walls，sharpandblack；thestreet，dimandprecipitous，tumblingforwardintotheblue，whencelights，one，two，three，nowalittlebunchtogether，cameprickingout。
TheoldwomanopenedthedoorwhenherangMr。Somerset’sbell。
“Master’sbeencalledaway，“shesaidinhercroakingvoice。“A
burial。’E’adn’ttimetoletyouknow。’Tellthelittlegen’l’man，’
’esaid，’I’msorry。’“
“Allright，“saidJeremy；“thankyou。“
Hedescendedthesteps，thenstoodwherehewas，inthestreet，lookingupanddown。Whocoulddenythatitwasallbeingarrangedforhim？HefeltmorethaneverlikeGodashelookedproudlyabouthim。Everythingservedhispurpose。
Thejinglingofthemoneyinhispocketremindedhimthathemustwastenomoretime。Hestartedoff。
Evenhisprogressthroughthetownseemedwonderful，quiteunattendedatlast，ashehadalwaysallhislifelongedtobe。SosoonasheleftOrangeStreetandenteredthemarkethewascaughtintoagreatcrowd。Itwasallstirringandhummingwithanoisesuchasthebonfirehadalldaybeenmaking。Itwashisfirstintroductiontotheworld——hehadneverbeeninalargecrowdbefore——anditisnottobedeniedbutthathisheartbeatthickandhiskneestrembledalittle。Buthepulledhimselftogether。Whowashetobeafraid？Butthebooksunderhisarmwereanuisance。Hesuddenlydroppedtheminamongstthelegsandbootsofthepeople。
Thereweremanyinterestingsightstobeseeninthemarket-place，buthecouldnotstay，andhefoundhimselfsoon，tohisownsurprise，slippingthroughthepeopleasquietlyandeasilyasthoughhehaddoneitallhisdays，onlyalwayshekepthishandonhismoneylestthatshouldbestolenandhisadventuresuddenlycometonothing。
Heknewhiswayverywell，andsoonhewasattheendofFinchStreetwhichinthosedaysopenedstraightintofieldsandhedges。
Evennow，solittlehasPolchestergrowninthirtyyears，thefieldsandhedgesarenotveryfaraway。Heretherewasastilewithalargewoodenfenceoneithersideofit，andared-facedmansaying：
“Payyoursixpencesnow！Comealong……payyoursixpencesnow。“
Crowdsofpeoplewerepassingthroughthestile，jostlingoneanother，pressingandpushing，butallapparentlyingoodtemper，fortherewasagreatdealoflaughterandmerriment。Fromtheothersideofthefencecameatorrentofsound，sodiscordantandsotumultuousthatitwasimpossibletoseparatetheelementsofitonefromanother——screams，shrieks，thebellowingofanimals，andthemonotonousriseandfallofscrapsoftune，severalbarsofoneandthenbarsofanother，andtheneverythinglosttogetherinthegeneralbabel；andtotherightofhimJeremycouldseenotveryfarawayquietfieldswithcowsgrazing，andthedarkgravewoodonthehorizon。
Wouldheventure？Foramomenthisheartfailedhim——awaveofsomethingthreateningandterriblypowerfulseemedtocomeouttohimthroughthestile，andthepeoplewhowerepassinginlookedlargeandfierce。Thenhesawtwosmallboys，theirwholebearingoneofaudaciousboldness，pushthrough。Hewasnotgoingtobebeaten。Hefollowedamanwithabacklikeawall。“One，please，“hesaid。
“’Comealongnow……payyoursixpences……payyoursixpences，“
criedtheman。Hewasthrough。Hesteppedatonceintosomethingthathadforhimalltheelementsofthemostterrifyingandenchantingoffairytales。Hewasplanted，itseemed，inagiantworld。Atfirsthecouldseenothingbutthehighandthickbodiesofthepeoplewhomovedoneverysideofhim；hepeeredundershoulders，hewaslostamongstlegsandarms，hewalkedsuddenlyintowaistcoatbuttonsandwasflungthenceontowalkingsticks。
Butitwas，ifhehadknownit，themostmagicalhourofallforhimtohavechosen。Itwasthemomentwhenthesun，sinkingbehindthewoodsandhills，leavesafaintwhitecrystalskyandaworldtransformedinaninstantfromsharpoutlinesandmaterialformintocolouredmistandrisingvapour。TheFairalsowastransformed，puttingforwardallitslightsandbecoming，aftertheglaringtawdinessoftheday，aplaceofshadowandsuddencirclesofflameanddimobscurity。
