Page:The Keeper of the Bees.pdf/324

 sentence: “‘Thou shalt not obstruct thy neighbour’s ancient light!’”

Suddenly, with the flashing change habitual to the little Scout, the entire figure slumped; came back to the bench, sat down beside Jamie and leaned against him.

“That means,” said the little Scout, “that ‘ancient light’ means the sunshine and the moonshine and the clean air clear from China. The Bee Master used to go down and lie on the sand by the hour and let the ocean tell him things that comforted him. He said if he sold that, the man adjoining him would be the owner, and he would be the neighbour, and he didn’t want his ‘ancient light’ all mussed up with a hot-dog stand, and he didn’t want his inheritance of well-salted, dustless air right fresh off the sea all toggea up with hot dogs. Didn’t make any difference if they did make your mouth water, we could get ours down at the corner.”

Then the little Scout put a pair of arms tight around Jamie’s neck and closed in almost to the point of suffocation, and the Keeper of the Bees got his second little hot kiss firm on his lips.

The little Scout said: “Thank you for taking his place with me, and I’m glad that you’ve got the Madonna lilies and the fighting ground, and I’m glad you’ve got the east acre and half the bees. I’ll take the Black Germans, if you don’t want ‘em. And I’m glad, if the Bee Master had to go, I’m gladder than I can tell you that you are goin’ to stay and keep the bees!”