AWAKENING
ThroughthemassiveskylightilluminatingthehallatRobinHill，theJulysunlightatfiveo’clockfelljustwherethebroadstairwayturned;andinthatradiantstreaklittleJonForsytestood，blue—
linen—suited。Hishairwasshining，andhiseyes，frombeneathafrown，forhewasconsideringhowtogodownstairs，thislastofinnumerabletimes，beforethecarbroughthisfatherandmotherhome。
Fouratatime，andfiveatthebottom？Stale！Downthebanisters？
Butinwhichfashion？Onhisface，feetforemost？Verystale。Onhisstomach，sideways？Paltry！Onhisback，withhisarmsstretcheddownonbothsides？Forbidden！Oronhisface，headforemost，inamannerunknownasyettoanybuthimself？SuchwasthecauseofthefrownontheilluminatedfaceoflittleJon……
InthatSummerof1909thesimplesoulswhoeventhendesiredtosimplifytheEnglishtongue，had，ofcourse，nocognizanceoflittleJon，ortheywouldhaveclaimedhimforadisciple。Butonecanbetoosimpleinthislife，forhisrealnamewasJolyon，andhislivingfatheranddeadhalf—brotherhadusurpedofoldtheothershortenings，JoandJolly。AsafactlittleJonhaddonehisbesttoconformtoconventionandspellhimselffirstJhon，thenJohn;nottillhisfatherhadexplainedthesheernecessity，hadhespelledhisnameJon。
Uptillnowthatfatherhadpossessedwhatwasleftofhisheartbythegroom，Bob，whoplayedtheconcertina，andhisnurse\"Da，\"whoworethevioletdressonSundays，andenjoyedthenameofSpragginsinthatprivatelifelivedatoddmomentsevenbydomesticservants。
Hismotherhadonlyappearedtohim，asitwereindreams，smellingdelicious，smoothinghisforeheadjustbeforehefellasleep，andsometimesdockinghishair，ofagoldenbrowncolour。Whenhecuthisheadopenagainstthenurseryfendershewastheretobebledover;andwhenhehadnightmareshewouldsitonhisbedandcuddlehisheadagainstherneck。Shewaspreciousbutremote，because\"Da\"
wassonear，andthereishardlyroomformorethanonewomanatatimeinaman’sheart。Withhisfather，too，ofcourse，hehadspecialbondsofunion;forlittleJonalsomeanttobeapainterwhenhegrewup——withtheonesmalldifference，thathisfatherpaintedpictures，andlittleJonintendedtopaintceilingsandwalls，standingonaboardbetweentwostep—ladders，inadirty—whiteapron，andalovelysmellofwhitewash。HisfatheralsotookhimridinginRichmondPark，onhispony，Mouse，so—calledbecauseitwasso—coloured。
LittleJonhadbeenbornwithasilverspooninamouthwhichwasrathercurlyandlarge。Hehadneverheardhisfatherorhismotherspeakinanangryvoice，eithertoeachother，himself，oranybodyelse;thegroom，Bob，Cook，Jane，Bellaandtheotherservants，even\"Da，\"whoalonerestrainedhiminhiscourses，hadspecialvoiceswhentheytalkedtohim。Hewasthereforeofopinionthattheworldwasaplaceofperfectandperpetualgentilityandfreedom。
Achildof1901，hehadcometoconsciousnesswhenhiscountry，justoverthatbadattackofscarletfever，theBoerWar，waspreparingfortheLiberalrevivalof1906。Coercionwasunpopular，parentshadexaltednotionsofgivingtheiroffspringagoodtime。Theyspoiledtheirrods，sparedtheirchildren，andanticipatedtheresultswithenthusiasm。Inchoosing，moreover，forhisfatheranamiablemanoffifty—two，whohadalreadylostanonlyson，andforhismotherawomanofthirty—eight，whosefirstandonlychildhewas，littleJonhaddonewellandwisely。Whathadsavedhimfrombecomingacrossbetweenalapdogandalittleprig，hadbeenhisfather’sadorationofhismother，forevenlittleJoncouldseethatshewasnotmerelyjusthismother，andthatheplayedsecondfiddletoherinhisfather’sheart:Whatheplayedinhismother’sheartheknewnotyet。
