Much Ado About SomethingLawrence, C. E. (Charles Edward)
Science
Much Ado About Something
Lawrence, C. E. (Charles Edward)
England -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Fiction; Fairies -- Fiction
Bim was appointed major-domo, lord high-butler, and general factotum,
something like fifteen officials in one. He swelled visibly with proper
pride. His energy in making the preparations was so intense--he managed
so successfully to be in two places at once--that not a few of his
fellow-gnomes thought him blessed with invisible wings. His dignity and
importance were unquestionable. He wore the superiority, won through
being the first gnome to brave the rigours of London, so openly that his
brethren of the democracy became more than a wee bit envious. Perhaps
Bim’s head had become very slightly swelled.
Meanwhile June was wondering what Oberon was doing.
That October night was an occasion to be well-remembered by fairy and by
man, though man remained blind to its doings, albeit benefiting by its
effects. The moon, which since the affair of the Violet Valley had
disguised her interest in the rebellion of June, shone openly, and
looked with all her seas. That London night was alive with vivid
beauty, every angle and chimney-pot of those decaying hideous houses
being beneficently illumined by her beams.
The roof-world was no longer a black and grey wilderness. Elfin wands,
gnome labours, and many ingenuities had covered it with tiny lights and
fairy flowers, making it a piece with the dream-world.
June--hostess and heroine--wore her lustrous crown. There were songs,
dances, and much great joy. Gnomes, sitting in rows on chimney rims and
along the edges of stacks, sang and applauded. Only one well-known song
in the anthology of Elfdom was not heard during that night of revel--the
triumph song, the chant reserved for the May-day crowning.
Mankind was still blind to these celebrations. It really seemed as if
men must be trying to see with their noses. Such wonderful things were
happening just under their very eyes which they could not see, and in
their purblindness would not imagine. It is a heart-breaking business,
the open-eyed blindness of men.
Later on, of course, they had better than glimmerings--but sufficient
for this chapter is what we have said.
One old woman, and one old woman alone, had glimpses of that revel. She
was Irish.
Bridget Malone had oftentimes, in her young days, seen fairies round an
empty hearth in Connaught; but when she came to London, forty years
before, she had forgotten the precious faculty, and lost the power of
seeing the unseen. This sight of triumphant elves restored the gift.
Bridget woke out of sleep. Her bed was on the floor, but her bones were
accustomed to hardness, so that not want of warmth or any Sybarite
troubles caused her to wake.
She saw a strange light reflected on the tattered wall opposite the
window. She breathed a prayer to Mary, and looked for the supernatural,
for this was not moon-rays or sunshine, but something of both blended
and idealized; something of the light which never was on sea or land.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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