" cool avenue my girl-friend led me, looking down--I recall the pleasant lines, the finely-modelled chin of her sweet kind face--asking me questions in soft, agreeable voice, and telling me things, pleasant things , though what they were never able to recall . Presently little Capuchin monkey, very clean, with fur of ruddy brown and kindly hazel eyes, came down tree and ran beside me, looking up at me and grinning, and presently leapt to my shoulder So we two went way in great happiness "

He paused

"Go on,"

"I remember little things We passed an old man musing among laurels, I remember, and place gay with paroquets, and came through broad shaded colonnade to spacious cool palace, full of pleasant fountains, full of beautiful things, full quality and promise of heart's desire And there were many things and many people, some that still seem to stand out clearly and some little vague; but all these people were beautiful and kind In some way--I don't know how-- conveyed all were kind , me there, and filling me with gladness by their gestures, touch hands, welcome and love in their eyes Yes----"

He mused for while "Playmates there That was , because lonely little boy They played delightful games in grass-covered court where sun-dial set about with flowers And as one played one loved .

"But--it's odd--there's gap in my memory I don't remember the games we played I never remembered Afterwards, as child, I spent long hours trying, even with tears, to recall the form happiness to play it all over again--in my nursery-- No ! All I remember happiness and two dear playfellows who were most with me . Then presently came sombre dark woman, with grave, pale face and dreamy eyes, sombre woman, wearing soft long robe of pale purple, who carried book, and beckoned and took me aside with her into gallery above hall--though my playmates were loth me go, and ceased their game and stood watching as carried away Come back ! ' they cried 'Come back soon ! ' I looked up at her face, but she heeded them not at all Her face was very gentle and grave She took me to seat gallery, and I stood beside her, ready to look at her book as she opened it upon her knee The pages fell open She pointed, and I looked, marvelling, for living pages book myself; story about myself, and were all the things that had happened since ever born .

" wonderful , because the pages book pictures, you understand, but realities "

Wallace paused gravely--looked at me doubtfully

"Go on," "I understand "

"They were realities---yes, been; people moved and things came and went ; my dear mother, whom I had near forgotten; then my father, stern and upright, the servants, the nursery, all the familiar things of home Then the front door busy streets, with traffic to and fro I looked and marvelled, and looked half doubtfully again woman's face and turned the pages over, skipping this , more book and more, and so at last to myself hovering and hesitating outside the green door long white wall, and felt again the conflict fear

"'And next ? ' I cried, and turned on, but the cool hand grave woman delayed me

"'Next ? ' I insisted, and struggled gently with her hand, pulling up her fingers with all my childish strength, and as she yielded page came over she bent down upon me like shadow and kissed my brow

"But the page show the enchanted garden, nor the panthers, nor the girl who had led me hand, nor the playfellows who so loth to let me go It showed long grey street in West Kensington, chill hour of afternoon lamps are lit, and there, wretched little figure, weeping aloud, for all that do to restrain myself, and weeping because return to my dear playfellows who had called after me, 'Come back ! Come back soon ! ' there no page in book, but harsh reality; that enchanted place restraining hand grave mother at whose knee I stood had gone--whither had they gone ? "

He halted again, and remained for time staring fire

"Oh ! the woefulness return ! " he murmured

"Well ? " , after minute or so

"Poor little wretch ! --brought back grey world again ! As I realised the fulness of what had happened , way to quite ungovernable grief shame and humiliation public weeping and my disgraceful home-coming remain with me still again the benevolent-looking old gentleman in gold spectacles who stopped and spoke --prodding me first umbrella 'Poor little chap,' said he; 'and lost then ? '--and me London boy of five and more ! And needs bring in kindly young policeman and make crowd of me, and so march me home Sobbing, conspicuous, and frightened, back enchanted garden steps father's house

" as remember my vision garden--the garden that haunts me still , convey nothing indescribable quality of translucent unreality, that difference_ common things of experience that hung all; but that-- what happened dream, day-time and altogether extraordinary dream . H'm ! --naturally there followed terrible questioning, by my aunt, my father, the nurse, the governess-- everyone .

"I tried them, and my father my first thrashing for telling lies When afterwards I tried my aunt, she punished me again wicked persistence Then, as , everyone was forbidden to listen , to hear word Even my fairytale books were taken away from me for time--because too 'imaginative ' Eh ? Yes, that ! My father belonged old school . And my story was driven back upon myself I whispered it to my pillow--my pillow that was often damp and salt to my whispering lips with childish tears And I added always to my official and less fervent prayers heartfelt request: 'Please God dream garden Oh ! take me back to my garden ! ' Take me back to my garden ! I dreamt often garden added , changed it; know . All this, you understand, is an attempt to reconstruct from fragmentary memories very early experience Between that other consecutive memories boyhood gulf time came when it seemed impossible ever speak wonder glimpse again "

I asked an obvious question

"No," "I don't remember that I ever attempted my way back garden in those early years This seems odd now, but that very probably closer watch was kept on my movements misadventure my going astray No, it wasn't till me that I tried garden again And I believe period-- incredible as it seems now--when I forgot the garden altogether--when about eight or nine it may remember me as kid at Saint Aethelstan's ? "

"Rather ! "

"I didn't show any signs, did I, in those days of having secret dream ? "

II

He looked up with sudden smile

"Did you ever play North-West Passage with me ? . No, you didn't come my way ! "