第1章

AWAKENING

ThroughthemassiveskylightilluminatingthehallatRobinHill，theJulysunlightatfiveo’clockfelljustwherethebroadstairwayturned;andinthatradiantstreaklittleJonForsytestood，blue—

linen—suited。Hishairwasshining，andhiseyes，frombeneathafrown，forhewasconsideringhowtogodownstairs，thislastofinnumerabletimes，beforethecarbroughthisfatherandmotherhome。

Fouratatime，andfiveatthebottom？Stale！Downthebanisters？

Butinwhichfashion？Onhisface，feetforemost？Verystale。Onhisstomach，sideways？Paltry！Onhisback，withhisarmsstretcheddownonbothsides？Forbidden！Oronhisface，headforemost，inamannerunknownasyettoanybuthimself？SuchwasthecauseofthefrownontheilluminatedfaceoflittleJon……

InthatSummerof1909thesimplesoulswhoeventhendesiredtosimplifytheEnglishtongue，had，ofcourse，nocognizanceoflittleJon，ortheywouldhaveclaimedhimforadisciple。Butonecanbetoosimpleinthislife，forhisrealnamewasJolyon，andhislivingfatheranddeadhalf—brotherhadusurpedofoldtheothershortenings，JoandJolly。AsafactlittleJonhaddonehisbesttoconformtoconventionandspellhimselffirstJhon，thenJohn;nottillhisfatherhadexplainedthesheernecessity，hadhespelledhisnameJon。

Uptillnowthatfatherhadpossessedwhatwasleftofhisheartbythegroom，Bob，whoplayedtheconcertina，andhisnurse\"Da，\"whoworethevioletdressonSundays，andenjoyedthenameofSpragginsinthatprivatelifelivedatoddmomentsevenbydomesticservants。

Hismotherhadonlyappearedtohim，asitwereindreams，smellingdelicious，smoothinghisforeheadjustbeforehefellasleep，andsometimesdockinghishair，ofagoldenbrowncolour。Whenhecuthisheadopenagainstthenurseryfendershewastheretobebledover;andwhenhehadnightmareshewouldsitonhisbedandcuddlehisheadagainstherneck。Shewaspreciousbutremote，because\"Da\"

wassonear，andthereishardlyroomformorethanonewomanatatimeinaman’sheart。Withhisfather，too，ofcourse，hehadspecialbondsofunion;forlittleJonalsomeanttobeapainterwhenhegrewup——withtheonesmalldifference，thathisfatherpaintedpictures，andlittleJonintendedtopaintceilingsandwalls，standingonaboardbetweentwostep—ladders，inadirty—whiteapron，andalovelysmellofwhitewash。HisfatheralsotookhimridinginRichmondPark，onhispony，Mouse，so—calledbecauseitwasso—coloured。

LittleJonhadbeenbornwithasilverspooninamouthwhichwasrathercurlyandlarge。Hehadneverheardhisfatherorhismotherspeakinanangryvoice，eithertoeachother，himself，oranybodyelse;thegroom，Bob，Cook，Jane，Bellaandtheotherservants，even\"Da，\"whoalonerestrainedhiminhiscourses，hadspecialvoiceswhentheytalkedtohim。Hewasthereforeofopinionthattheworldwasaplaceofperfectandperpetualgentilityandfreedom。

Achildof1901，hehadcometoconsciousnesswhenhiscountry，justoverthatbadattackofscarletfever，theBoerWar，waspreparingfortheLiberalrevivalof1906。Coercionwasunpopular，parentshadexaltednotionsofgivingtheiroffspringagoodtime。Theyspoiledtheirrods，sparedtheirchildren，andanticipatedtheresultswithenthusiasm。Inchoosing，moreover，forhisfatheranamiablemanoffifty—two，whohadalreadylostanonlyson，andforhismotherawomanofthirty—eight，whosefirstandonlychildhewas，littleJonhaddonewellandwisely。Whathadsavedhimfrombecomingacrossbetweenalapdogandalittleprig，hadbeenhisfather’sadorationofhismother，forevenlittleJoncouldseethatshewasnotmerelyjusthismother，andthatheplayedsecondfiddletoherinhisfather’sheart:Whatheplayedinhismother’sheartheknewnotyet。

