Mayor of London, of London, +perhaps the most beautiful and dignified city in the world, with a few +architectural exceptions which the Learned Judge deplored, +but--ahem!--allowed; that the Lord Mayor of this City with the +glittering chains of that High Office still weighing down his neck, yet +wearing his crimson robes, which the Learned Judge hoped blushed for +him, as indeed his, the Learned Judge's own robes did, which he was at +that moment wearing. That this Lord Mayor should utter the still more +crimson falsehoods and fabrication of fairy folk, was well-nigh +inconceivable. + +The Learned Judge could only suppose such a state of Civic imbecility +was due to the decadence of the times in which they had the misfortune +to live. It was the first indication that the downfall of London, like +that of Rome, and--er--other cities he could not at the moment +recall--was at hand. + +It showed, in the Learned Judge's opinion, that the Navy should at once +be strengthened, the Board Schools increased, and the Asylums for all +those who were mentally afflicted, and therefore so unlike themselves, +should immediately be enlarged throughout the country, in order to cope +with the extra call upon them that such a state of things as they had +listened to that day might necessitate. + +Furthermore, the Learned Judge remembered with gratitude the many +petitions to the Royal Family, who, he was thankful to note, were never +afflicted or influenced by any imagination whatsoever; therefore he +begged that those petitions might be increased fourfold +for--for--reasons which at that moment he found it impossible to +explain. + +He furthermore would remember with gratitude, and would increase if +possible, the numbers of institutions for the blind, not to mention the +deaf. During this action they had listened in very truth, and not +unmoved, to people who had been blind. (Here a faint titter being +heard in Court, the Learned Judge added reprovingly--) + +He did not intend his last remark as a joke, having regard to the +evidence one man had given. No, it was no matter upon which to joke. +The blind were there before them, and he had used the expression the +deaf, inasmuch that some of those before him had heard too much. + +To hear too much was worse than not hearing enough. One of the Jury at +this critical point, as if speaking upon impulse: "Hear! hear!" + +His Lordship paused in passionate surprise; indignantly wondering +whether or not the Gentleman of the Jury, whose face appeared to be +covered with purposeless pimples, had really intended his last remark +to be ambiguous. + +Upon feeling himself reassured upon this point, the Learned Judge +remarked: "Any more unseemly interruptions of this nature, and I shall +clear the Court, not--ahem!--personally, but--er--vicariously, so to +speak. Where was I?" (consulting notes). "Yes, at the House of +Commons. The House of Commons, whose common sense as a body have +helped to make the--ahem!--Irish and the English as one." + +Where was the House of Commons now? He was thankful to say, where it +had always been. + +Would any one of the Members of that House believe that Oliver +Cromwell, who had stood so long outside, had condescended to alight +from his pedestal to shout vulgar abuse and brawling words at King +Richard and King Charles, such as "Ha! ha!" and "Ho!"? He trusted not, +he believed not; but if, indeed, such a thing could be possible, he +trusted that Oliver Cromwell, if he could by special Providence be now +actually alive, would verily with laughter say, "Ha! ha!" and even "Ho! +ho!" to the ridiculous statements they had heard that day. In face of +the many indignities offered to them he was thankful to note, since it +was admitted in evidence, that King Richard, and especially King +Charles, had kept their heads. He, the Learned Judge, again expressed +a hope that no one would interpret his last remark as being facetious. +Nothing was at that moment further from his thoughts. To joke in a +Court of Law, or even attempt to joke beneath the emblazoned sign of +the Lion and Unicorn somewhere above his head, would be to mock that +noble animal (he referred to the Lion, of course), whose other effigy +in Court formed such a striking contrast to the undignified attitude of +those who had preferred such fanciful charges against this nobly +statured beast, whose presence there among them, as Counsel had +observed, was only rendered possible by the separate removal of _five_ +pairs of folding doors. + +"Little imagination was required to realise that the stony stare of +this noble animal must, Medusa-like, have become even more stony from +horror and abhorrence at the eccentric things it could not hear, +uttered concerning himself, I mean itself, that day. + +"Now, Gentlemen of