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Rh fall into similar errors, there are still many beautiful lessons to be learned from these myths' 'But how can you learn anything,' persisted Charlotte, 'from what doesn't exist?' And she left the table defiant, howbeit depressed. 'Don't you mind her,' I said consolingly; 'how can she know anything about it? Why, she can't even throw a stone properly!'

'Edward says they're all rot, too,' replied Charlotte doubtfully.

'Edward says everything's rot,' I explained, 'now he thinks he's going into the Army. If a thing's in a book it must be true, so that settles it!'

Charlotte looked almost re-assured. The room was quieter now, for Edward had got the dragon down and was boring holes in him with a purring sound; Harold was ascending the steps of the Athenæum with a jaunty air—suggestive rather of the Junior Carlton. Outside, the tall elm-tops were hardly to be seen through the feathery storm. 'The sky's a-falling,' quoted Charlotte softly: 'I must go and tell the king.' The quotation suggested a fairy story, and I offered to read to her, reaching out for the Book. But the