More William

Ri

ved next door, was having a strange cousin to stay for three weeks. All his life, William had accepted Joa

d uncomfortably and dangerously on the high wall that separated the

mply, with a shake of her golden curls. "He's ca

am in a tone of exagg

te of indignation in her voice, "you ne

e could not believe his ears. "I'm not likely

d aggrieve

William!" she said. "Any way, I

e had received anything

ed speec

rived the n

a cat and a gardener. He amused himself by throwing stones at the cat till he hit the gardener by mistake and then fled precipitately before a storm of abu

was in th

mbroidered tunic, very short knickers, and white socks. Over

picturesq

was saying. "Would you li

y at rough gameth

d that his enemy lisped. It is always we

then?" said Joan,

'll tell you fairy th

all just by his ear startled h

that?"

on the other side of the wall, then

he said, ignori

eyes br

with us, Willia

ith justice, have objected to the epithet. He had spent the last half-hour climbing on t

that," explained

m had thought of a

on't look at me then. Go o

flushed

little boy," he said.

r was d

l William's pleading could persuade

lk even. He can't play. He tells fairy stories. He don't like dirt. He's got long hair an' a funny long coat. He's aw

liam's eloquence

ve, Joan, and Cuthbert entered. Cuthbert was in a white silk tunic embroidered with blu

he dar

he ad

a pi

re, swee

ite used to thi

than ever with him when

harming smile, to be kissed, then sat down on the sofa

washed till the soap went into his eyes and down his ears despite all his protests. It was bad enough to have had his hair brushed till his head smarted. It was bad enough to be hustled out of his comfortable jersey into his Eton suit which he loathed. But to see J

them your engine and books and things. Remember you're the ho

nce that would have made

ed them up to

em," he said coldly to Cuthbert. "Let's go and play in

out me," said Cuthbert airily. "I'll go wit

ituperation as he was, c

and there came upon him a wild det

limb that tr

aid Cuthbe

mb it then

t. He can't climb it, Joan, he'th trying to pretend he can climb it when he

admiringly

William desperately.

owed

ered with green lichen, a great part of which had deposited itself upon William's suit. His efforts also

t was nonplussed. Th

a fright, Joan?

hem to the bottom of the garden, where a small stream (now almost dry) disappeared in

m, "you can't do it. I've done it, done it often.

, then!" jee

perture. Joan clasped her hands, and even Cuthbert was secretly impressed. The

uddy, too, I

rog! I say, I've

It's go

ly quicksa

could nearly

n heroism. As he entered the gate he was rewarded by the old light of adoration in Joan's blue eyes, but on full sight of h

he urged him. "Go o

d Joan anxiously,

He was drunk with the sense of his own p

coal inside. That's what I can do. The

ttle window high u

the coal inside. That's what I can

f you can do that, do it, and I

unholy glee, foresa

d Joan, "I know you'r

was almost unrecognisable. Coal dust adhered freely to the moist consistency of the mud and lichen already clinging to his suit, as well as to his hair and face. His collar had been almost torn away f

n! come

awing-room first and pointed an accusing f

ling in the mud, an' rolling down th

arose as Wi

lli

readfu

t away from him.

l your fa

m, my c

the stream's bed still c

lliam defen

ings. I was bein' a host. I was

re talking. Go straight u

st. Yet William had caught sight of the smile on Cuthbert's face a

r him. Indeed, fate se

id not organise till their every other aspect or aim was lost but that of "organisation." She also had what amounted practically to a disease for "getting up" things. She "got up" plays, and bazaars, and pageants, and concerts. There were, in fact, few things s

at a later meeting, consisting of William and his mother and sister, that William could not take the part. It was William who came to this decision. He was adamant against both threats and entreaties. Without cherishing any delusions about his personal appearance, he firmly declined to play the part of the ugly sister. They took the news with deep apologies to Mrs. de Vere Carter, who was already in the

Carter. "Try really to think you're a wolf,

d once more muttered mono

-a wolf on m

little maid

er 'bent,' darling

e a loud and audible gasp to represent

your little sword and put your

s clear voice rose in a

ne! You wicke

id shall never

link away, darling. Don't stand staring at Cuthbert lik

ht of being a wolf had at first attracted him, but actually a wolf character who had to repeat Mrs. de Vere Carter's meaningless couplets and be worsted at every turn by the smiling Cuthbert, w

prob'bly all over coal d

pathetic elders prevented his p

had been forbidden by Authority it would have at once become the dearest wish of William's heart and a thing to be accomplished at all costs. B

ter be a wolf folks might just as well know what I am. This looks like as if it came off a black sheep or sumthin'. You don't wan

ctised wolf's howlings (though these had no part in Mrs. de Vere Carter's play)

age Hall for the performance, and the

packed, and Mrs. de Vere Carter was in

e all worked so hard. Yes, entirely my own composition. I only hope

rtain

m a few small branches of trees placed h

and began to speak, quickly and breathlessly,

id am I-Red

s along this d

basket is

sent for my

th a blue sash. There was a rapt murmur of admir

yond his range of vision; through the other he had a somewhat prescribed view of what went on around him. He had bee

his cu

tion in which their acquaintance made rapid strides, and at

maid have

to make her my

er him, remarking (all in

is, how gentl

il beast comes t

him an excellent view of the audience. His mother and father were in the second row. Turni

the prompter, "go

e audience. There was Mrs. Cliv

m I'-go on

in the last row of all and was turning his

ter grew

f on mischief bent.

e wings. "Well, I was goin' to say it," h

ience t

d the voice of the

t goin' to say that again wot you said 'cau

cenes Mrs. de Vere Carter wrung her hands and sni

nant clearness with which it had addressed the

little maid i

e radiant white and blue figure of th

ne! You wicke

id shall never

e arm round Joan filled him with a sudden and unaccountable annoyance. He advanced slowly and pugnaciously towards the Prince; and the Prince, who had never

, glaring from out his eye-hole and refusing to re

to run away. I only looked at him. Well, I was goin' to slink

you've quite destroyed the atmosphere, William. You've spoilt the beautif

k on and consumption of the aged grandmother was one of the most realistic pa

in a sibilant whisper. "Don't make so much no

d effect of the rug and the head and the thought of Cuthbert had made him hotter and crosser than he ever remembered having felt before

a, I've come wi

and sooth your

little daintie

we cherish you

m his bed and made an unconvi

ore, the vision in blue and white with go

vil be

oaded him to temporary madness. With a furious gesture he burst the pins which attached the dining-room hearth-rug to his person and fre

about to embrace his Joan goad

with packages of simple groceries, which included, amo

ndemonium. The other small actors promptly joined the battle. The prompter was too panic-stricken to lower the curtain.

ake him off me. Take William off

top of him. William now varied the proceedings by e

, while the audience rose and cheered hysterically. But loude

e puthed me down. He'th methe

Carter was

oy ... that boy!" wa

y by his family before

laintively. "I thought you must have gone mad. Pe

n explanation Will

felt awful hot, an' I

nation, though he was fully prepared for t

e to see you be in the head and that ole rug an' have to say stupid t

dly into silence. From the darkness in front of them came the so

Brown. "If I were Joan, I don't

lated Willia

lipped out from the darkness and two l

rrow, and I am glad. Isn't he a softie? Oh, Wil