Asfor\"Auntie\"June，hishalf—sister（butsooldthatshehadgrownoutoftherelationship）shelovedhim，ofcourse，butwastoosudden。Hisdevoted\"Da，\"too，hadaSpartantouch。Hisbathwascoldandhiskneeswerebare;hewasnotencouragedtobesorryforhimself。Astothevexedquestionofhiseducation，littleJonsharedthetheoryofthosewhoconsideredthatchildrenshouldnotbeforced。HeratherlikedtheMademoisellewhocamefortwohourseverymorningtoteachhimherlanguage，togetherwithhistory，geographyandsums;norwerethepianolessonswhichhismothergavehimdisagreeable，forshehadawayofluringhimfromtunetotune，nevermakinghimpractiseonewhichdidnotgivehimpleasure，sothatheremainedeagertoconverttenthumbsintoeightfingers。

Underhisfatherhelearnedtodrawpleasure—pigsandotheranimals。

Hewasnotahighlyeducatedlittleboy。Yet，onthewhole，thesilverspoonstayedinhismouthwithoutspoilingit，though\"Da\"

sometimessaidthatotherchildrenwoulddohima\"worldofgood。\"

Itwasadisillusionment，then，whenattheageofnearlysevensheheldhimdownonhisback，becausehewantedtodosomethingofwhichshedidnotapprove。ThisfirstinterferencewiththefreeindividualismofaForsytedrovehimalmostfrantic。Therewassomethingappallingintheutterhelplessnessofthatposition，andtheuncertaintyastowhetheritwouldevercometoanend。Supposesheneverlethimgetupanymore！Hesufferedtortureatthetopofhisvoiceforfiftyseconds。Worsethananythingwashisperceptionthat\"Da\"hadtakenallthattimetorealisetheagonyoffearhewasenduring。Thus，dreadfully，wasrevealedtohimthelackofimaginationinthehumanbeing。

Whenhewasletupheremainedconvincedthat\"Da\"haddoneadreadfulthing。Thoughhedidnotwishtobearwitnessagainsther，hehadbeencompelled，byfearofrepetition，toseekhismotherandsay:\"Mum，don’tlet’Da’holdmedownonmybackagain。\"

Hismother，herhandsheldupoverherhead，andinthemtwoplaitsofhair——\"couleurdefeuillemorte，\"aslittleJonhadnotyetlearnedtocallit——hadlookedathimwitheyeslikelittlebitsofhisbrownvelvettunic，andanswered:

\"No，darling，Iwon’t。\"

She，beinginthenatureofagoddess，littleJonwassatisfied;

especiallywhen，fromunderthedining—tableatbreakfast，wherehehappenedtobewaitingforamushroom，hehadoverheardhersaytohisfather:

\"Then，willyoutell’Da，’dear，orshallI？She’ssodevotedtohim\";andhisfather’sanswer:

\"Well，shemustn’tshowitthatway。Iknowexactlywhatitfeelsliketobehelddownonone’sback。NoForsytecanstanditforaminute。\"

Consciousthattheydidnotknowhimtobeunderthetable，littleJonwasvisitedbythequitenewfeelingofembarrassment，andstayedwherehewas，ravagedbydesireforthemushroom。

Suchhadbeenhisfirstdipintothedarkabyssesofexistence。

Nothingmuchhadbeenrevealedtohimafterthat，tilloneday，havinggonedowntothecow—houseforhisdrinkofmilkfreshfromthecow，afterGarratthadfinishedmilking，hehadseenClover’scalf，dead。Inconsolable，andfollowedbyanupsetGarratt，hehadsought\"Da\";butsuddenlyawarethatshewasnotthepersonhewanted，hadrushedawaytofindhisfather，andhadrunintothearmsofhismother。