Asfor\"Auntie\"June，hishalf—sister（butsooldthatshehadgrownoutoftherelationship）shelovedhim，ofcourse，butwastoosudden。Hisdevoted\"Da，\"too，hadaSpartantouch。Hisbathwascoldandhiskneeswerebare;hewasnotencouragedtobesorryforhimself。Astothevexedquestionofhiseducation，littleJonsharedthetheoryofthosewhoconsideredthatchildrenshouldnotbeforced。HeratherlikedtheMademoisellewhocamefortwohourseverymorningtoteachhimherlanguage，togetherwithhistory，geographyandsums;norwerethepianolessonswhichhismothergavehimdisagreeable，forshehadawayofluringhimfromtunetotune，nevermakinghimpractiseonewhichdidnotgivehimpleasure，sothatheremainedeagertoconverttenthumbsintoeightfingers。
Underhisfatherhelearnedtodrawpleasure—pigsandotheranimals。
Hewasnotahighlyeducatedlittleboy。Yet，onthewhole，thesilverspoonstayedinhismouthwithoutspoilingit，though\"Da\"
sometimessaidthatotherchildrenwoulddohima\"worldofgood。\"
Itwasadisillusionment，then，whenattheageofnearlysevensheheldhimdownonhisback，becausehewantedtodosomethingofwhichshedidnotapprove。ThisfirstinterferencewiththefreeindividualismofaForsytedrovehimalmostfrantic。Therewassomethingappallingintheutterhelplessnessofthatposition，andtheuncertaintyastowhetheritwouldevercometoanend。Supposesheneverlethimgetupanymore！Hesufferedtortureatthetopofhisvoiceforfiftyseconds。Worsethananythingwashisperceptionthat\"Da\"hadtakenallthattimetorealisetheagonyoffearhewasenduring。Thus，dreadfully，wasrevealedtohimthelackofimaginationinthehumanbeing。
Whenhewasletupheremainedconvincedthat\"Da\"haddoneadreadfulthing。Thoughhedidnotwishtobearwitnessagainsther，hehadbeencompelled，byfearofrepetition，toseekhismotherandsay:\"Mum，don’tlet’Da’holdmedownonmybackagain。\"
Hismother，herhandsheldupoverherhead，andinthemtwoplaitsofhair——\"couleurdefeuillemorte，\"aslittleJonhadnotyetlearnedtocallit——hadlookedathimwitheyeslikelittlebitsofhisbrownvelvettunic，andanswered:
\"No，darling，Iwon’t。\"
She，beinginthenatureofagoddess，littleJonwassatisfied;
especiallywhen，fromunderthedining—tableatbreakfast，wherehehappenedtobewaitingforamushroom，hehadoverheardhersaytohisfather:
\"Then，willyoutell’Da，’dear，orshallI？She’ssodevotedtohim\";andhisfather’sanswer:
\"Well，shemustn’tshowitthatway。Iknowexactlywhatitfeelsliketobehelddownonone’sback。NoForsytecanstanditforaminute。\"
Consciousthattheydidnotknowhimtobeunderthetable，littleJonwasvisitedbythequitenewfeelingofembarrassment，andstayedwherehewas，ravagedbydesireforthemushroom。
Suchhadbeenhisfirstdipintothedarkabyssesofexistence。
