Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno.djvu/111

VI] and beautiful imaginings ot Arthur and his lady-love, and of all the peace and happiness in store for them.

I pictured them to myself walking together, lingeringly and lovingly, under arching trees, in a sweet garden of their own, and welcomed back by their faithful gardener, on their return from some brief excursion.

It seemed natural enough that the gardener should be filled with exuberant delight at the return of so gracious a master and mistress——and how strangely childlike they looked! I could have taken them for Sylvie and Bruno——less natural that he should show it by such wild dances, such crazy songs!

He thought he saw a Rattlesnake
 * That questioned him in Greek :

He looked again, and found it was
 * The Middle of Next Week.

’The one thing I regret’, he said,
 * ’Is that it cannot speak!’"

——least natural of all that the Vice-Warden and 'my Lady' should be standing close

G2