the Jury, you know what I have been talking about?" + +The face of each and every Juryman a complete blank save one, who +murmurs as if in his sleep, "No! no!" + +"I therefore charge you, consider only that which is right, punish +those, if any, who should be punished, spare the simple, if any, who +should be spared. Commend any, if there are any such, for their +intelligence in reporting a matter which they, like myself, are utterly +unable to understand. If none in this affair should be reproved, then +I charge you hereafter keep silent. + +"Learn a lesson from the statue of the Lion in Court, who has remained +silent throughout, and whose wisdom in this respect I cannot too much +commend, whilst heartily wishing its example could have been followed +by every one in Court with the exception of myself. + +"By the many witnesses in general, but by one in particular; I refer to +Mr. Learned Bore. Gentlemen, you need no other words of mine to make +you do your duty. + +"Words will never make people do their duty. Therefore, in having +spared you much, I can only feel that I have helped you little. +Gentlemen of the Jury, the matter having got thoroughly into your +heads, is now in your hands. I therefore leave it there." + +Here the Learned Judge ceased speaking. The Learned Judge having +refreshed himself after this amazing forensic effort with a draught +from the glass of water beside him, which, during the proceedings, had +become lukewarm, gathered his robes about him and hopped through the +folding doors at the back of him, into his private room. + +The Jury, looking like men suddenly out of work, repaired in a body to +their room, and once again the overcrowded and overheated Court gave +itself over to the buzz and hum of conversation, freely interspersed +with endless speculations as to what sort of verdict could possibly be +returned in such an amazing case. + +The Right Worshipful warmly thanked his Counsel, Mr. Gentle Gammon, for +the brilliant efforts that gentleman had made upon his behalf, whilst +Mr. Dreadful, K.C., glared unspeakable things in the direction of the +Plaintiff and Plaintiff's Counsel alternately, for the entire case had +filled Mr. Dreadful, K.C., with feelings of revolt. + +Juniors not engaged on the case made whispered and sporting bets among +themselves as to who would get the verdict. The amber light +illuminating the Court continued to gleam upon the Pleasant-Faced Lion, +unquestionably the most reposeful thing inside the building, although +the primary cause of all the disturbance. + +"Of course," observed Ridgwell to the Writer, "we shall know now who +has won the game." + +The Writer agreed. + +"Will the old gentleman in the red robe call out the forfeits then?" + +"Rather," replied the Writer, "and I fancy, myself, the heaviest +forfeit will be the one which includes bringing Lal into Court; it must +have really cost a very considerable sum. Hullo, they are all coming +back," broke off the Writer, "all the Jury, looking as if they have +lost their way, which I believe, myself, they have, during the entire +case. There, they are summoning his Lordship. Now for it." + +Upon his Lordship resuming his seat, the foreman of the Jury delivered +himself thus, upon behalf of himself and his other eleven brethren. + +"The Jury had all tasted and partaken of the Creme-de-Menthe" (bottle +produced and the contents seen to be very considerably diminished), +"and they found that the Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of London +could not have been suffering from any form of intoxication in the +ordinary acceptance of the word, but that the Lord Mayor might have +been temporarily intoxicated with a sense of his own greatness. That +the noble Statue of the British Lion was regarded by the Lord Mayor +merely as a symbol of the whole British Empire, and was emblematical of +his own power under that Empire. Consequently no blame whatever could +be attached to him. + +"They further found that Mr. Learned Bore had forthwith unquestionably +uttered a libel against the Lord Mayor which might have been a gross +libel, had it not been merely a stupid assertion published in a +newspaper, and not therefore to be taken seriously. + +"They found that Mr. Learned Bore's evidence was flippant, and left +much to be desired; they wished accordingly to severely censure that +gentleman. + +"Damages, therefore, in the case, although slight, would be given to +his Worship the Lord Mayor, together with all costs of the action. + +"With regard to the Writer and Poet, they, the Jury, wished to severely +condemn all the works he had written, or _partly_ written, since he had +produced, or partly composed, one wholly seditious ballad, attempting +to make fun of the Laws of England, whereupon they expressed an