Nothingmuchhadbeenrevealedtohimafterthat，tilloneday，havinggonedowntothecow—houseforhisdrinkofmilkfreshfromthecow，afterGarratthadfinishedmilking，hehadseenClover’scalf，dead。Inconsolable，andfollowedbyanupsetGarratt，hehadsought\"Da\";butsuddenlyawarethatshewasnotthepersonhewanted，hadrushedawaytofindhisfather，andhadrunintothearmsofhismother。
\"Clover’scalf’sdead！Oh！Oh！Itlookedsosoft！\"
Hismother’sclasp，andher:
\"Yes，darling，there，there！\"hadstayedhissobbing。ButifClover’scalfcoulddie，anythingcould——notonlybees，flies，beetlesandchickens——andlooksoftlikethat！Thiswasappalling——
andsoonforgotten！
Thenextthinghadbeentositonabumblebee，apoignantexperience，whichhismotherhadunderstoodmuchbetterthan\"Da\";
andnothingofvitalimportancehadhappenedafterthattilltheyearturned;when，followingadayofutterwretchedness，hehadenjoyedadiseasecomposedoflittlespots，bed，honeyinaspoon，andmanyTangerineoranges。Itwasthenthattheworldhadflowered。To\"Auntie\"Juneheowedthatflowering，fornosoonerwashealittlelameduckthanshecamerushingdownfromLondon，bringingwithherthebookswhichhadnurturedherownBerserkerspirit，borninthenotedyearof1869。Aged，andofmanycolours，theywerestoredwiththemostformidablehappenings。OftheseshereadtolittleJon，tillhewasallowedtoreadtohimself;whereuponshewhiskedbacktoLondonandleftthemwithhiminaheap。Thosebookscookedhisfancy，tillhethoughtanddreamedofnothingbutmidshipmenanddhows，pirates，rafts，sandal—woodtraders，ironhorses，sharks，battles，Tartars，RedIndians，balloons，NorthPolesandotherextravagantdelights。Themomenthewassufferedtogetup，heriggedhisbedforeandaft，andsetoutfromitinanarrowbathacrossgreenseasofcarpet，toarock，whichheclimbedbymeansofitsmahoganydrawerknobs，tosweepthehorizonwithhisdrinkingtumblerscrewedtohiseye，insearchofrescuingsails。Hemadeadailyraftoutofthetowelstand，theteatray，andhispillows。HesavedthejuicefromhisFrenchplums，bottleditinanemptymedicinebottle，andprovisionedtheraftwiththerumthatitbecame;alsowithpemmicanmadeoutoflittlesaved—upbitsofchickensatonanddriedatthefire;andwithlimejuiceagainstscurvy，extractedfromthepeelofhisorangesandalittleeconomisedjuice。HemadeaNorthPoleonemorningfromthewholeofhisbedclothesexceptthebolster，andreacheditinabirch—barkcanoe（inprivatelifethefender），afteraterribleencounterwithapolarbearfashionedfromthebolsterandfourskittlesdressedupin\"Da’s\"nightgown。Afterthat，hisfather，seekingtosteadyhisimagination，broughthimIvanboe，Bevis，abookaboutKingArthur，andTomBrown’sSchooldays。Hereadthefirst，andforthreedaysbuilt，defendedandstormedFrontdeBoeuf’scastle，takingeverypartinthepieceexceptthoseofRebeccaandRowena;withpiercingcriesof:\"Enavant，deBracy！\"andsimilarutterances。AfterreadingthebookaboutKingArthurhebecamealmostexclusivelySirLamoracdeGalis，because，thoughtherewasverylittleabouthim，hepreferredhisnametothatofanyotherknight;andherodehisoldrocking—horsetodeath，armedwithalongbamboo。Bevishefoundtame;besides，itrequiredwoodsandanimals，ofwhichhehadnoneinhisnursery，excepthistwocats，FitzandPuckForsyte，whopermittednoliberties。ForTomBrownhewasasyettooyoung。