Lights，evenasJeremywatched，sprangintotheair，wavered，faltered，hesitated，thenrockedintoasteadyglow，onlyshiftingalittlewiththehaze。Oneithersideofhimwererough，woodenstalls，andthesewereilluminatedwithgas，whichsizzledandhissedlikeangrysnakes。Thestallswerecoveredwitheverythinginventedbyman；hereasweetstall，withthick，stickylumpsofwhiteandgreenandred，glassbottlesofbulls’eyesandpeppermints，thickslabsofalmondtoffeeandpinkcocoanuticing，boxesofroundchocolatecreamsandsticksofliquorice，lumpsofgingerbread，withcolouredpicturesstuckuponthem，saffronbuns，plumcakesinglassjars，andchainsoflittlesugarybiscuitshangingonlongredstrings。Therewastheold-clothes’stallwithtrousersandcoatsandwaistcoats，allshabbyandlanky，swingingbeneaththegas，andpilesofclothesontheboards，allnondescriptandunhappyandfaded；therewasthestallwiththefarmimplements，andthemedicinestall，andtheflowerstall，andthevegetablestall，andmany，manyanother。Eachplacehadhisorherguardian，vociferous，red-faced，screamingoutthewares，loweringthevoicetocajole，raisingitagaintodrawbackaretreatingcustomer，carryingonsuddenlyanintimateconversationwiththenext-doorshopkeeper，laughing，quarrelling，arguing。
ToJeremyitwasaworldofgiantheightsanddepths。Behindthestalls，beyondthelanedownwhichhemoved，wasanuncertainglory，athreateningperil。Hefanciedthatstrangeanimalsmovedthere；hethoughtheheardalionroarandanelephantbellow。Thedinofthesellersallabouthimmadeitimpossibletotellwhatwashappeningbeyondthere；onlythelightsandbells，shoutsandcries，confusingsmells，andagreatroarofdistantvoices。
Healmostwishedthathehadnotcome，hefeltsoverysmallandhelpless；hewonderedwhetherhecouldfindhiswayoutagain，andlookingback，hewasforamomentterrifiedtoseethatthestreamofpeoplebehindhimshuthiminsothathecouldnotseethestile，northewoodenbarrier，northered-facedman。Pushedforward，hefoundhimselfattheendofthelaneandstandinginasemi-
circularspacesurroundedbystrange-lookingboothswithpaintedpicturesuponthem，andinfrontofthemplatformswithwoodenstepsrunninguptothem。Then，sounexpectedlythathegavealittlescream，asuddenroarburstoutbehindhim。Heturnedand，indeed，theworldseemedtohavegonemad。Amomentagotherehadbeendarknessanddimshadow。Now，suddenly，therewasahugewhistling，tossingcircleoflightandflame，andfromthecentreofthisabanging，brazen，cymbal-clashingscreamissued-ascreamthat，throughitsstridentshrillness，herecognisedasatunethatheknew——atuneoftenwhistledbyJimatCowFarm。“Andhergoldenhairwashangingdownherback。“Whencethetunecamehecouldnottell；
fromtheverybellyoftheflamingmonster，itseemed；but，ashewatched，hesawthatthehugecirclewhirledeverfasterandfaster，andthatupanddownontheflameofitcolouredhorsesroseandfell，vanishingfromlighttodarkness，fromdarknesstolight，andseemingoftheirownfreewillandmotiontodancetothethunderingmusic。
Itwasthemostterrificthingthathehadeverseen。Themostterrificthing……hestoodthere，hiscaponthebackofhishead，hislegsapart，hismouthopen；forgettingutterlythecrowd，thinkingnothingoftimeordangerorpunishment——hegazedwithhiswholebody。
Ashiseyesgrewmoreaccustomedtotheglareofthehissinggas，hesawthatinthecentrefigureswerepaintedstandingontheedgeofapillarthatrevolvedwithoutpause。Therewasawomanwithflamingredcheeks，agolddressanddeadwhitedustyarms，amanwithagoldencrownandapurplerobe，butabrokennose，andaminstrelwithaharp。Thewomanandthekingmovedstifflytheirarmsupanddown，thattheymightstrikeinstruments，oneacymbalandtheotheradrum。ButitwasfinallythehorsesthatcaughtJeremy’sheart。
Halfofthematleastwerewithoutriders，andtheemptyoneswentroundpathetically，envyingthemoresuccessfulonesanddancingtothemusicasthoughwithaneffort。OneespeciallymovedJeremy’ssympathy。Hewasafinehorse，ratherfresherthantheothers，withacoal-blackmaneandgreatblackbulgingeyes；hissaddlewasofgoldandhistrappingsofred。AshewentroundheseemedtocatchJeremy’seyeandtobeghimtocometohim。Herodemoresecurelythantherest，risingnoblylikeahorseoffinebreeding，fallingagainwithanimplicationofrestrainedforceasthoughhewouldsay：“Ihaveonlytoletmyselfgoandthere，myword，youwouldseewhereI’dgetto。“HisboldblackeyesturnedbeseechinglytoJeremy——surelyitwasnotonlyatrickofthewavinggas；theboydrewcloserandcloser，nevermovinghisgazefromthehorseswhohadhithertobeenwhirlingatabacchanalianpace，butnow，asatsomesuddensecretcommand，suddenlyslackened，hesitated，fellintoagentlejog-trot，thenscarcelyrose，scarcelyfell，weresuddenlystill。Jeremysawwhatitwasthatyoudidifyouwantedtoride。A