\"Clover’scalf’sdead！Oh！Oh！Itlookedsosoft！\"

Hismother’sclasp，andher:

\"Yes，darling，there，there！\"hadstayedhissobbing。ButifClover’scalfcoulddie，anythingcould——notonlybees，flies，beetlesandchickens——andlooksoftlikethat！Thiswasappalling——

andsoonforgotten！

Thenextthinghadbeentositonabumblebee，apoignantexperience，whichhismotherhadunderstoodmuchbetterthan\"Da\";

andnothingofvitalimportancehadhappenedafterthattilltheyearturned;when，followingadayofutterwretchedness，hehadenjoyedadiseasecomposedoflittlespots，bed，honeyinaspoon，andmanyTangerineoranges。Itwasthenthattheworldhadflowered。To\"Auntie\"Juneheowedthatflowering，fornosoonerwashealittlelameduckthanshecamerushingdownfromLondon，bringingwithherthebookswhichhadnurturedherownBerserkerspirit，borninthenotedyearof1869。Aged，andofmanycolours，theywerestoredwiththemostformidablehappenings。OftheseshereadtolittleJon，tillhewasallowedtoreadtohimself;whereuponshewhiskedbacktoLondonandleftthemwithhiminaheap。Thosebookscookedhisfancy，tillhethoughtanddreamedofnothingbutmidshipmenanddhows，pirates，rafts，sandal—woodtraders，ironhorses，sharks，battles，Tartars，RedIndians，balloons，NorthPolesandotherextravagantdelights。Themomenthewassufferedtogetup，heriggedhisbedforeandaft，andsetoutfromitinanarrowbathacrossgreenseasofcarpet，toarock，whichheclimbedbymeansofitsmahoganydrawerknobs，tosweepthehorizonwithhisdrinkingtumblerscrewedtohiseye，insearchofrescuingsails。Hemadeadailyraftoutofthetowelstand，theteatray，andhispillows。HesavedthejuicefromhisFrenchplums，bottleditinanemptymedicinebottle，andprovisionedtheraftwiththerumthatitbecame;alsowithpemmicanmadeoutoflittlesaved—upbitsofchickensatonanddriedatthefire;andwithlimejuiceagainstscurvy，extractedfromthepeelofhisorangesandalittleeconomisedjuice。HemadeaNorthPoleonemorningfromthewholeofhisbedclothesexceptthebolster，andreacheditinabirch—barkcanoe（inprivatelifethefender），afteraterribleencounterwithapolarbearfashionedfromthebolsterandfourskittlesdressedupin\"Da’s\"nightgown。Afterthat，hisfather，seekingtosteadyhisimagination，broughthimIvanboe，Bevis，abookaboutKingArthur，andTomBrown’sSchooldays。Hereadthefirst，andforthreedaysbuilt，defendedandstormedFrontdeBoeuf’scastle，takingeverypartinthepieceexceptthoseofRebeccaandRowena;withpiercingcriesof:\"Enavant，deBracy！\"andsimilarutterances。AfterreadingthebookaboutKingArthurhebecamealmostexclusivelySirLamoracdeGalis，because，thoughtherewasverylittleabouthim，hepreferredhisnametothatofanyotherknight;andherodehisoldrocking—horsetodeath，armedwithalongbamboo。Bevishefoundtame;besides，itrequiredwoodsandanimals，ofwhichhehadnoneinhisnursery，excepthistwocats，FitzandPuckForsyte，whopermittednoliberties。ForTomBrownhewasasyettooyoung。