Therewasreliefinthehousewhen，afterthefourthweek，hewaspermittedtogodownandout。
ThemonthbeingMarchthetreeswereexceptionallylikethemastsofships，andforlittleJonthatwasawonderfulSpring，extremelyhardonhisknees，suits，andthepatienceof\"Da，\"whohadthewashingandreparationofhisclothes。Everymorningthemomenthisbreakfastwasover，hecouldbeviewedbyhismotherandfather，whosewindowslookedoutthatway，comingfromthestudy，crossingtheterrace，climbingtheoldoaktree，hisfaceresoluteandhishairbright。Hebeganthedaythusbecausetherewasnottimetogofarafieldbeforehislessons。Theoldtree’svarietyneverstaled;
ithadmainmast，foremast，top—gallantmast，andhecouldalwayscomedownbythehalyards——orropesoftheswing。Afterhislessons，completedbyeleven，hewouldgotothekitchenforathinpieceofcheese，abiscuitandtwoFrenchplums——provisionenoughforajolly—
boatatleast——andeatitinsomeimaginativeway;then，armedtotheteethwithgun，pistols，andsword，hewouldbegintheseriousclimbingofthemorning，encounteringbythewayinnumerableslavers，Indians，pirates，leopards，andbears。Hewasseldomseenatthathourofthedaywithoutacutlassinhisteeth（likeDickNeedham）
amidtherapidexplosionofcoppercaps。Andmanywerethegardenershebroughtdownwithyellowpeasshotoutofhislittlegun。Helivedalifeofthemostviolentaction。
\"Jon，\"saidhisfathertohismother，undertheoaktree，\"isterrible。I’mafraidhe’sgoingtoturnoutasailor，orsomethinghopeless。Doyouseeanysignofhisappreciatingbeauty？\"
\"Notthefaintest。\"
\"Well，thankheavenhe’snoturnforwheelsorengines！Icanbearanythingbutthat。ButIwishhe’dtakemoreinterestinNature。\"
\"He’simaginative，Jolyon。\"
\"Yes，inasanguinaryway。Doesheloveanyonejustnow？\"
\"No;onlyeveryone。ThereneverwasanyonebornmorelovingormorelovablethanJon。\"
\"Beingyourboy，Irene。\"
AtthismomentlittleJon，lyingalongabranchhighabovethem，broughtthemdownwithtwopeas;butthatfragmentoftalklodged，thick，inhissmallgizzard。Loving，lovable，imaginative，sanguinary！
Theleavesalsowerethickbynow，anditwastimeforhisbirthday，which，occurringeveryyearonthetwelfthofMay，wasalwaysmemorableforhischosendinnerofsweetbread，mushrooms，macaroons，andgingerbeer。
Betweenthateighthbirthday，however，andtheafternoonwhenhestoodintheJulyradianceattheturningofthestairway，severalimportantthingshadhappened。
\"Da，\"wornoutbywashinghisknees，ormovedbythatmysteriousinstinctwhichforcesevennursestodeserttheirnurslings，lefttheverydayafterhisbirthdayinfloodsoftears\"tobemarried\"——ofallthings——\"toaman。\"LittleJon，fromwhomithadbeenkept，wasinconsolableforanafternoon。Itoughtnottohavebeenkeptfromhim！Twolargeboxesofsoldiersandsomeartillery，togetherwithTheYoungBuglers，whichhadbeenamonghisbirthdaypresents，cooperatedwithhisgriefinasortofconversion，andinsteadofseekingadventuresinpersonandriskinghisownlife，hebegantoplayimaginativegames，inwhichheriskedthelivesofcountlesstinsoldiers，marbles，stonesandbeans。Oftheseformsof\"chairacanon\"hemadecollections，and，usingthemalternately，foughtthePeninsular，theSevenYears，theThirtyYears，andotherwars，aboutwhichhehadbeenreadingoflateinabigHistoryofEuropewhichhadbeenhisgrandfather’s。