It was awful that anything that looked so charming could seem like that. "D'you feel bad? Is it so awful?" "I'm all right, but I feel as if I were bursting. I wish it would just hurry up and be over." "I think you're simply splendid." "I simply don't think about it. You don't think about it except now and again when you realise you've got to go through it and then you go hot all over." "The head's a bit wobbly," said Gerald riding round the lawn. "Does that matter?" "Well, it doesn't make it any easier to ride, especially with this great bundle on the handle-bars. You want a luggage-carrier." "I daresay. I say Gerald, show me the nuts to-morrow, not now." The machine was lying upside down on the lawn with its back wheel revolving slowly in the air. "The front wheel's out of the true." "What do you think of the saddle?" "The saddle's all right enough." "It's a Brooks's, B. 40; about the best you can have. It's my own and so's the Lucas's Baby bell." "By Jove, she's got an adjustable spanner." "That's not mine nor the repair outfit; Mr. Leyton lent me those." "And vaseline on the bearings." "Of course." "I don't think much of your gear-case, my dear." "Gerald, do you think it's all right on the whole?" "Well, it's sound enough as far as I can see; bit squiffy and wobbly. I don't advise you to ride it in traffic or with this bundle." "I _must_ have the bundle. I came down through Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street and Bond Street and Piccadilly all right." "Well, there's no accounting for tastes. Got any oil?" "There's a little oil can in the wallet wrapped up in the rag. It's lovely; perfectly new." CHAPTER XXVI 1 There was a strong soft grey light standing at the side of the blind ... smiling and touching her as it had promised. She leaped to the floor and stood looking at it swaying with sleep. Ships sailing along with masts growing on them, poplars streaming up from the ships, all in a steam of gold.... Last night's soapy water poured away and the fresh poured out ready standing there all night, everything ready.... I must not forget the extra piece of string.... Je-ru-sa-_lem_ the Gol-den, with-milk-and-hun-ney--blest.... Sh, not so much noise ... beneath thy con, tem, pla, tion, sink, heart, and, voice, o, ppressed. I _know_ not, oh, I, _know_, not. Sh--Sh ... hark hark my soul angelic songs are swelling O'er earth's green fields, and ocean's wave-beat shore ... damn--blast where are my bally knickers? sing us sweet fragments of the songs above. * * * * * The green world everywhere, inside and out ... all along the dim staircase, waiting in the dim cold kitchen. * * * * * No blind, brighter. Cool grey light, a misty windless morning. Shut the door. _They_ STAND _those_ HALLS _of_ ZI-ON ALL JUBILANT _with_ SONG.