Therewasreliefinthehousewhen，afterthefourthweek，hewaspermittedtogodownandout。

ThemonthbeingMarchthetreeswereexceptionallylikethemastsofships，andforlittleJonthatwasawonderfulSpring，extremelyhardonhisknees，suits，andthepatienceof\"Da，\"whohadthewashingandreparationofhisclothes。Everymorningthemomenthisbreakfastwasover，hecouldbeviewedbyhismotherandfather，whosewindowslookedoutthatway，comingfromthestudy，crossingtheterrace，climbingtheoldoaktree，hisfaceresoluteandhishairbright。Hebeganthedaythusbecausetherewasnottimetogofarafieldbeforehislessons。Theoldtree’svarietyneverstaled;

ithadmainmast，foremast，top—gallantmast，andhecouldalwayscomedownbythehalyards——orropesoftheswing。Afterhislessons，completedbyeleven，hewouldgotothekitchenforathinpieceofcheese，abiscuitandtwoFrenchplums——provisionenoughforajolly—

boatatleast——andeatitinsomeimaginativeway;then，armedtotheteethwithgun，pistols，andsword，hewouldbegintheseriousclimbingofthemorning，encounteringbythewayinnumerableslavers，Indians，pirates，leopards，andbears。Hewasseldomseenatthathourofthedaywithoutacutlassinhisteeth（likeDickNeedham）

amidtherapidexplosionofcoppercaps。Andmanywerethegardenershebroughtdownwithyellowpeasshotoutofhislittlegun。Helivedalifeofthemostviolentaction。

\"Jon，\"saidhisfathertohismother，undertheoaktree，\"isterrible。I’mafraidhe’sgoingtoturnoutasailor，orsomethinghopeless。Doyouseeanysignofhisappreciatingbeauty？\"

\"Notthefaintest。\"

\"Well，thankheavenhe’snoturnforwheelsorengines！Icanbearanythingbutthat。ButIwishhe’dtakemoreinterestinNature。\"

\"He’simaginative，Jolyon。\"

\"Yes，inasanguinaryway。Doesheloveanyonejustnow？\"

\"No;onlyeveryone。ThereneverwasanyonebornmorelovingormorelovablethanJon。\"

\"Beingyourboy，Irene。\"

AtthismomentlittleJon，lyingalongabranchhighabovethem，broughtthemdownwithtwopeas;butthatfragmentoftalklodged，thick，inhissmallgizzard。Loving，lovable，imaginative，sanguinary！

Theleavesalsowerethickbynow，anditwastimeforhisbirthday，which，occurringeveryyearonthetwelfthofMay，wasalwaysmemorableforhischosendinnerofsweetbread，mushrooms，macaroons，andgingerbeer。

Betweenthateighthbirthday，however，andtheafternoonwhenhestoodintheJulyradianceattheturningofthestairway，severalimportantthingshadhappened。

\"Da，\"wornoutbywashinghisknees，ormovedbythatmysteriousinstinctwhichforcesevennursestodeserttheirnurslings，lefttheverydayafterhisbirthdayinfloodsoftears\"tobemarried\"——ofallthings——\"toaman。\"LittleJon，fromwhomithadbeenkept，wasinconsolableforanafternoon。Itoughtnottohavebeenkeptfromhim！Twolargeboxesofsoldiersandsomeartillery，togetherwithTheYoungBuglers，whichhadbeenamonghisbirthdaypresents，cooperatedwithhisgriefinasortofconversion，andinsteadofseekingadventuresinpersonandriskinghisownlife，hebegantoplayimaginativegames，inwhichheriskedthelivesofcountlesstinsoldiers，marbles，stonesandbeans。Oftheseformsof\"chairacanon\"hemadecollections，and，usingthemalternately，foughtthePeninsular，theSevenYears，theThirtyYears，andotherwars，aboutwhichhehadbeenreadingoflateinabigHistoryofEuropewhichhadbeenhisgrandfather’s。Healteredthemtosuithisgenius，andfoughtthemalloverthefloorinhisdaynursery，sothatnobodycouldcomein，forfearingofdisturbingGustavusAdolphus，KingofSweden，ortreadingonanarmyofAustrians。BecauseofthesoundofthewordhewaspassionatelyaddictedtotheAustrians，andfindingthereweresofewbattlesinwhichtheyweresuccessfulhehadtoinventtheminhisgames。HisfavouritegeneralswerePrinceEugene，theArchdukeCharlesandWallenstein。TillyandMack（\"music—hallturns\"heheardhisfathercallthemoneday，whateverthatmightmean）onereallycouldnotloveverymuch，Austrianthoughtheywere。

