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 clambered up the horse’s off hind-leg, and ran along the dragging
reins to the roof. As soon as he was comfortably installed there, the
driver, who took things quite as a matter of course, gave the necessary
click with his tongue, and started the many-times great-grandson of
Bucephalus and Rozinante.
Bim "did" some main streets. He controlled the man, and induced him to
drive along the more ambitious ways and where there were shining shops.
He watched the coming and going of people, and made up his mind what to
do.
He was touched to see the streams of poor women and children shopping
and errand-running. His sympathy exaggerated their seeming fatigue.
They looked to him so weary that he commanded the cabman to invite some
of them to accept lifts along the way.
"Tired, mother?" the driver--good soul!--would say to an old lady,
toiling along with her evening burden of parcels. "In yer git!" Or to
a child, "Jump in, ducky! I’d like to give _you_ a ride. Where do you
want to go?"
So it went on for an hour. Cabby felt like Christmas.
Then the unrewarded horse began to move wearily, and show other signs of
having done enough. Bim removed the spell, clambered from his seat on
the roof down the back-way of the cab, and left the driver fastening the
horse’s nose-bag to its business-place.
"The time of my life," said Jehu enthusiastically to a surly colleague.
"I’ve had a most enjoyable time. Now you ’ave a shot, old chap," and
explained in detail his actions and happiness.
"Eh?" grunted the other, contempt, incredulity, and refusal expressed in
the interjection.
That was enough for Bim. He smote the churl sharply on the boot.
Conversion followed immediately.
"Well, suppose I do," he said, as he wiped imaginary froth from his
lips. "I ’aven’t done so badly to-day. I will for an hour--blowed if I
won’t!--then I’ll pass the job on."
Bim found himself on the Embankment near Cleopatra’s Needle. He took
careful hold of the wand, and clambered to the head of the sphinx which
gazes eastward. Seated there, he tried to think out a programme of
activities, and watched the grey river journeying on slowly, silently;
different, so different, from the flood of traffic, the lighted
tramcars, hooting automobiles, dashing carriages, with their freights of
mortals, which rushed noisily by. Oh, the restlessness of man! The
gnome was impressed with the wisdom of the water. It bore seaward,
silently, the thoughts of the sphinx, which with wide-opened eyes
watched London.
It was then that June saw him. She was driving westward in the
Archdeacon’s brougham, and shone, a little being of light, gladdening
the gloom of the carriage. Bim waved the wand triumphantly to her. She
threw him smiles. Happy gnome! His earnestness took fire immediately.
Then altruism merged with mischief. He threw his plans and programme to
the eight winds. He would paint the town a fairy red. Why not run amok?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account