Healteredthemtosuithisgenius，andfoughtthemalloverthefloorinhisdaynursery，sothatnobodycouldcomein，forfearingofdisturbingGustavusAdolphus，KingofSweden，ortreadingonanarmyofAustrians。BecauseofthesoundofthewordhewaspassionatelyaddictedtotheAustrians，andfindingthereweresofewbattlesinwhichtheyweresuccessfulhehadtoinventtheminhisgames。HisfavouritegeneralswerePrinceEugene，theArchdukeCharlesandWallenstein。TillyandMack（\"music—hallturns\"heheardhisfathercallthemoneday，whateverthatmightmean）onereallycouldnotloveverymuch，Austrianthoughtheywere。
Foreuphonicreasons，too，hedotedonTurenne。
Thisphase，whichcausedhisparentsanxiety，becauseitkepthimindoorswhenheoughttohavebeenout，lastedthroughMayandhalfofJune，tillhisfatherkilleditbybringinghometohimTomSawyerandHuckleberryFinn。Whenhereadthosebookssomethinghappenedinhim，andhewentoutofdoorsagaininpassionatequestofariver。
TherebeingnoneonthepremisesatRobinHill，hehadtomakeoneoutofthepond，whichfortunatelyhadwaterlilies，dragonflies，gnats，bullrushes，andthreesmallwillowtrees。Onthispond，afterhisfatherandGarratthadascertainedbysoundingthatithadareliablebottomandwasnowheremorethantwofeetdeep，hewasallowedalittlecollapsiblecanoe，inwhichhespenthoursandhourspaddling，andlyingdownoutofsightofIndianJoeandotherenemies。Ontheshoreofthepond，too，hebuilthimselfawigwamaboutfourfeetsquare，ofoldbiscuittins，roofedinbyboughs。Inthishewouldmakelittlefires，andcookthebirdshehadnotshotwithhisgun，huntinginthecoppiceandfields，orthefishhedidnotcatchinthepondbecausetherewerenone。ThisoccupiedtherestofJuneandthatJuly，whenhisfatherandmotherwereawayinIreland。Heledalonelylifeof\"makebelieve\"duringthosefiveweeksofsummerweather，withgun，wigwam，waterandcanoe;and，howeverhardhisactivelittlebraintriedtokeepthesenseofbeautyaway，shedidcreepinonhimforasecondnowandthen，perchingonthewingofadragon—fly，glisteningonthewaterlilies，orbrushinghiseyeswithherblueasheJayonhisbackinambush。
\"Auntie\"June，whohadbeenleftincharge，hada\"grown—up\"inthehouse，withacoughandalargepieceofputtywhichhewasmakingintoaface;soshehardlyevercamedowntoseehiminthepond。
Once，however，shebroughtwithhertwoother\"grown—ups。\"LittleJon，whohappenedtohavepaintedhisnakedselfbrightblueandyellowinstripesoutofhisfather’swater—colourbox，andputsomeduck’sfeathersinhishair，sawthemcoming，and——ambushedhimselfamongthewillows。Ashehadforeseen，theycameatoncetohiswigwamandkneltdowntolookinside，sothatwithablood—curdlingyellhewasabletotakethescalpsof\"Auntie\"Juneandthewoman\"grown—up\"inanalmostcompletemannerbeforetheykissedhim。Thenamesofthetwogrown—upswere\"Auntie\"Hollyand\"Uncle\"Val，whohadabrownfaceandalittlelimp，andlaughedathimterribly。Hetookafancyto\"Auntie\"Holly，whoseemedtobeasistertoo;buttheybothwentawaythesameafternoonandhedidnotseethemagain。
Threedaysbeforehisfatherandmotherweretocomehome\"Auntie\"