Foreuphonicreasons，too，hedotedonTurenne。

Thisphase，whichcausedhisparentsanxiety，becauseitkepthimindoorswhenheoughttohavebeenout，lastedthroughMayandhalfofJune，tillhisfatherkilleditbybringinghometohimTomSawyerandHuckleberryFinn。Whenhereadthosebookssomethinghappenedinhim，andhewentoutofdoorsagaininpassionatequestofariver。

TherebeingnoneonthepremisesatRobinHill，hehadtomakeoneoutofthepond，whichfortunatelyhadwaterlilies，dragonflies，gnats，bullrushes，andthreesmallwillowtrees。Onthispond，afterhisfatherandGarratthadascertainedbysoundingthatithadareliablebottomandwasnowheremorethantwofeetdeep，hewasallowedalittlecollapsiblecanoe，inwhichhespenthoursandhourspaddling，andlyingdownoutofsightofIndianJoeandotherenemies。Ontheshoreofthepond，too，hebuilthimselfawigwamaboutfourfeetsquare，ofoldbiscuittins，roofedinbyboughs。Inthishewouldmakelittlefires，andcookthebirdshehadnotshotwithhisgun，huntinginthecoppiceandfields，orthefishhedidnotcatchinthepondbecausetherewerenone。ThisoccupiedtherestofJuneandthatJuly，whenhisfatherandmotherwereawayinIreland。Heledalonelylifeof\"makebelieve\"duringthosefiveweeksofsummerweather，withgun，wigwam，waterandcanoe;and，howeverhardhisactivelittlebraintriedtokeepthesenseofbeautyaway，shedidcreepinonhimforasecondnowandthen，perchingonthewingofadragon—fly，glisteningonthewaterlilies，orbrushinghiseyeswithherblueasheJayonhisbackinambush。

\"Auntie\"June，whohadbeenleftincharge，hada\"grown—up\"inthehouse，withacoughandalargepieceofputtywhichhewasmakingintoaface;soshehardlyevercamedowntoseehiminthepond。

Once，however，shebroughtwithhertwoother\"grown—ups。\"LittleJon，whohappenedtohavepaintedhisnakedselfbrightblueandyellowinstripesoutofhisfather’swater—colourbox，andputsomeduck’sfeathersinhishair，sawthemcoming，and——ambushedhimselfamongthewillows。Ashehadforeseen，theycameatoncetohiswigwamandkneltdowntolookinside，sothatwithablood—curdlingyellhewasabletotakethescalpsof\"Auntie\"Juneandthewoman\"grown—up\"inanalmostcompletemannerbeforetheykissedhim。Thenamesofthetwogrown—upswere\"Auntie\"Hollyand\"Uncle\"Val，whohadabrownfaceandalittlelimp，andlaughedathimterribly。Hetookafancyto\"Auntie\"Holly，whoseemedtobeasistertoo;buttheybothwentawaythesameafternoonandhedidnotseethemagain。

Threedaysbeforehisfatherandmotherweretocomehome\"Auntie\"