stoutdirtymancameoutamongstthehorsesand，restinghishandsontheirbacksasthoughtheywerelessthannothingtohim，shouted：“Now’syourchance，lidiesandgents！Now，lidiesandgents！Comealonghup！Comealonghup！Therideofyourlifenow！A
’alfpennyatime！A’alfpennyatime，andthefinestrideofyourlife！“
Peoplebegantomountthestepsthatledontotheplatformwherethehorsesstood。Awoman，thenamanandaboy，thentwomen，thentwogirlsgigglingtogether，thenamanandagirl。
Andthestoutfellowshouted：“Comealonghup！Comealonghup！Now，lidiesandgents！A’alfpennyaride！Comealonghup！“
Jeremynoticedthenthatthefinehorsewiththeblackmanehadstoppedclosebesidehim。Impossibletosaywhetherthehorsehadintendeditorno！Hewasstaringnowinfrontofhimwiththeinnocentstupidgazethatanimalscanassumewhentheydonotwishtogivethemselvesaway。ButJeremycouldseethathewastakingitforgrantedthatJeremyunderstoodtheaffair。“Ifyou’resuchafoolasnottounderstand，“heseemedtosay，“well，then，Idon’twantyou。“Jeremygazed，andthereproachinthoseeyeswasmorethanhecouldendure。Andatanymomentsomeoneelsemightsettlehimselfonthatbeautifulback！There，thatstupidfatgigglinggirl！No——shehadmovedelsewhere……Hecouldendureitnolongerand，withathumpingheart，clutchingascaldingpennyinared-hothand，hemountedthesteps。“Oneride——littlegen’elman。’Ereyouare！’Oldonnow！Oh，youwantsthatone，doyer？Eightyerare——yerpaysyermoneyandyertakesyerchoice。“HeliftedJeremyup。“Putyerarmsround’isnecknow——’ewon’tbiteyer！“
Bitehimindeed！Jeremyfelt，asheclutchedthecoolheadandlethishandslideoverthestiffblackmane，thatheknewmoreaboutthathorsethanhisownerdid。Heseemedtofeelbeneathhimthehorse’sresponsetohisclutchingknees，theheadseemedtoriseforamomentandnodtohimandtheeyestosay：“It’sallright。I’lllookafteryou。I’llgiveyouthebestrideofyourlife！“Hefelt，indeed，thatthegazeofthewholeworldwasuponhim，butherespondedtoitproudly，staringboldlyaroundhimasthoughhehadbeenseatedonmerry-go-roundsallhisdays。Perhapssomeinthegapingcrowdknewhimandweresaying：“Why，there’stheRev。Cole’skid——“Nevermind；hewasabovescandal。FromwherehewashecouldseetheFairliftedupandtranslatedintoafantasticsplendour。
Nothingwascertain，nothingdefined——abovehimacanopyofeveningsky，withcirclesandchainsofstarsmixedwiththerosyhazeoftheflameoftheFair；oppositehimwasthePalaceof“TheTwo-
HeadedGiantfromtheCaucasus，“ahugemanasportrayedinthepicturehangingonhisouterwalls，agiantnaked，saveforabearskin，withoneheadblackandoneyellow，andwhiteprotrudingteethinbothmouths。NexttohimwastheFortuneTeller’s，andoutsidethisalittlemanwithahumpbeatadrum。Thentherewas“TheTheatreofTragedyandMirth，“withaposterononesideofthedoorportrayingaladydrowningintheswiftestofrivers，butwiththeprospectofbeingsavedbyastoutgentlemanwholeanedoverfromthebankandgraspedherhair。Thentherewasthe“ChamberoftheFatLadyandtheSixLittleDwarfs，“andtheentrytothiswasguardedbyadirtysour-lookingfemalewhognashedherteethatahesitatingpublic，beforewhom，withasplendidindifferencetoappearance，sheconsumed，outofapieceofnewspaper，hereveningmeal。
AllthesethingswereinJeremy’simmediatevision，andbeyondthemwasahazethathiseyescouldnotpenetrate。Itheld，heknew，wildbeasts，becausehecouldhearquiteclearlyfromtimetotimethelionandtheelephantandthetiger；itheldmusic，becausefromsomewherethroughallthenoiseandconfusionthetuneofabandpenetrated；itheldbuyersandsellersandtreasuresandriches，andalltheinhabitantsoftheworld——surelyalltheworldmustbehereto-night。Andthen，beyondthehaze，therewerethesilentandmysteriousgipsycaravans。Darkwiththeirlittlesquarewindows，andtheircolouredwalls，andtheirroundwheels，andthesmellofwoodfires，andthenoiseofhissingkettlesandhorsescroppingthegrass，andaroundthemthestillnightworldwiththethickwoodsandthedarkriver。