Page:The Celestial Omnibus and Other Stories - Forster (1912).djvu/81

Rh over he saw three maidens rise to the surface of the pool, singing, and playing with something that glistened like a ring.

"You down in the water" he called.

They answered, "You up on the bridge" There was a burst of music. "You up on the bridge, good luck to you. Truth in the depth, truth on the height."

"You down in the water, what are you doing?"

Sir Thomas Browne replied: "They sport in the mancipiary possession of their gold"; and the omnibus arrived.

boy was in disgrace. He sat locked up in the nursery of Agathox Lodge, learning poetry for a punishment. His father had said, "My boy! I can pardon anything but untruthfulness," and had caned him, saying at each stroke, "There is no omnibus, no driver, no bridge, no mountain; you are a truant, a guttersnipe, a liar."

His father could be very stern at times. His mother had begged him to say he was sorry. But