Junealsowentoffinagreathurry，takingthe\"grown—up\"whocoughedandhispieceofputty;andMademoisellesaid:\"Poorman，hewasvereeill。Iforbidyoutogointohisroom，Jon。\"LittleJon，whorarelydidthingsmerelybecausehewastoldnotto，refrainedfromgoing，thoughhewasboredandlonely。Intruththedayofthepondwaspast，andhewasfilledtothebrimofhissoulwithrestlessnessandthewantofsomething——notatree，notagun——

somethingsoft。ThoselasttwodayshadseemedmonthsinspiteofCastUpbytheSea，whereinhewasreadingaboutMotherLeeandherterriblewreckingbonfire。Hehadgoneupanddownthestairsperhapsahundredtimesinthosetwodays，andoftenfromthedaynursery，wherehesleptnow，hadstolenintohismother’sroom，lookedateverything，withouttouching，andonintothedressing—

room;andstandingononelegbesidethebath，likeSlingsby，hadwhispered:

\"Ho，ho，ho！Dogmycats！\"mysteriously，tobringluck。Then，stealingback，hehadopenedhismother’swardrobe，andtakenalongsniffwhichseemedtobringhimnearerto——hedidn’tknowwhat。

Hehaddonethisjustbeforehestoodinthestreakofsunlight，debatinginwhichoftheseveralwaysheshouldslidedownthebanisters。Theyallseemedsilly，andinasuddenlanguorhebegandescendingthestepsonebyone。Duringthatdescenthecouldrememberhisfatherquitedistinctly——theshortgreybeard，thedeepeyestwinkling，thefurrowbetweenthem，thefunnysmile，thethinfigurewhichalwaysseemedsotalltolittleJon;buthismotherhecouldn’tsee。Allthatrepresentedherwassomethingswayingwithtwodarkeyeslookingbackathim;andthescentofherwardrobe。

Bellawasinthehall，drawingasidethebigcurtains，andopeningthefrontdoor。LittleJonsaid，wheedling\"Bella！\"

\"Yes，MasterJon。\"

\"Dolet’shaveteaundertheoaktreewhentheycome;Iknowthey’dlikeitbest。\"

\"Youmeanyou’dlikeitbest。\"

LittleJonconsidered。

\"No，theywould，topleaseme。\"

Bellasmiled。\"Verywell，I’lltakeitoutifyou’llstayquiethereandnotgetintomischiefbeforetheycome。\"

LittleJonsatdownonthebottomstep，andnodded。Bellacameclose，andlookedhimover。

\"Getup！\"shesaid。

LittleJongotup。Shescrutinizedhimbehind;hewasnotgreen，andhiskneesseemedclean。

\"Allright！\"shesaid。\"My！Aren’tyoubrown？Givemeakiss！\"

AndlittleJonreceivedapeckonhishair。

\"Whatjam？\"heasked。\"I’msotiredofwaiting。\"

\"Gooseberryandstrawberry。\"

Num！Theywerehisfavourites！

Whenshewasgonehesatstillforquiteaminute。ItwasquietinthebighallopentoitsEastendsothathecouldseeoneofhistrees，abrigsailingveryslowlyacrosstheupperlawn。Intheouterhallshadowswereslantingfromthepillars。LittleJongotup，jumpedoneofthem，andwalkedroundtheclumpofirisplantswhichfilledthepoolofgrey—whitemarbleinthecentre。Theflowerswerepretty，butonlysmelledaverylittle。Hestoodintheopendoorwayandlookedout。Suppose！——supposetheydidn’tcome！Hehadwaitedsolongthathefelthecouldnotbearthat，andhisattentionslidatoncefromsuchfinalitytothedustmotesinthebluishsunlightcomingin:Thrustinghishandup，hetriedtocatchsome。Bellaoughttohavedustedthatpieceofair！Butperhapstheyweren’tdust——onlywhatsunlightwasmadeof，andhelookedtoseewhetherthesunlightoutofdoorswasthesame。Itwasnot。Hehadsaidhewouldstayquietinthehall，buthesimplycouldn’tanymore;andcrossingthegravelofthedrivehelaydownonthegrassbeyond。Pullingsixdaisieshenamedthemcarefully，SirLamorac，SirTristram，SirLancelot，SirPalimedes，SirBors，SirGawain，andfoughtthemincouplestillonlySirLamorac，whomhehadselectedforaspeciallystoutstalk，hadhisheadon，andevenhe，afterthreeencounters，lookedwornandwaggly。Abeetlewasmovingslowlyinthegrass，whichalmostwantedcutting。Everybladewasasmalltree，roundwhosetrunkthebeetlehadtoglide。LittleJonstretchedoutSirLamorac，feetforemost，andstirredthecreatureup。Itscuttledpainfully。LittleJonlaughed，lostinterest，andsighed。Hisheartfeltempty。Heturnedoverandlayonhisback。