Junealsowentoffinagreathurry，takingthe\"grown—up\"whocoughedandhispieceofputty;andMademoisellesaid:\"Poorman，hewasvereeill。Iforbidyoutogointohisroom，Jon。\"LittleJon，whorarelydidthingsmerelybecausehewastoldnotto，refrainedfromgoing，thoughhewasboredandlonely。Intruththedayofthepondwaspast，andhewasfilledtothebrimofhissoulwithrestlessnessandthewantofsomething——notatree，notagun——
somethingsoft。ThoselasttwodayshadseemedmonthsinspiteofCastUpbytheSea，whereinhewasreadingaboutMotherLeeandherterriblewreckingbonfire。Hehadgoneupanddownthestairsperhapsahundredtimesinthosetwodays，andoftenfromthedaynursery，wherehesleptnow，hadstolenintohismother’sroom，lookedateverything，withouttouching，andonintothedressing—
room;andstandingononelegbesidethebath，likeSlingsby，hadwhispered:
\"Ho，ho，ho！Dogmycats！\"mysteriously，tobringluck。Then，stealingback，hehadopenedhismother’swardrobe，andtakenalongsniffwhichseemedtobringhimnearerto——hedidn’tknowwhat。
Hehaddonethisjustbeforehestoodinthestreakofsunlight，debatinginwhichoftheseveralwaysheshouldslidedownthebanisters。Theyallseemedsilly，andinasuddenlanguorhebegandescendingthestepsonebyone。Duringthatdescenthecouldrememberhisfatherquitedistinctly——theshortgreybeard，thedeepeyestwinkling，thefurrowbetweenthem，thefunnysmile，thethinfigurewhichalwaysseemedsotalltolittleJon;buthismotherhecouldn’tsee。Allthatrepresentedherwassomethingswayingwithtwodarkeyeslookingbackathim;andthescentofherwardrobe。
Bellawasinthehall，drawingasidethebigcurtains，andopeningthefrontdoor。LittleJonsaid，wheedling\"Bella！\"
\"Yes，MasterJon。\"
\"Dolet’shaveteaundertheoaktreewhentheycome;Iknowthey’dlikeitbest。\"
\"Youmeanyou’dlikeitbest。\"
LittleJonconsidered。
\"No，theywould，topleaseme。\"
Bellasmiled。\"Verywell，I’lltakeitoutifyou’llstayquiethereandnotgetintomischiefbeforetheycome。\"
LittleJonsatdownonthebottomstep，andnodded。Bellacameclose，andlookedhimover。
\"Getup！\"shesaid。
LittleJongotup。Shescrutinizedhimbehind;hewasnotgreen，andhiskneesseemedclean。
\"Allright！\"shesaid。\"My！Aren’tyoubrown？Givemeakiss！\"
AndlittleJonreceivedapeckonhishair。
\"Whatjam？\"heasked。\"I’msotiredofwaiting。\"
\"Gooseberryandstrawberry。\"
Num！Theywerehisfavourites！
Whenshewasgonehesatstillforquiteaminute。ItwasquietinthebighallopentoitsEastendsothathecouldseeoneofhistrees，abrigsailingveryslowlyacrosstheupperlawn。Intheouterhallshadowswereslantingfromthepillars。LittleJongotup，jumpedoneofthem，andwalkedroundtheclumpofirisplantswhichfilledthepoolofgrey—whitemarbleinthecentre。Theflowerswerepretty，butonlysmelledaverylittle。Hestoodintheopendoorwayandlookedout。Suppose！——supposetheydidn’tcome！Hehadwaitedsolongthathefelthecouldnotbearthat，andhisattentionslidatoncefromsuchfinalitytothedustmotesinthebluishsunlightcomingin:Thrustinghishandup，hetriedtocatchsome。Bellaoughttohavedustedthatpieceofair！Butperhapstheyweren’tdust——onlywhatsunlightwasmadeof，andhelookedtoseewhetherthesunlightoutofdoorswasthesame。Itwasnot。