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
Meanwhile Bim had tucked himself up in the throstle’s nest and slept
like a top--however that may be. He did not stir till the morning was
white. Then he rose--a mite refreshed--and came down from his fastness
with a run.
He found Tim, and listened to him talking in his sleep. The royal tramp
in his dreams was addressing legions. Bim awoke him. Tim continued his
oratory to the trees. He was Cæsar and Buonaparte--two gentlemen in
one. He seemed from his description to be wearing a laurel wreath round
his neck, and trousers of imperial purple, ermine-lined. Every woe
which wandering mankind suffers from was instantly and absolutely
abolished--so far as mere words could abolish them--by autocratic
decree. His Majesty Tim!
He stood up, wiped his feet on the grass, and looked about at the park.
The pride of ownership shone in his eyes. All this belonged to him. His
face had a new expression containing something of noble gentleness, a
very pale reflex of the divinity that doth hedge a king. He wiped his
lips with his sleeve and smiled. He settled his battered hat--his
diamonded golden crown--daintily on the forefront of his head, and
shambled towards Oxford Street for the tramp-man’s breakfast, which,
thanks to Bim of Fairyland, would taste henceforth as some delicious
repast on a golden dish. His future tasks--poor casual ward
businesses--would be noble services performed to aid mankind.
Being a king incognito, Tim did not advertise his estate. He and the
fairies--they alone--knew of his royalty. There are more such monarchs
amongst us than we wot of.
Bim was contemplating the tramp’s retreating figure when happiness came
to him. June would enjoy the delights of victory yet.
Her appeal to Elfdom had been answered. Here was one to help. Down
from the skies and over the grass a fairy was hurrying. It was Auna of
the Violet Valley; her purple wings fluttered wearily. There was no
happiness in her mien. The oppressiveness of London was upon her.
"Gnome!" she asked weakly, "where in this horrid world is June?"
So saying, she drooped her limp figure on the wet grass and waited
awhile, mute with disillusionment and weariness, stricken with the sorry
prospect before her. Auna had no more dignity, then, than a broken
butterfly. She had come to the wilderness, sharing the madness of June;
and now, knowing its dreariness, remembered the deserted happiness. She
was the first recruit to the glorious company of the disobedient.
Bim had not time to frame an answer to her question before his delight
received another delicious shock. Here actually was one more fairy from
Elfland--Laurel of the Golden Uplands--where the broom is in its glory
and the brave gorse glows. She, too, had flown thither in obedience to
June’s appeal, and brought smiles with her. There was bravery in her
eyes, but the influence of the elfless Metropolis affected her as it had
affected June and Auna. She, also, drooped on the grass.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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