Therewasascentofhoneyfromthelimetreesinflower，andintheskythebluewasbeautiful，withafewwhitecloudswhichlookedandperhapstastedlikelemonice。HecouldhearBobplaying:\"WaydownupondeSuwanneeribber\"onhisconcertina，anditmadehimniceandsad。Heturnedoveragainandputhiseartotheground——Indianscouldhearthingscomingeversofar——buthecouldhearnothing——onlytheconcertina！Andalmostinstantlyhedidhearagrindingsound，afainttoot。Yes！itwasacar——coming——coming！Uphejumped。

Shouldhewaitintheporch，orrushupstairs，andastheycamein，shout:\"Look！\"andslideslowlydownthebanisters，headforemost？

Shouldhe？Thecarturnedinatthedrive。Itwastoolate！Andheonlywaited，jumpingupanddowninhisexcitement。Thecarcamequickly，whirred，andstopped。Hisfathergotout，exactlylikelife。HebentdownandlittleJonbobbedup——theybumped。Hisfathersaid\"Blessus！Well，oldman，youarebrown！\"Justashewould;andthesenseofexpectation——ofsomethingwanted——bubbledunextinguishedinlittleJon。Then，withalong，shylookhesawhismother，inabluedress，withabluemotorscarfoverhercapandhair，smiling。Hejumpedashighaseverhecould，twinedhislegsbehindherback，andhugged。Heheardhergasp，andfeltherhuggingback。Hiseyes，verydarkbluejustthen，lookedintohers，verydarkbrown，tillherlipsclosedonhiseyebrow，and，squeezingwithallhismight，heheardhercreakandlaugh，andsay:

\"Youarestrong，Jon！\"

Hesliddownatthat，andrushedintothehall，draggingherbythehand。

Whilehewaseatinghisjambeneaththeoaktree，henoticedthingsabouthismotherthathehadneverseemedtoseebefore，hercheeksforinstancewerecreamy，thereweresilverthreadsinherdarkgoldyhair，herthroathadnoknobinitlikeBella’s，andshewentinandoutsoftly。Henoticed，too，somelittlelinesrunningawayfromthecornersofhereyes，andanicedarknessunderthem。Shewaseversobeautiful，morebeautifulthan\"Da\"orMademoiselle，or\"Auntie\"Juneoreven\"Auntie\"Holly，towhomhehadtakenafancy;evenmorebeautifulthanBella，whohadpinkcheeksandcameouttoosuddenlyinplaces。Thisnewbeautifulnessofhismotherhadakindofparticularimportance，andheatelessthanhehadexpectedto。

Whenteawasoverhisfatherwantedhimtowalkroundthegardens。

Hehadalongconversationwithhisfatheraboutthingsingeneral，avoidinghisprivatelife——SirLamorac，theAustrians，andtheemptinesshehadfelttheselastthreedays，nowsosuddenlyfilledup。HisfathertoldhimofaplacecalledGlensofantrim，whereheandhismotherhadbeen;andofthelittlepeoplewhocameoutofthegroundtherewhenitwasveryquiet。LittleJoncametoahalt，withhisheelsapart。

\"Doyoureallybelievetheydo，Daddy？\"\"No，Jon，butIthoughtyoumight。\"

\"Why？\"

\"You’reyoungerthanI;andthey’refairies。\"LittleJonsquaredthedimpleinhischin。

\"Idon’tbelieveinfairies。Ineverseeany。\"\"Ha！\"saidhisfather。

\"DoesMum？\"