Hehadsaidhewouldstayquietinthehall，buthesimplycouldn’tanymore;andcrossingthegravelofthedrivehelaydownonthegrassbeyond。Pullingsixdaisieshenamedthemcarefully，SirLamorac，SirTristram，SirLancelot，SirPalimedes，SirBors，SirGawain，andfoughtthemincouplestillonlySirLamorac，whomhehadselectedforaspeciallystoutstalk，hadhisheadon，andevenhe，afterthreeencounters，lookedwornandwaggly。Abeetlewasmovingslowlyinthegrass，whichalmostwantedcutting。Everybladewasasmalltree，roundwhosetrunkthebeetlehadtoglide。LittleJonstretchedoutSirLamorac，feetforemost，andstirredthecreatureup。Itscuttledpainfully。LittleJonlaughed，lostinterest，andsighed。Hisheartfeltempty。Heturnedoverandlayonhisback。
Therewasascentofhoneyfromthelimetreesinflower，andintheskythebluewasbeautiful，withafewwhitecloudswhichlookedandperhapstastedlikelemonice。HecouldhearBobplaying:\"WaydownupondeSuwanneeribber\"onhisconcertina，anditmadehimniceandsad。Heturnedoveragainandputhiseartotheground——Indianscouldhearthingscomingeversofar——buthecouldhearnothing——onlytheconcertina！Andalmostinstantlyhedidhearagrindingsound，afainttoot。Yes！itwasacar——coming——coming！Uphejumped。
Shouldhewaitintheporch，orrushupstairs，andastheycamein，shout:\"Look！\"andslideslowlydownthebanisters，headforemost？
Shouldhe？Thecarturnedinatthedrive。Itwastoolate！Andheonlywaited，jumpingupanddowninhisexcitement。Thecarcamequickly，whirred，andstopped。Hisfathergotout，exactlylikelife。HebentdownandlittleJonbobbedup——theybumped。Hisfathersaid\"Blessus！Well，oldman，youarebrown！\"Justashewould;andthesenseofexpectation——ofsomethingwanted——bubbledunextinguishedinlittleJon。Then，withalong，shylookhesawhismother，inabluedress，withabluemotorscarfoverhercapandhair，smiling。Hejumpedashighaseverhecould，twinedhislegsbehindherback，andhugged。Heheardhergasp，andfeltherhuggingback。Hiseyes，verydarkbluejustthen，lookedintohers，verydarkbrown，tillherlipsclosedonhiseyebrow，and，squeezingwithallhismight，heheardhercreakandlaugh，andsay:
\"Youarestrong，Jon！\"
Hesliddownatthat，andrushedintothehall，draggingherbythehand。
Whilehewaseatinghisjambeneaththeoaktree，henoticedthingsabouthismotherthathehadneverseemedtoseebefore，hercheeksforinstancewerecreamy，thereweresilverthreadsinherdarkgoldyhair，herthroathadnoknobinitlikeBella’s，andshewentinandoutsoftly。Henoticed，too，somelittlelinesrunningawayfromthecornersofhereyes，andanicedarknessunderthem。Shewaseversobeautiful，morebeautifulthan\"Da\"orMademoiselle，or\"Auntie\"Juneoreven\"Auntie\"Holly，towhomhehadtakenafancy;evenmorebeautifulthanBella，whohadpinkcheeksandcameouttoosuddenlyinplaces。Thisnewbeautifulnessofhismotherhadakindofparticularimportance，andheatelessthanhehadexpectedto。
Whenteawasoverhisfatherwantedhimtowalkroundthegardens。
Hehadalongconversationwithhisfatheraboutthingsingeneral，avoidinghisprivatelife——SirLamorac，theAustrians，andtheemptinesshehadfelttheselastthreedays，nowsosuddenlyfilledup。HisfathertoldhimofaplacecalledGlensofantrim，whereheandhismotherhadbeen;andofthelittlepeoplewhocameoutofthegroundtherewhenitwasveryquiet。LittleJoncametoahalt，withhisheelsapart。