earnest +hope that all his works might in future be banned." + +His Lordship, after partaking of a final sip of the lukewarm water +still beside him, then delivered his verdict. + +"His Lordship entirely agreed that the Lord Mayor of London had been +quite blameless throughout this case, the Lord Mayor's devotion to the +British Lion as a symbol, was the most touching feature in the case; he +would therefore have damages against Mr. Learned Bore, and Mr. Learned +Bore would have to bear the entire costs of the Action. + +"The damages in this Case would not be the unsatisfactory damages +sometimes assessed at one farthing, nor would they be one shilling, or +even half-a-crown. The damages he, the Learned Judge, awarded would be +a sum sufficient to purchase a bottle of Creme-de-Menthe, and that of +the very best (sensation in Court), to be given to his Worshipful the +Lord Mayor in order to show that the fluid which had figured so +conspicuously in this Case, although it might do some people harm, +could only do good in the case of his Worshipful the Lord Mayor, since, +to use Counsel's borrowed, but apt phrase, this liquid had only made it +possible for the Lord Mayor to see sermons in bronze and stone, and +good in everything; good even in the effigy of the Pleasant-Faced Lion, +who had been brought into Court for the first time in its life, and +who, could it have the power of hearing, must surely approve of the +verdict now given." + +The Learned Judge, having thus delivered himself, then rose, and once +more hopped out of Court. + +The sensation throughout the entire Court was profound. + + * * * * * + +Some considerable time after the Writer had hurried Ridgwell from the +scene, and had provided a quite sumptuous tea, which both of them stood +in need of, in a tea-shop in Fleet Street, they repaired upon the way +home, and passed the statue of the Griffin. + +"Look," whispered Ridgwell, as he pulled the sleeve of the Writer's +coat to attract the Writer's attention. "Oh, look, the Griffin has +been weeping bitterly." + +It was, indeed, only too true. The Griffin's cup of sorrow and +mortification was full. Four great indignant tears trembled upon his +cheeks ready to fall. He had been compelled that day to stand and +listen to people humming his, the Griffin's, own, pet song as they left +the Court, and the Griffin had not been able to join in it. + +The Pleasant-Faced Lion had gone into the Court and had left it in +triumph, cheered by enthusiastic and interested crowds, whilst _he_, +the Griffin, had remained unnoticed. The Griffin's feet were very, +very cold, and his vain, foolish, excitement-loving heart had turned to +stone. + +Having contemplated this sad spectacle, the Writer and Ridgwell +clambered upon the outside of a bus going westward. Half-way up the +Strand the road was partly blocked by a concourse of cheering people. +As their bus came alongside, Ridgwell and the Writer both stood up to +look over the bus rail to see what was causing all the commotion. It +was the Pleasant-Faced Lion being escorted back to Trafalgar Square in +state upon a lorry. The crowd cheered enthusiastically upon viewing +the unusual sight. + +As the Writer and Ridgwell gazed at their old friend, the +Pleasant-Faced Lion slowly, solemnly, and deliberately winked his right +eye, which was nearest to them. + + * * * * * + +The Father and Mother of Ridgwell and Christine, upon returning from a +most enjoyable holiday upon the Continent, could not avoid seeing the +large headlines of the evening papers pasted everywhere upon the +station boards at Charing Cross. + +The headlines were varied; some of them read, "Comic Opera Scene in +Court." "Amusing Case before Mr. Justice Chatty." "Ridgwell Makes all +London Laugh." + +"Very uncommon name," observed the Father of Ridgwell, as he bought +some papers. Later on, in the railway carriage upon the way home, the +Father of Ridgwell first read his paper, and then promptly wiped his +eyeglasses, to assure himself that he was not dreaming. + +"Good gracious!" exclaimed that worthy but astonished gentleman, "why, +it's _our_ Ridgwell!" + +"What is our Ridgwell?" inquired the Mother of that hopeful. + +"Our Ridgwell has been into Court, before a Judge," faltered his +perplexed Father; "has sung a song, which seems to have been a great +success. Positively gave evidence that one of the lions in Trafalgar +Square was alive, and a great friend of his, and that the animal has +occasionally given him a free ride home on his back to Balham; did you +ever hear of such a thing?" + +The Mother of Ridgwell hastily perused the papers recording these +strange statements, whilst the Father of Ridgwell leaned back in the +railway carriage, endeavouring to recover his breath, and collect his +startled faculties both together. + +The Mother of Ridgwell read the part describing her offspring's +performance to the end, and then observed-- + +"Did you see, Father, that Ridgwell declares he possessed a high Order +of Imagination, and then lost it?" + +The Father of Ridgwell groaned. + +"Lost it? Good gracious me, what nonsense, my dear; I should think +myself he has just found it. I'll talk to that Writer, when I see him; +he really oughtn't to be allowed about at large, any more than the +Pleasant-Faced Lion. I consider the whole history of this animal most +incredible." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE END OF THE MATTER + +The family had just sat down to breakfast when the Writer arrived at +Balham in a taxi-cab, bearing two large cardboard dress-boxes with him. + +Having deposited these articles, he was greeted by the family. + +"Oh! you bad man," commenced the Mother of Ridgwell and Christine; "sit +down and have breakfast at once before you start any more of those +plausible tales of yours." + +"How did you get here so early?" inquired Father. + +"Took a taxi, but it wasn't half such fun as riding down here on a +Lion's back!" + +Ridgwell leaned one side of his head down upon the table and laughed, +and Christine glanced round shyly. + +"A fine sort of commotion you and Ridgwell have caused," protested +Father; "listen to this paragraph out of this morning's paper." + +The Writer actually appeared to enjoy eating his breakfast unabashed, +whilst Father proceeded to read. + +"'The amusing action which took place yesterday in Court X---- has been +the cause of unprecedented scenes in London. Thousands of children, +both boys and girls, throng Trafalgar Square in order to see if the +Pleasant-Faced Lion intends to speak, or give another children's party. + +"'Hundreds of children congregate every minute round the Griffin's +statue, waiting for it to sing, and have to be moved on good-naturedly +but firmly by the police.'" + +"A nice state of things," commented Father, during a pause in the +reading. + +"'There can be no doubt whatever that the extraordinary story of Lal +has interested all London, and everybody is laughing at the idea. + +"'Sir Simon Gold, the Lord Mayor of London, with the usual +thoughtfulness that always distinguishes him, has resolved that the +London children shall not be disappointed with regard to a party. Sir +Simon has therefore taken the four biggest public halls, in the four +quarters of London, north, south, east, and west, and all the children +of London in each district will be entertained upon behalf of the +Pleasant-Faced Lion by the Lord Mayor to a delightful evening party the +same evening that the Lord Mayor gives his usual children's party at +the Mansion House.'" + +"I can add something to that piece of news," observed the Writer, as he +continued eating his breakfast happily, and totally unconscious, +seemingly, of his many misdoings. "In those two big cardboard boxes +are two costumes; they are presents from Mum, one for Ridgwell, and the +other for Christine. Oh, no!--not to be opened until after breakfast. +Now, upon the night of the parties an event is going to take place that +will please everybody. The Lord Mayor wants both Ridgwell and +Christine to tell the story of Lal at each party after the dancing. It +will be the event of the evening, and will be illustrated on the +cinematograph." + +"Oh!" echoed Ridgwell and Christine, "what fun!" + +"All very fine for all of you," protested Father, "but I have to go to +town to-day on business, and if I cannot get past Fleet Street or the +Griffin on account of all the children round it, what am I to do, and +how am I to get along with my work?" + +Christine and Ridgwell sidled up, one upon either side of Father's +chair. + +"Don't you know you ought to be very pleased?" they said. + +"Why?" inquired Father. + +"Because the Griffin is happy at last, he is being noticed." + +The Writer laughed: the Writer was really a most unscrupulous person as +to the source from which he derived amusement. + +"It is a very incredible tale," remarked Father, severely. + +"_Most_ incredible," confessed Mother, with a smile. + + + + +THE END + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tale of Lal, by Raymond Paton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF LAL *** + +***** This file should be named 26869.txt or 26869.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/8/6/26869/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/26869.zip b/26869.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c4a705b --- /dev/null +++ b/26869.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1ba2a24 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #26869 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26869) |