Hisfathersmiledhisfunnysmile。

\"No;sheonlyseesPan。\"

\"What’sPan？\"

\"TheGoatyGodwhoskipsaboutinwildandbeautifulplaces。\"

\"WasheinGlensofantrim？\"

\"Mumsaidso。\"

LittleJontookhisheelsup，andledon。

\"Didyouseehim？\"

\"No;IonlysawVenusAnadyomene。\"

LittleJonreflected;VenuswasinhisbookabouttheGreeksandTrojans。ThenAnnawasherChristianandDyomenehersurname？

Butitappeared，oninquiry，thatitwasoneword，whichmeantrisingfromthefoam。

\"DidsherisefromthefoaminGlensofantrim？\"

\"Yes;everyday。\"

\"Whatisshelike，Daddy？\"

\"LikeMum。\"

\"Oh！Thenshemustbe……\"buthestoppedatthat，rushedatawall，scrambledup，andpromptlyscrambleddownagain。Thediscoverythathismotherwasbeautifulwasonewhichhefeltmustabsolutelybekepttohimself。Hisfather’scigar，however，tooksolongtosmoke，thatatlasthewascompelledtosay:

\"IwanttoseewhatMum’sbroughthome。Doyoumind，Daddy？\"

Hepitchedthemotivelow，toabsolvehimfromunmanliness，andwasalittledisconcertedwhenhisfatherlookedathimrightthrough，heavedanimportantsigh，andanswered:

\"Allright，oldman，yougoandloveher。\"

Hewent，withapretenceofslowness，andthenrushed，tomakeup。

Heenteredherbedroomfromhisown，thedoorbeingopen。Shewasstillkneelingbeforeatrunk，andhestoodclosetoher，quitestill。

Shekneltupstraight，andsaid:

\"Well，Jon？\"

\"IthoughtI’djustcomeandsee。\"

Havinggivenandreceivedanotherhug，hemountedthewindow—seat，andtuckinghislegsupunderhimwatchedherunpack。Hederivedapleasurefromtheoperationsuchashehadnotyetknown，partlybecauseshewastakingoutthingswhichlookedsuspicious，andpartlybecausehelikedtolookather。Shemoveddifferentlyfromanybodyelse，especiallyfromBella;shewascertainlytherefinedest—lookingpersonhehadeverseen。Shefinishedthetrunkatlast，andkneltdowninfrontofhim。

\"Haveyoumissedus，Jon？\"

LittleJonnodded，andhavingthusadmittedhisfeelings，continuedtonod。

\"Butyouhad’Auntie’June？\"

\"Oh！shehadamanwithacough。\"

Hismother’sfacechanged，andlookedalmostangry。Headdedhastily:

\"Hewasapoorman，Mum;hecoughedawfully;I——Ilikedhim。\"

Hismotherputherhandsbehindhiswaist。

\"Youlikeeverybody，Jon？\"

LittleJonconsidered。

\"Uptoapoint，\"hesaid:\"AuntieJunetookmetochurchoneSunday。\"

\"Tochurch？Oh！\"

\"Shewantedtoseehowitwouldaffectme。\"\"Anddidit？\"

\"Yes。Icameoverallfunny，soshetookmehomeagainveryquick。

Iwasn’tsickafterall。Iwenttobedandhadhotbrandyandwater，andreadTheBoysofBeechwood。Itwasscrumptious。\"

Hismotherbitherlip。

\"Whenwasthat？\"

\"Oh！about——alongtimeago——Iwantedhertotakemeagain，butshewouldn’t。YouandDaddynevergotochurch，doyou？\"

\"No，wedon’t。\"

\"Whydon’tyou？\"

Hismothersmiled。

\"Well，dear，webothofuswentwhenwewerelittle。Perhapswewentwhenweweretoolittle。\"

\"Isee，\"saidlittleJon，\"it’sdangerous。\"