\"Doyoureallybelievetheydo，Daddy？\"\"No，Jon，butIthoughtyoumight。\"
\"Why？\"
\"You’reyoungerthanI;andthey’refairies。\"LittleJonsquaredthedimpleinhischin。
\"Idon’tbelieveinfairies。Ineverseeany。\"\"Ha！\"saidhisfather。
\"DoesMum？\"
Hisfathersmiledhisfunnysmile。
\"No;sheonlyseesPan。\"
\"What’sPan？\"
\"TheGoatyGodwhoskipsaboutinwildandbeautifulplaces。\"
\"WasheinGlensofantrim？\"
\"Mumsaidso。\"
LittleJontookhisheelsup，andledon。
\"Didyouseehim？\"
\"No;IonlysawVenusAnadyomene。\"
LittleJonreflected;VenuswasinhisbookabouttheGreeksandTrojans。ThenAnnawasherChristianandDyomenehersurname？
Butitappeared，oninquiry，thatitwasoneword，whichmeantrisingfromthefoam。
\"DidsherisefromthefoaminGlensofantrim？\"
\"Yes;everyday。\"
\"Whatisshelike，Daddy？\"
\"LikeMum。\"
\"Oh！Thenshemustbe……\"buthestoppedatthat，rushedatawall，scrambledup，andpromptlyscrambleddownagain。Thediscoverythathismotherwasbeautifulwasonewhichhefeltmustabsolutelybekepttohimself。Hisfather’scigar，however，tooksolongtosmoke，thatatlasthewascompelledtosay:
\"IwanttoseewhatMum’sbroughthome。Doyoumind，Daddy？\"
Hepitchedthemotivelow，toabsolvehimfromunmanliness，andwasalittledisconcertedwhenhisfatherlookedathimrightthrough，heavedanimportantsigh，andanswered:
\"Allright，oldman，yougoandloveher。\"
Hewent，withapretenceofslowness，andthenrushed，tomakeup。
Heenteredherbedroomfromhisown，thedoorbeingopen。Shewasstillkneelingbeforeatrunk，andhestoodclosetoher，quitestill。
Shekneltupstraight，andsaid:
\"Well，Jon？\"
\"IthoughtI’djustcomeandsee。\"
Havinggivenandreceivedanotherhug，hemountedthewindow—seat，andtuckinghislegsupunderhimwatchedherunpack。Hederivedapleasurefromtheoperationsuchashehadnotyetknown，partlybecauseshewastakingoutthingswhichlookedsuspicious，andpartlybecausehelikedtolookather。Shemoveddifferentlyfromanybodyelse，especiallyfromBella;shewascertainlytherefinedest—lookingpersonhehadeverseen。Shefinishedthetrunkatlast，andkneltdowninfrontofhim。
\"Haveyoumissedus，Jon？\"
LittleJonnodded，andhavingthusadmittedhisfeelings，continuedtonod。
\"Butyouhad’Auntie’June？\"
\"Oh！shehadamanwithacough。\"
Hismother’sfacechanged，andlookedalmostangry。Headdedhastily:
\"Hewasapoorman，Mum;hecoughedawfully;I——Ilikedhim。\"
Hismotherputherhandsbehindhiswaist。
\"Youlikeeverybody，Jon？\"
LittleJonconsidered。
\"Uptoapoint，\"hesaid:\"AuntieJunetookmetochurchoneSunday。\"
\"Tochurch？Oh！\"
\"Shewantedtoseehowitwouldaffectme。\"\"Anddidit？\"
\"Yes。Icameoverallfunny，soshetookmehomeagainveryquick。
Iwasn’tsickafterall。Iwenttobedandhadhotbrandyandwater，andreadTheBoysofBeechwood。Itwasscrumptious。\"
Hismotherbitherlip。
\"Whenwasthat？\"
\"Oh！about——alongtimeago——Iwantedhertotakemeagain，butshewouldn’t。YouandDaddynevergotochurch，doyou？\"
\"No，wedon’t。\"
\"Whydon’tyou？\"
Hismothersmiled。
\"Well，dear，webothofuswentwhenwewerelittle。Perhapswewentwhenweweretoolittle。\"
\"Isee，\"saidlittleJon，\"it’sdangerous。\"